SNP accused of wanting bad Brexit deal for UK to BOOST bid for Scottish independence
THE SNP has been accused of wanting Britain to get a bad Brexit deal to boost their bid for an independence referendum.
Shadow home secretary Yvette Cooper hit out against Nicola Sturgeon’s call for a second vote, saying the SNP should help Westminster secure the best possible EU exit deal.
Speaking to BBC Radio 5 Live on Wednesday, Ms Cooper said: “The most likely thing is that we are going to end up with half a deal in two years time and then some sort of transitional arrangement while the new free trade arrangements or whatever, are all worked out.
“So the truth is we’re not going to know. The idea that we would know in the last six months of the negotiations enough for Scotland to be able to make a decision I think is crazy.”
The Labour Party politician also suggested the timing of Ms Sturgeon’s vow to have another vote before Brexit was about pushing the same old agenda, rather than serving Scotland’s best interests.
“And the fact that the SNP have chosen this timing suggests to me this is not really about getting the best deal for Scotland or for the rest of the United Kingdom, it’s actually just about doing anything [they] can to just keep pushing the same thing that we’ve been through once before,” Ms Cooper said.
“Surely we can’t go back to that again. Let’s have the SNP working with other parties in Westminster to get the best possible Brexit deal.
“My worry is they’re going to want a bad deal in order to have an incentive to leave, rather than working with us to stop a far-right Brexit.”
Ms Sturgeon will on Wednesday ask the Scottish Parliament to back its plans to ask the Prime Minister for a section 30 order, which is needed to make a referendum legally binding.
Dugdale blasts Sturgeon for her focus on another referendum
My worry is they’re going to want a bad deal in order to have an incentive to leave
Ahead of the vote, the First Minister was slammed by Labour MSP Neil Findlay, as he asked her to stand up and account for her past refusals to accept Scottish Parliament votes.
The MSP for Lothian raged at Ms Sturgeon’s history of ignoring the will of Holyrood, saying this meant she did not have a leg to stand on when pushing through for a second Scottish referendum.
He said: “This argument only applies when it suits the First Minister’s case.
“Where was this great champion of parliamentary democracy when this parliament defeated her government on fracking, on NHS cuts, on Highlands and Islands Enterprise, on council funding, on the Offensive Behaviour at Football, on failing education policy and local government’s cuts.
“I will give way to the First Minister if she can tell us why it suits her argument, but when she’s defeated, she rejects democracy. I would give way if the First Minister wants to tell us.”
“That tells you everything. Come on, tell us. Not a movement from her. Did she change her policy after those defeats? No, she ploughed on regardless of this parliament.
"So let none of us take any lectures from the First Minister about respecting the will of parliament when by her own arrogant belief that she can do no wrong, she has shown nothing but contempt for this parliament.”
Ms Sturgeon was left squirming last week as she was challenged on whether or not she could guarantee an independent Scotland would be given EU membership.