Sturgeon heads to London in bid to force Brexit delay

●First Minister looks to extend Article 50 and find ‘alternative way forward’

Nicola Sturgeon will step up efforts to “postpone” Brexit in talks with Theresa May today as the UK government’s agreement with the EU appears increasingly doomed to defeat in the House of Commons.

The First Minister will be in London seeking an “alternative way forward” for the country, with MPS expected to vote on delaying the Article 50 process that will take the UK out of the EU next March.

The Prime Minister is also facing a motion of no confidence in the event that her deal is rejected on 11 December, Labour has said. A defeat for Mrs May would prompt a general election. But Environment Secretary Michael Gove has insisted the government can win the Commons vote, despite scores of Tory MPS threatening to vote against it.

Ms Sturgeon will urge opposition parties in the Commons to use the parliamentary process to avoid both the current deal and the “cliff edge” no-deal scenario.

Nationalists will be among those who vote down the deal, but the SNP leader today insists she also wants to see the “article 50” process under which the UK leaves the EU to be put back. “The last week has been

A “serious constitutional crisis” could ensue if the UK government refuses to publish its full legal advice on Theresa May’s draft Brexit deal, Labour has warned.

The party said it would launch proceedings to hold the Prime Minister in contempt of Parliament unless the opinion given by Attorney General Geoffrey Cox is released to MPS.

Mr Cox is due to give a legal “position statement” in the House of Commons today, at the start of five days of debate on the Brexit deal before the crucial meaningful vote on 11 December.

However, MPS from across the political divide believe this does not respect the outcome of a binding Commons vote last month, which called for ministers to lay out “any legal advice in full”.

The DUP, whose support is needed by the government, is said to be ready to send a joint letter with Labour and other parties to Commons Speaker John Bercow unless ministers back down.

Mr Cox has reportedly warned members of Mrs May’s Cabinet that the UK could end up tied to the EU customs union “indefinitely” due to plans for a so-called Northern Ireland backstop.

According to the Sunday Times, he told ministers in a letter that the only way out of the agreement would be to sign a new trade deal, a process which could take years.

Former Brexit Secretary Dominic Raab, who quit last month over the withdrawal agreement, said: “The backstop will last indefinitely until it is superseded by the treaty setting out our future relationship, unless the EU allows us to exit.

“The EU has a clear veto, even if the future negotiations stretch on for many years, or even if they break down and there is no realistic likelihood of us reaching agreement.

“That’s my view as a former international lawyer, but it is consistent if not identical with all of the formal advice I received.”

Ministers have argued that Mr Cox’s advice is privileged in the same way as any given by a lawyer to a client, claiming the government will not be able function if it cannot enjoy such confidentiality.

But Labour’s shadow Brexit Secretary, Sir Keir Starmer, said ministers risked triggering a “historic constitutional row” if they refused to obey the clear will of MPS.

“If they don’t produce [the advice] tomorrow then we will start contempt proceedings, this will be a collision course between the government and parliament,” he said yesterday.

His colleague Barry Gardiner, the shadow International Trade Secretary, warned there would be a “very serious constitutional crisis” if Mrs May was held in contempt of parliament.

For this to happen, a motion must first be allowed by Mr Bercow and then carried in a vote, before being referred to the Committee of Privileges for a formal ruling.

Labour sources said a letter to the Speaker was already being planned by Sir Keir in co-operation with the DUP’S Westminster leader Nigel Dodds, the Liberal Democrats and the SNP.