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Brexit: SNP 'will not back agreement' Nicola Sturgeon says Brexit deal bad for Scotland
(about 1 hour later)
The SNP will not back the draft Brexit agreement between the UK and EU as it currently stands, the party's leader at Westminster has confirmed. Nicola Sturgeon has claimed that the draft Brexit agreement between the UK and EU would be bad for Scotland as her party pledged to oppose the deal.
Ian Blackford said it appeared the party's "red lines" on Scotland remaining in the single market and customs union had not been met. Scotland's first minister said the proposals would take Scotland out of the single market while Northern Ireland effectively stays in.
And he said any special arrangements for Northern Ireland must also apply to Scotland. This would have a "devastating" impact on jobs and investment in Scotland, she insisted.
The prime minister is to host a cabinet meeting in Downing Street later.The prime minister is to host a cabinet meeting in Downing Street later.
But the Brexit deal proposals, which have not yet been published, are already facing strong opposition from senior Brexiteers and some Remain supporters.But the Brexit deal proposals, which have not yet been published, are already facing strong opposition from senior Brexiteers and some Remain supporters.
The BBC's Norman Smith said the prime minister would seek to head off the threat of any resignations by telling her ministers that while not perfect, the agreement was as good as it can get.The BBC's Norman Smith said the prime minister would seek to head off the threat of any resignations by telling her ministers that while not perfect, the agreement was as good as it can get.
However the Democratic Unionist Party, which props up Theresa May's minority Conservative government, has warned that the deal could lead to the break-up of the United Kingdom if it is accepted by MPs.However the Democratic Unionist Party, which props up Theresa May's minority Conservative government, has warned that the deal could lead to the break-up of the United Kingdom if it is accepted by MPs.
The major sticking point in the negotiations between the UK and EU has been over the so-called Northern Ireland "backstop", which aims to guarantee that physical checks will not be reintroduced at the border with the Irish Republic if the EU and UK fail to agree a deal on future trading relations. The major sticking point in the negotiations between the UK and EU has been over the Northern Ireland "backstop", which aims to guarantee that physical checks will not be reintroduced at the border with the Irish Republic if the EU and UK fail to agree a deal on future trading relations.
The draft agreement is believed to suggest keeping the UK as a whole aligned with the EU customs union for a limited time. The draft agreement is believed to suggest keeping the UK as a whole aligned with the EU customs union for a limited time - and there has been speculation that Northern Ireland would also retain some elements of the single market.
Some Brexiteers fear this will keep the UK locked into EU trade rules for years.
And Mr Blackford told the BBC's Good Morning Scotland programme that it appeared there would also be some protections for the single market in Northern Ireland that would not apply to the rest of the UK.
Mr Blackford said: "I applaud the fact that we recognise the individual circumstance of Northern Ireland.
"But the key point is that if there is to be a differentiation for Northern Ireland there is no reason why the circumstances in Scotland can also not be respected.
"We need to stay in the single market and the customs union and the government in London must listen to us on that."
Sources told the BBC last month that Scottish Conservative leader Ruth Davidson, who is currently on maternity leave after the birth of her son, and Scottish Secretary David Mundell could quit their roles if a Brexit deal introduced different arrangements for Northern Ireland.Sources told the BBC last month that Scottish Conservative leader Ruth Davidson, who is currently on maternity leave after the birth of her son, and Scottish Secretary David Mundell could quit their roles if a Brexit deal introduced different arrangements for Northern Ireland.
Mr Blackford said the two Tories had "got questions to ask", but added: "I'll leave that to them." Mr Mundell has said it was "encouraging" that a potential agreement had been reached with the EU, but that "we need to reflect on the detail and see what's there and hopefully be in a position to take forward a deal."
Mr Blackford insisted that the choice facing MPs was not between the current draft deal or no deal at all, and backed the prospect of a so-called "People's Vote" referendum on the final Brexit terms. But speaking to the media on Wednesday morning, Ms Sturgeon said that, from what she knows of the deal so far, it would mean "the worst of all possible worlds for Scotland".
But he said: "We need to make sure that if Scotland again votes very heavily to Remain, as I expect it would, that our position is protected. She added: "It would take Scotland out of the single market, which would be bad enough in and of itself.
