Brexit

Draft Withdrawal Agreement statement

Posted by Keith Thomson on November 16 2018 at 11:32

brexit

The draft deal the Prime Minister has brought back does not protect Scotland’s interests. We need to ensure either the UK remains in the Single Market and Customs Union, or Scotland should have its own special arrangement like is reportedly to be the case for Northern Ireland.

As the deal stands, we in the SNP would vote against.

The SNP Group Leader in Westminster has called for the Prime Minister to extend Article 50 and build a consensus for continued membership of the single market and the customs union.

Only then would we consider supporting this least damaging Brexit option. I would rather the UK did not leave the EU.

Another option would be to support a People’s Vote on Brexit, which I would vote for if the opportunity arose in the House of Commons. But, we must ensure that Scotland is once again not put in a position where the country votes to remain in the EU, but is dragged out anyway as a result of votes elsewhere.

Events of the past few days have made it clear that the Prime Minister cannot command a majority in the House of Commons for her Brexit deal.

I will not support it, and urge her go to back and secure a deal that meets the expressed wishes of the people of Scotland – who voted to remain in the EU.

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People's Vote

Posted by Keith Thomson on November 5 2018 at 09:47

If there is an opportunity to give people another say to reaffirm our desire to stay in the EU then I, and other SNP MPs, would back it.

That includes seeking an extension of the Article 50 negotiating period, voting for a new referendum on Brexit if that choice is put to the House of Commons and seeking to build consensus for continued membership of the single market and the customs union.

Whilst my party colleagues and I would vote, unconditionally, for a People's Vote on Brexit, we must ensure that Scotland is once again not put in a position where the country votes to remain in the EU, but is dragged out anyway as a result of votes elsewhere.

The democratic deficit has been clearer than ever over the past two years.

I am still of the mind-set that the best future for Scotland is an active member of the EU. Whilst I support a People's Vote, as people may be changing their mind as the Brexit circumstances unfold, a repeat of the outcome from the 2016 EU referendum that saw Scotland vote to remain, but still faced with being taken out of the EU against our will would be unacceptable.

Should the People’s Vote arise in Parliament, I would vote for it, but we must ensure Scotland’s voice is heard and respected should there be another vote. Otherwise, , it won’t resolve the same issue that Scotland faced in 2016 and we’d face exit anyway.

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