Tory plan for special EU City deal should be template for Scotland, say SNP

SNP leaders have seized on reports that the Tory negotiators are seeking to keep the City in the single market, arguing that if they are able to secure a special deal for London, then the UK Government should also be open to considering an arrangement to maintain single market membership for Scotland, which voted overwhelmingly in favour of remaining in the EU.

The SNP’s calls have been echoed in Northern Ireland where Sinn Fein’s Martin McGuinness is also pushing for special status for the country after 56 per cent of its electorate voted Remain.

The Scottish Government has said it is currently exploring all options to maintain Scotland’s place in the EU, and First Minister Nicola Sturgeon has pledged to bring forward a specific proposal.

Speaking at the SNP conference over the week Ms Sturgeon announced that plans were also being drawn up for a second independence referendum should Scotland be cut-off from the single market as a result of Brexit.

SNP MSP and convener of Holyrood’s Europe Committee, Joan McAlpine, said: “The revelation that the UK government is exploring options to keep the City of London in the single market – spending billions of pounds of taxpayers’ money in the process – means it is simply not tenable for Theresa May and her ministers to claim it is impossible to look at similar arrangements for Scotland.

“The Tories have been continually dismissive of the Scottish Government’s efforts to keep Scotland in the EU, and this latest development exposes the double standards at play and the Conservatives’ contempt for Scottish voters.

“Quite simply, if the UK Government is able and willing to pursue a special deal for London, then they should also be able to consider a special deal to keep Scotland in the single market – given the overwhelming vote by people across Scotland to remain in Europe.”

In a Downing Street briefing, Mrs May’s spokeswoman said the UK Government wanted to “involve the devolved administrations of the United Kingdom as we prepare for the negotiations but this was a decision taken by the people of the United Kingdom”.

She added: “We are members as the United Kingdom and that is how we will approach leaving.”

Asked if it was feasible for Scotland, as suggested by Ms Sturgeon, to have extra powers over immigration as part of a bespoke Scottish package, the spokeswoman replied: “There is a very clear delineation between the issues that are reserved and issues that are devolved.”