"We cannot, we must not, be dragged out of the European Union and the single market and the customs union in particular against our will. Scotland has got to be able to determine its own future if that is the case." "But it would do so while leaving us competing for investment and jobs with Northern Ireland, which would effectively be staying in the single market.
'Phoney war has ended' "That would be devastating for jobs and investment in Scotland and not something that anybody should be prepared to accept."
In a separate BBC interview, he added: "All of us as parliamentarians have now got to reflect on where we are. The phoney war is ended. This is now about the future of all the nations of the United Kingdom. The SNP's leader at Westminster, Ian Blackford, has already confirmed that his party's 35 MPs would oppose the Brexit agreement in its current form.
"It's about the government's desire to take us fundamentally out of the single market and the customs union. We know that that's going to cost jobs. But Ms Sturgeon, the SNP leader, said rejecting the current proposals in the House of Commons would not make a no-deal Brexit inevitable.
"I would say to every MP think about what you're doing. Think about your constituents' interests, think about jobs, think about prosperity Instead, she insisted it would open the possibility for getting "better options like full single market and customs union membership back on the table".
'False choice'
And she said it would also allow those arguing for another referendum to be held on the Brexit terms - including the SNP - to make their case.
Ms Sturgeon added: "We must be striving for what is right for the country and my job is to strive for what is right for Scotland, not accepting bad deals.
"It is ironic is it not that the last two years the prime minister has told us no deal is better than a bad deal, and now she is arguing that we have got to accept a bad deal for fear of no deal. That is a false choice."
On Tuesday, Mr Blackford joined Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn, Lib Dem Sir Vince Cable and Plaid Cymru's Liz Saville Roberts in writing to the prime minister to seek assurances that MPs would be given a "meaningful vote" on the Brexit agreement.On Tuesday, Mr Blackford joined Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn, Lib Dem Sir Vince Cable and Plaid Cymru's Liz Saville Roberts in writing to the prime minister to seek assurances that MPs would be given a "meaningful vote" on the Brexit agreement.
This would mean that amendments to be proposals can be tabled and voted on.This would mean that amendments to be proposals can be tabled and voted on.
Their joint letter stated: "Recent interventions from government ministers have suggested that you and your government may seek to limit or constrain the process on the final vote, in an attempt to muzzle parliament.Their joint letter stated: "Recent interventions from government ministers have suggested that you and your government may seek to limit or constrain the process on the final vote, in an attempt to muzzle parliament.
"We want to be clear that this would be wholly unacceptable.""We want to be clear that this would be wholly unacceptable."
What happens next?What happens next?
The prime minister is continuing one-to-one briefings with her ministers on the plans ahead of a full cabinet meeting at 14:00 that is expected to last three hours.The prime minister is continuing one-to-one briefings with her ministers on the plans ahead of a full cabinet meeting at 14:00 that is expected to last three hours.
If the cabinet signs it off, the EU Commission is expected to publish the details of the 500-page draft withdrawal agreement later, as well as the much shorter declaration on future economic and security relations.If the cabinet signs it off, the EU Commission is expected to publish the details of the 500-page draft withdrawal agreement later, as well as the much shorter declaration on future economic and security relations.
Ambassadors from the remaining 27 EU member states will discuss the possibility of organising an emergency summit later this month, earmarked for 25 November, to sign off on it.Ambassadors from the remaining 27 EU member states will discuss the possibility of organising an emergency summit later this month, earmarked for 25 November, to sign off on it.
If this happens, the government will then face a battle to win Parliament's backing, with some Tories vowing to vote against it and Northern Ireland's Democratic Unionist Party - which Mrs May relies on to win key Commons votes - also expressing concern.If this happens, the government will then face a battle to win Parliament's backing, with some Tories vowing to vote against it and Northern Ireland's Democratic Unionist Party - which Mrs May relies on to win key Commons votes - also expressing concern.
Labour have said they will study the agreement before deciding whether to back it, but leader Jeremy Corbyn has said it is "unlikely to be a good deal for the country".Labour have said they will study the agreement before deciding whether to back it, but leader Jeremy Corbyn has said it is "unlikely to be a good deal for the country".