MSPS set to vote against Brexit deal

MSPS are today expected to reject Prime Minister Theresa May’s Brexit deal in a vote at Holyrood. The SNP, Labour, Liberal Democrats and Greens will back a motion which describes the withdrawal agreement and political declaration setting out future arrangements as “damaging” to Scotland and calls for a “better alternative”.

Brexit Secretary Mike Russell said yesterday the vote was a “historic opportunity”.

He said: “The Prime Minister’s Brexit deal will make Scotland poorer and deliver continued uncertainty. It will mean years of further negotiations with no guarantee that a trade deal with the EU will even be agreed.

“This is a historic opportunity for the Scottish Parliament to come together and formally oppose both a no-deal option and the Prime Minister’s damaging Brexit deal.”

He added: “The UK government’s own analysis, as well as the detailed assessment from the Scottish Government, shows why the draft Brexit deal is unacceptable – it would make us poorer while extending uncertainty.”

But the Tories said they would not back the motion, accusing their opponents of using it to drive support for a second independence referendum. Tory constitution spokesman Adam Tomkins said: “The Scottish Conservatives will, alone, oppose the motion set out by the SNP, Labour, Lib Dems and Greens.

“We know what the SNP and Greens are trying to do with this needless debate – they want to use it to manufacture yet more grievance as part of their push for a second independence referendum.

“That Labour and the Liberal Democrats have once again fallen into line with the Nationalists is disappointing but hardly surprising.”

Scottish Lib Dem leader Willie Rennie said the vote would help underline growing support for a People’s Vote.