Scotland’s First Minister Nicola Sturgeon has urged Prime Minister Theresa May to change course to avoid an “utterly disastrous” no-deal Brexit if the Prime Minister’s plans are rejected by MPs in a crunch vote on 11 December – but Theresa May says the First Minister should listen to Scotland’s business leaders.
The leaders met at Downing Street yesterday.
Ms Sturgeon called for the UK’s departure from the European Union to be delayed in order to find a “workable alternative” to Mrs May’s Brexit deal, which faces widespread opposition and almost certain defeat in the House of Commons next week.
To borrow a phrase from a past Conservative Prime Minister, however, ‘the lady’s not for turning.’
A Downing Street spokesperson said: “This afternoon Prime Minister Theresa May met with Scotland’s First Minister Nicola Sturgeon where they discussed the latest in the UK’s exit from the European Union.
“The Prime Minister spoke about the support she has received from fishermen, farmers and business leaders – like Sir Ian Wood – who back the deal as it gives them the clarity and certainty they need to protect jobs and living standards.
“The Prime Minister urged the First Minister to listen to these voices in their support of the deal as opposed to risking a no-deal Brexit or going back to square one of negotiations.”
Last night, Labour led a cross-party alliance to table a motion of contempt on Government ministers for failing to publish the final and full legal advice provided by the Attorney General to the Cabinet.
The motion follows a letter of complaint that was sent to the Speaker by Labour, the SNP, Liberal Democrats, DUP, Plaid Cymru and the Green Party. The Speaker subsequently ruled to give precedence to a debate of contempt against the Government being held tomorrow.
The cross-party motion would find ministers of being in contempt of Parliament and demands the immediate publication of the the final and full legal advice.
Keir Starmer MP, Labour’s Shadow Brexit Secretary, said: “We have given ministers numerous opportunities to comply with the order of Parliament and to release the Attorney General’s full and final legal advice on the Government’s Brexit deal. However, they have refused to do so.
“We have therefore been left with no option but to press ahead with contempt proceedings. This is not about party politics. It’s about parliamentary democracy and guaranteeing that MPs have the information they need to know precisely what the Government has negotiated with the European Union.
“Even at this eleventh hour, I would urge ministers to step back from the brink and to not go down in history as the first Government to be found in contempt.”
A five-day Brexit debate gets underway at Westminster this morning.
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