Where’s the democracy? Just ONE Scottish MP to vote in favour of triggering Article 50

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Conservative MP David Mundell is expected to vote in favour of triggering Article 50

Supreme Court judges will decide this week whether the Prime Minister has to give MPs and the devolved governments of Northern Ireland and Scotland a vote on the matter.

Tory MP and Scottish Secretary David Mundell is expected to back Theresa May and vote in favour of triggering Article 50.

But the 58 other Scottish MPs are likely to go against starting EU divorce talks.

The UK Government is committed to securing a deal that works for all parts of the UK. It is only by coming together that we can make the most of the opportunities ahead

David Mundell

Mr Mundell, the Tories only MP north of the border, indicated he would follow the party line in comments before a meeting of ministers from the devolved governments last week.

He said: "As we leave the EU, the UK Government is committed to securing a deal that works for all parts of the UK. It is only by coming together that we can make the most of the opportunities ahead."

Scotland’s Brexit Minister Mike Russell said SNP MPs will “absolutely” vote against the legislation.

He said any of the party’s MPs voting to support Brexit would be endorsing the Prime Minister’s vision of “isolationist” Britain, despite the SNP making calls for a second independence referendum in the event of hard Brexit.

Mr Russell said: “I don’t think there is any possibility of the SNP MPs supporting the Article 50 bill.

“Endorsing Article 50 is not just endorsing the vote in the United Kingdom- and of course the vote in Scotland was very different – it's actually endorsing the type of position Theresa May has taken on the type of Brexit she wants, and that’s endorsing the type of country she wants.

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David Mundell is expected to be the only Scottish MP voting in favour of triggering Article 50

GETTY

Scotland’s Brexit Minister Mike Russell said SNP MPs will “absolutely” vote against the legislation

“She wants an isolationist country, she wants a country that is inward looking and she wants a country which is rejecting the benefits of migration.

“That’s not the country any of us want to see Scotland being and that is one of the strongest reasons for saying we reject it.”

Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn is expected to order MPs to respect the referendum decision and not block Brexit, if Article 50 goes to a Commons vote.

But it’s believed Scotland’s only Labour MP Ian Murray will defy Mr Corbyn and vote against.

The Liberal Democrats, which also has one Scottish MP, have said they will not vote in favour of triggering Article 50 unless Mrs May agrees to a second Brexit referendum.

Scotland’s two Independent MPs are also expected to oppose triggering Article 50.

Natalie McGarry, MP for Glasgow East, said: “The people of Scotland and the residents in Glasgow overwhelmingly voted to remain part of the European Union. If the Supreme Court rules that MPs must be given a vote on the triggering of Article 50, I’ll be marching through the lobby to vote against it.

“Brexit, especially the hard Brexit that the UK Government intends on pursuing, poses immense risks and uncertainties for individuals and organisations in Glasgow and across Scotland.

PA

Nicola Sturgeon pledged that MSPs will be given the opportunity to vote on the matter too

“I am a representative of Glasgow East in the UK Parliament and it would be a dereliction of duty for me to ignore the democratic will of the people I represent by voting to trigger Article 50.

“Unlike David Mundell, Westminster’s man in Scotland, I will be representing Scotland and my constituents if a vote comes before the House.”

It comes as First Minister Nicola Sturgeon pledged that MSPs will be given the opportunity to vote on the triggering of Article 50, which will begin the formal Brexit process.

Ms Sturgeon said she would ensure Holyrood had its say regardless of the outcome of the Supreme Court ruling.

The Prime Minister has made clear her intention to take the UK out of the single market, with Ms Sturgeon warning the move "undoubtedly" makes a second referendum on Scottish independence more likely.

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The Scottish Government has put forward proposals for a differentiated settlement that would allow Scotland to stay in the single market while the rest of the UK leaves.

Writing in the Daily Record, Ms Sturgeon said: "It's getting hard not to feel like the PM has her fingers in her ears when it comes to Scotland.

"This isn't some academic debate – removing us from the largest single market in the world would be devastating for people's jobs and living standards. But that seems to be of little concern to the Tories."

She added: "No matter what the court decides, I want to make this crystal clear – I intend to make sure the Scottish Parliament has the chance to vote on the question of triggering Article 50.

"If the UK Government don't start showing Scotland some respect, I'll make sure that people across Scotland have the chance to choose our own future before the Tories drag us off an economic cliff-edge."

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