Scottish Secretary David Mundell open to ‘differential Brexit arrangement’ for Scotland

David Mundell - PA

Scottish Secretary David Mundell has told MPs he thinks the Scottish and UK Governments will come to an agreement about a plan for Scotland post-Brexit.

Speaking to the Scottish Affairs Committee at Westminster, the Dumfriesshire MP called on the Scottish Government to come up with proposals that were “workable and credible” before Prime Minister Theresa May triggers Article 50, the mechanism for leaving the European Union.

The Scottish Government has argued Scotland should have access to the European single market and enjoy separate immigration arrangements.

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Mundell said proposals would need to be based on factual evidence.

“I am open, and I’ve said it before, to a differential arrangement for Scotland if it can be factually shown that there is a benefit to Scotland from doing that, not just an ideological view that Scotland should somehow be different,” he said.

However immigration and the single market would need a whole-UK approach, he believes.

“If we look at all the two significant issues, the single market and migration, all the information I have currently before me - but I’m open to and have always been open to hear new information and new argument - indicates that the issue about access to the single market is the same across the whole of the UK,” he said.

“It’s vitally important we get the best possible access. Likewise, in relation to migration, it’s important for all parts of the UK that we’ll continue to be able to have people come to the UK to provide vital work in our country.”

The SNP called his performance in front of the committee “extraordinary” because he appeared to dodge a question from fellow Conservative Anna Soubry on whether the UK Government has a contingency plan for if the Supreme Court rules the Scottish parliament must have a consent motion before Article 50 can be triggered.

They also claimed he dodged questions on whether Scotland might get new powers once they are repatriated from Brussels.