This Week in Westminster: standing up for Scotland’s place in Europe

by Olaf Stando
Posted on
5 years ago
4 min read

Westminster has descended into ever deeper chaos in a week packed with dramatic events.

In a historic week defined by the crushing defeat of Theresa May’s Brexit deal, the Tories were ripping themselves apart over Brexit and Labour continues sitting on the fence.
Meanwhile, the SNP is crystal clear and united: Scotland voted to remain, and it cannot be dragged out of the European Union against its will by this farcically incompetent Tory government.

Here’s your roundup of the week in Westminster.

14/01/195:00pm

Theresa May delivered a statement on her Brexit deal, confirming that after a month’s delay, nothing has changed

The Brexit deal vote was initially planned for December, until Theresa May shamefully delayed the vote by using an arcane parliamentary procedure. She knew she was going to lose, so she attempted to wrestle further concessions from the EU in an attempt to convince her own Tory backbenchers to back the deal.

The only problem was that she achieved nothing, and only humiliated herself as the EU, standing united and in solidarity with Ireland, made it clear that the deal cannot be renegotiated.

While Theresa May attempted to run down the clock and wasted everyone’s time, the SNP have been clear all along: the government has to rule out the damaging prospect of ‘no deal’, extend Article 50, and put the issue back to the people to resolve the impasse.

15/01/198:30pm

SNP MPs and others defeated Theresa May’s shambolic Brexit deal by a crushing margin of 230

The Prime Minister’s deal would take Scotland of the EU against our will, and out of a market eight times bigger than the UK’s alone – leading to damaging job losses and snatching opportunities from future generations.
It was clear all along that because of blindly pursuing her red lines and pandering to hard-right Brexiteers, Theresa May’s deal was never going to satisfy Scotland’s interests.

All 35 SNP MPs stood united in voting down this deal, and following the biggest defeat in UK parliamentary history, it is now time for the people to decide.

16/01/198:00pm

The government narrowly survived a no confidence vote, but while Theresa May remains in office, she’s out of power

The contempt towards working families, the continuing austerity, the power grab of Scotland’s powers, dragging Scotland off the Brexit cliff, and so much more.
There is a myriad reasons why the SNP has no confidence in this disastrous Tory government.

On Wednesday, Mhairi Black delivered a fiery speech attacking the Tories and their record. Hours later, SNP MPs stood shoulder to shoulder while voting to bring down this shambolic UK government.

The motion of no confidence, sadly, was defeated. Despite 118 Tory MPs voting against the Brexit deal, and 117 Tories expressing no confidence in Theresa May just weeks earlier, all of the Tory MPs – including all Scottish Tories – rushed to save the UK government from collapse.

This result made it clear that Labour should finally get off the fence and as the Brexit clock is ticking, they must give a people a say on their future with a People’s Vote.

17/01/195:00pm

Nicola Sturgeon called for the UK government to drop their intransigent red lines on Brexit

The UK government tangled itself in a cage of red lines, by refusing to even consider the SNP’s compromise proposals to remain in the Single Market and Customs Union, published as early as December 2016.

Following two years of negotiations, the UK government revealed just how incompetent, divided and clueless it is regarding Brexit. After a historic defeat in Parliament, it is now time for Theresa May to face up to reality, listen to Scotland’s concerns, and take tangible steps to get out of the deadlock.

Read the piece from Nicola Sturgeon below.

18/01/193:00pm

SNP stood up for free movement and the clear benefits of immigration for Scotland

The SNP firmly believes in the social, cultural and economic benefits of freedom of movement to Scotland. As the Tories prepare to impose arbitrary limits, purely to satisfy the xenophobic sentiments of their hard-right faction, Kirsty Blackman set the record straight on Question Time.

While Kirsty Blackman showed passion and principle, none of the other panellists, including Labour’s Diane Abbott, were willing or able to defend immigration and free movement.

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