Mundell warns lack of alternatives means MPS will have to vote again

MPS will have to be presented with Theresa May’s Brexit deal again, Scottish Secretary David Mundell said, describing last night’s crunch Commons decision as “an initial vote”.

Speaking ahead of the historic defeat, Mr Mundell suggested the government would hold more votes on the same deal.

“My feeling now is that there’s a significant number of MPS who feel that they need to – in this initial vote – vote against the deal,” he said.

Pressed about his comments on an “initial vote”, he added: “The obvious option following this vote … is to revisit the vote. 0 David Mundell expects a rerun of the Brexit vote

I don’t want to see a situation where there are repeat votes.

“I do see that there are a number of people who clearly want in the vote tonight to register their position and view on the deal, but I hope that if there is another vote on this their actual thought process will be one of, ‘What are the alternatives?’”

Mr Mundell insisted the deal had changed since the aborted vote last month, saying: “There was the publication of letters, there was the December council and indeed some – and I concede a small number –[of]peoplehavedeclaredthat they would now vote differently than they would have.”

SNP MSP Joan Mcalpine said Mr Mundell’s suggestion to rerun the vote was “insulting”. She said: “He is living in fantasy land if he thinks Theresa May’s deal is going to be pushed through.”