Mundell says no deal biggest risk

David Mundell has defended his decision not to resign over his Brexit “red line” on the settlement for Northern Ireland, and went on the offensive against the SNP for claiming the Prime Minister “lied” about the Irish border backstop.

The Scottish Secretary said it was the Nationalists who were misleading people over the possibility of an alternative Brexit plan, and said a no-deal exit from the EU was the biggest threat to both the economy and the Union.

In a speech in London, Mr Mundell called on Nicola Sturgeon to listen to business voices speaking up in favour of the Prime Minister’s Brexit deal.

“There are other people who believe, fancifully, there is some other deal out there in the ether and they just need to vote this deal down for it to materialise in their Christmas stocking,” he said. “That is not going to happen.

“The deal that is one the table is the realistic option that’s available.”