Confusion over SNP Brexit stance

Angus Robertson - Parliament TV

Opposition parties have seized upon apparent mixed messages from the SNP over the party's current stance on Brexit.

First Minister Nicola Sturgeon yesterday told Scottish Parliament committee conveners that Scotland was looking at Norway-style European Free Trade Association (EFTA) and European Economic Area (EEA) models as potential 'special arrangements' for Scotland after Brexit, while her predecessor as FM Alex Salmond MP suggested SNP MPs may vote to trigger Article 50 when it comes before the Commons.

Both statements contradict what Scottish Government ministers have previously said, opposition parties say.

Scottish Conservatives said Economy Secretary Keith Brown had earlier denied a deal to retain the single market was on the table.

Tory finance spokesman Murdo Fraser said: “The plan for a separate Norway-style deal is a complete non-starter.

“On Tuesday, Keith Brown appeared to accept this was the case, but now the First Minister says it’s back on the table.

“Academics have warned again that this proposal would be the worst of all worlds, trapping Scotland in an EU-wide pact over which we would have no influence, and cutting us off from our biggest and nearest market in the rest of the UK."

During his LBC radio phone-in show, Salmond was asked if the SNP would try to block the triggering of Article 50.

“No, the SNP MPs will put forward what the First Minister has articulated in terms of Scotland’s red lines, if the Government accommodates these within the Bill we could end up supporting it," he said.

However last week Brexit Secretary Mike Russell told the Sunday Politics programme he could not imagine any circumstances in which they would.

Scottish Labour Europe spokesperson Lewis Macdonald called it "a complete U-turn in the space of just ten days".

“The SNP also failed to present a scrap of evidence that EU single market membership for Scotland alone is possible during its own Holyrood debate," he added.

However both the Conservatives and Labour have also been divided on Europe.

Earlier this week a leaked memo suggested the UK Cabinet were 'split' over the strategy to leave the EU, while a report by the Institute for Government said the UK Government’s approach to Brexit is “chaotic and dysfunctional".

SNP Commons leader Angus Robertson said: “The lack of information from the UK government on their post-Brexit plans is staggering. Barely a day goes by without more evidence that Theresa May and her government do not have a clue."

Meanwhile Shadow Chancellor John McDonnell yesterday said Labour would not seek to block or delay the triggering of Article 50, despite leader Jeremy Corbyn telling MPs the Government's approach was "a total shambles".