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Brexit: Scottish Secretary David Mundell backs Brexit deal Brexit: Scottish Secretary David Mundell backs Brexit deal
(35 minutes later)
Scottish Secretary David Mundell has backed the draft Brexit deal despite concerns about its impact on the fishing industry.Scottish Secretary David Mundell has backed the draft Brexit deal despite concerns about its impact on the fishing industry.
Emerging from a five-hour cabinet meeting, he said the alternative of a no-deal would be "disastrous" for Scotland. Emerging from a five-hour cabinet meeting, he said the alternative of a no-deal would be "appalling" for Scotland.
He said he was clear the UK would leave the Common Fisheries Policy in 2020.He said he was clear the UK would leave the Common Fisheries Policy in 2020.
Earlier he was among 13 Scottish Tory MPs who wrote to the prime minister seeking assurances on fishing.Earlier he was among 13 Scottish Tory MPs who wrote to the prime minister seeking assurances on fishing.
Theresa May's cabinet collectively backed the withdrawal agreement, and it will now go to a vote in the House of Commons. After a much longer than expected meeting, Theresa May's cabinet collectively backed the withdrawal agreement, and the 585-page document has now been published.
First Minister Nicola Sturgeon described it as "bad deal" for Scotland and predicted she would struggle to get it passed. First Minister Nicola Sturgeon described it as "bad deal" for Scotland and predicted she would struggle to get it passed in the House of Commons.
The letter to Theresa May from Scottish Conservative MPs came amid speculation that the UK's departure from the Common Fisheries Polices (CFP) could be delayed or watered down. Mr Mundell told the BBC there had been a "full and frank" discussion at cabinet and they had agreed to move to the "next stage".
He said there would be a special EU council meeting, hopefully later this month, and the cabinet would then decide if to recommend the deal to parliament.
Asked about rumours of a leadership challenge to Mrs May, he urged fellow Conservatives to back the prime minister.
He said: "We need to support her going forward with the agreement, that's potentially been reached because the alternative to reaching this agreement is no deal, and no deal is an absolutely appalling outcome, not just for Scotland but for the whole of the United Kingdom."
The earlier letter to Theresa May from Scottish Conservative MPs came amid speculation that the UK's departure from the Common Fisheries Polices (CFP) could be delayed or watered down.
The CFP is deeply unpopular with Scottish fishermen who want the UK to be negotiating as an independent coastal state by the end of 2020.The CFP is deeply unpopular with Scottish fishermen who want the UK to be negotiating as an independent coastal state by the end of 2020.
The letter reminded the prime minister she had promised this would happen and that anything less than this would be a "betrayal of Scotland".The letter reminded the prime minister she had promised this would happen and that anything less than this would be a "betrayal of Scotland".
It went on to say: "This has raised expectations in the fishing industry that Brexit will lead to complete control and full sovereignty over domestic waters that we must deliver on.It went on to say: "This has raised expectations in the fishing industry that Brexit will lead to complete control and full sovereignty over domestic waters that we must deliver on.
"In order to deliver on these expectations, we could not support an agreement with the EU that would prevent the UK from independently negotiating access and quota shares."In order to deliver on these expectations, we could not support an agreement with the EU that would prevent the UK from independently negotiating access and quota shares.
"That would mean that we would not be leaving the CFP in practice, and would become an independent coastal state in name only"."That would mean that we would not be leaving the CFP in practice, and would become an independent coastal state in name only".
The letter was welcomed by the Scottish Fishermen's Federation, whose chief executive Bertie Armstrong said: "The prime minister has made a series of commitments to the industry and anything less than the fulfilment of those means the Sea of Opportunity will not be realised and makes 'no deal' a more attractive option." Northern Ireland 'concerns'
Mr Mundell and Scottish Conservative leader Ruth Davidson, who is on maternity leave, have previously written to Mrs May warning they would not support any deal that gave Northern Ireland a different arrangement to the rest of the UK on the single market and customs union.Mr Mundell and Scottish Conservative leader Ruth Davidson, who is on maternity leave, have previously written to Mrs May warning they would not support any deal that gave Northern Ireland a different arrangement to the rest of the UK on the single market and customs union.
They fear that making a special case for Northern Ireland while rejecting calls to do the same for Scotland would be a political gift to the SNP, and could fuel the case for independence.They fear that making a special case for Northern Ireland while rejecting calls to do the same for Scotland would be a political gift to the SNP, and could fuel the case for independence.
Asked about Northern Ireland, Mr Mundell said they continued to have concerns.
He said: "We want to ensure that Northern Ireland remains fully part of our United kingdom.
"We've always been very clear about that and we want to be satisfied that those arrangements in place for Northern Ireland that also respect the Good Friday Agreement and existing all-Ireland arrangements don't do anything to undermine the integrity of the United Kingdom."