SNP to vote against Brexit trade deal in Commons

The SNP will vote against Boris Johnson’s post-Brexit trade deal, the party has confirmed.

Ian Blackford, the party’s Westminster leader, announced he and his fellow SNP MPs will reject it in the House of Commons.

It comes after a meeting of the SNP Parliamentary Group on Sunday.

Blackford called it “an unforgivable act of economic vandalism and gross stupidity, which will cause lasting damage to the economy” during a pandemic and recession.

In a statement he said: “Scotland has been completely ignored by Westminster throughout the Brexit process and we are being forced to pay a devastating price.

“It is clear that the only way to protect Scotland’s interests, and regain the full benefits of EU membership, is to become an independent country.

“This is a very bad deal for Scotland, which will terminate our membership of the EU, rip us out of the world’s largest single market and customs union, end our freedom of movement rights, and impose mountains of red tape, added costs and barriers to trade for Scottish businesses. The blame lies squarely with the Tory government.”

MPs and peers will be called back to Westminster on December 30 to vote on the deal.

The agreement is likely to be passed by Parliament, with Labour supporting it, as the alternative would be a no-deal situation on January 1.

Alister Jack, Secretary of State for Scotland, said: “We have secured a historic Free Trade deal with the EU that delivers for Scotland and the whole of the UK.

“This is a deep and wide-ranging deal, covering trade, security, travel, transport, energy, health and social security.

“As Parliament prepares to vote on the deal this week, I urge all Scottish MPs to give it their wholehearted support.”

Meanwhile, presiding officer Ken Macintosh will recall the Scottish Parliament on December 30 for MSPs to consider the agreement.