NICOLA Sturgeon urged Scotland’s MPs to reject Theresa May’s Brexit agreement tonight, saying the chances of remaining in Europe are now “at their highest” since 2016’s referendum.
Of Scotland’s 59 MPs, just 10 are set to back the Prime Minister. The SNP, Labour, LibDems, and three Scots Tories – Douglas Ross, Ross Thomson and John Lamont – are all expected to oppose the deal.
Meanwhile, it was being reported last night that Jeremy Corbyn is poised to call a vote of no confidence immediately after the vote, assuming May loses.
In a last desperate bid to avoid what seems like almost certain defeat, May was in the Commons yesterday, urging Parliament to take a second look at her Withdrawal Agreement.
The Prime Minister also offered wavering Tory MPs a new letter of assurances from European Commission president Jean-Claude Juncker over the controversial Irish backstop, though she admitted it wouldn’t go as far as her back- benchers and the DUP – who prop up her minority government – might have hoped.
She also raised the possibility of Scottish independence, warning the Unionists in the chamber that voting no to the deal could lead to the breakup of the UK.
In her statement, May said that rejecting her deal for a no-deal Brexit would “strengthen the hand of those campaigning for Scottish independence — or indeed those demanding a border poll in Northern Ireland.
“Surely this is the real threat to our Union,” she said. May added that without a deal there would be “no implementation period, no security partnership ... and no certainty for businesses and workers”.
“I say to members on all sides of this House — whatever you may have previously concluded — over these next 24 hours, give this deal a second look.
“No it is not perfect. And yes it is a compromise. But when the history books are written, people will look at the decision of this House tomorrow and ask: did we deliver on the country’s vote to leave the European Union? Did we safeguard our economy, our security and our Union? Or did we let the British people down?”
The Telegraph reported last night that Corbyn was preparing to raise a point of order within minutes of a defeat for the government being confirmed tonight.
The aim would be for a no-confidence vote to be held after Prime Minister’s Questions on Wednesday. Should it win backing from a simple majority of MPs, May would almost certainly be forced to resign.
Brexit Vote Live: Theresa May braced for crushing defeat in Commons
Earlier, Labour leader Corbyn hit out at May’s unwillingness to take responsibility for the mess she had created. May, he said, was “claiming that, by failing to support her botched deal, members are threatening to undermine the faith of the British people in our democracy.
“The only people who are undermining faith in our democracy are the Government themselves. I can think of no greater example of democracy in action than for this House to reject a deal that is clearly bad for this country. During the past two years of shambolic negotiations the Prime Minister has failed to listen.
“She has not once tried to work with Parliament to construct a Brexit deal that this House and the country can support, and now she is left facing a humiliating defeat and is blaming everybody but herself.”
The SNP’s Ian Blackford was scathing. “Is that all you’ve got, Prime Minister?” he asked. He told MPs: “In Scotland, people know it is the Tory Government dragging Scotland out of the European Union against our will.
“It is the Tories treating the Scottish Parliament with contempt, and it is this Prime Minister and this Tory party who continue to silence Scotland’s voice and sideline our interests.”
The SNP added May was “in fantasy-land and the government should stop threatening no-deal”.
Meanwhile, speaking ahead of the vote, Sturgeon said the “door to staying in the EU is now clearly open”.
“Westminster MPs must not slam it shut,” she added. “The Prime Minister’s deal will take Scotland out of the EU against our will, and out of a market eight times bigger than the UK’s alone – costing jobs and snatching opportunities from future generations. It must be defeated and the no-deal option must be taken off the table.”
Her comments came as cross- party group of MPs published a draft bill that could see Brexit reversed. The bill would give the Prime Minister and Parliament six weeks to reach a consensus on a way ahead.
If they can’t agree, then May would be forced to either extend or revoke Article 50 unilaterally. There was scepticism over how it would work.
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