Labour ‘mocked’ for Brexit stance
An SNP MP has mocked Labour’s Brexit stance after a shadow minister said the party could renegotiate a deal with the European Union before urging voters to reject the compromise in a second referendum.
Labour’s Paul Sweeney insisted his party would fight any snap general election campaign under a Remain banner despite Jeremy Corbyn’s long record of ambivalence on the subject.
Appearing on BBC Radio Scotland yesterday, Mr Sweeney was asked if this meant a future Labour government could spend “six months” negotiating a new deal – only to then campaign against it in a second referendum.
The MP for Glasgow North East said: “It is incumbent on us as a party to negotiate in good faith to have an offer – a credible Leave option – in a referendum.”
He added: “There are several things we could do to get there – win a no-confidence motion and trigger a general election and form a Labour government. Then there would be a situation where we would seek to renegotiate a deal along Labour’s lines, but then not necessarily own that deal.
“We would say we are still backing Remain as a party, but we are giving that option to the people to ratify.”
Asked if that would be a waste of the UK government’s time, Mr Sweeney said: “We need to go through this as a country and bring people together. Simple binary solutions are not the way forward.”
But that stance drew scorn from SNP MP Pete Wishart, who said: “Poor Paul Sweeney ‘explaining’ Labour’s Brexit position.
“‘His’ version is that Labour would become a party of Remain, but put together a departure deal that they would then campaign against – genius.”
Mr Sweeney responded: “Mr Wishart, you have refused to back a public confirmatory vote on the Brexit deal because you don’t want it to set a precedent in any possible separation referendum. Labour is campaigning to stop no deal, have a public vote on any Brexit deal and campaigning to Remain.”
The exchange came as Labour’s policy on Brexit became further mired in confusion yesterday after a spokesman for Jeremy Corbyn insisted it was not a “Remain party”. have to weigh up all the issues,” he said in 2018.
“These are difficult and complex judgments, but I’m not prepared to countenance a nodeal outcome for Scotland.” Mr Mundell was, however, popular among Scottish Conservatives and Ms Davidson in particular.
She paid a fulsome tribute to the former Scottish secretary last night, describing him as a “trusted adviser and committed Unionist” whose work had helped two prime ministers.
She added: “He’s often been a calming influence through the most turbulent times.”
Mr Mundell said he would “of course” support the new government. He added: “As I said to the Prime Minister this afternoon, I will also hold him to account on his commitments to the Union.”
A source close to Mr Mundell said: “He would have been prepared to make compromises and serve in a Boris Cabinet on the basis that he feels Scotland is at a very critical moment, with the First Minister demanding an independence referendum next year, and on the basis that Boris says he wants to get a [Brexit] deal.”
The SNP said Ms Davidson had been “left utterly humiliated” after urging Mr Johnson to keep Mr Mundell in his position.
SNP MP Tommy Sheppard said Mr Mundell had become a “national embarrassment” over his “hypocrisy” after he previously criticised Mr Johnson for behaving “in a way that suggests he’s only focused on his own self-interest and not in the interests of our country”.
The shadow secretary of state for Scotland, Lesley Laird, said: “Instead of departing with dignity David Mundell has been kicked out of the Cabinet by Boris Johnson.
“David Mundell’s time in the Scotland Office will be remembered for his spineless failure to stand up for our country’s interests instead of his party’s.
“The only job he cared about saving was his own, and in the end he couldn’t even manage that.”
Mr Mundell’s departure is a blow for Ms Davidson, who viewed him as a trusted ally in maintaining support for the Union. In a statement, she said: “David’s record of service at the Scotland Office – first as a minister in the coalition government, then as secretary of state these last four years – has been exemplary.
“He has been a trusted adviser to two prime ministers, held his nerve during the independence referendum and faced down Nicola Sturgeon when she called for a re-run in 2017.
“He is passionate about opening doors for Scottish businesses in Whitehall and using the might of the UK government to promote them abroad, having led countless overseas trade delegations.
“While David chooses to conduct himself publicly in a typically understated manner, his strategic brain has been at the heart of the rebuilding project of the Scottish Conservatives.”
Actions will speak louder than words on whether Johnson can deliver for Scotland
Comment Pamela Nash