‘UK is member state, NOT Scotland!’ Tory MSP lashes out at SNP during Article 50 debate

Adam Tomkins ripped into Nicola Sturgeon’s Government during a debate on Article 50 in the Scottish parliament.

He hit out at the Scottish administration for spending an “awful lot of time” debating “motion after motion after motion” and not addressing “significant” issues in other areas, such as public services.

“Instead we spend our time talking about something which a unanimous judgement of the UK’s Supreme Court has ruled to be a matter for the United Kingdom parliament not for devolved parliaments such as this one,” he said.

“And in doing so presiding officer, we are merely reconfirming the Scottish Government’s dismal view of what this parliament is for.

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Adam Tomkins ripped into Nicola Sturgeon over her stance on Brexit

The UK’s membership of the European Union is not and never has been a devolved matter

Adam Tomkins

“In their view, it’s not for governing, it’s for grandstanding. It’s not for making better laws for the people of Scotland, it’s to give voice to grievance, contrived grievance, nationalist grievance, grievance which the Supreme Court itself has ruled has no basis.”

Mr Tomkins then accused the SNP of “putting their fingers in their ears” over Brexit and “carrying on regardless”.

“Regardless of the rule of law, regardless of the unanimous judgement of the country’s highest judges, furious perhaps that their control freakery is mere impotent fury,” he blasted.

The outburst follows continued SNP warnings to hold a second Scottish independence referendum if the UK leaves the single market.

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Mr Tomkins continued: “It is the United Kingdom, not Scotland, that is the member state of the European Union.

“It is the United Kingdom as a whole that decided by lawful referendum in June last year to terminate its membership of the European Union.

“The UK’s membership of the European Union is not and never has been a devolved matter.”

Mrs Sturgeon has since come under fire after another MSP tweeted a picture of her empty seat during the debate.

Conservative Alex Burnett wrote: “FM today: Article 50 vote in Holyrood today is 'most significant' vote ever in Parliament. She left after 10 mins and 1 speech!”

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