SCOTLAND’S Brexit Secretary has said there is no prospect of the UK becoming a “glorious trading nation” after leaving the European Union.
Michael Russell also said if no deal is reached with the EU, the result would be “chaos” and accused the government of pursuing a “fantasy”.
His comments come after Prime Minister Theresa May said the initiative for negotiations now lay with the EU side, adding ‘the ball is in their court’.
Speaking to the BBC, Russell said: “It sounds like Wimbledon rather than the serious negotiation it needs to be. It is the UK which has chosen to leave the EU, clearly it has to come up with the proposals for discussion.
“If it is refusing to come up with the proposals and now openly talking about not taking part in negotiation and walking, that’s a new degree of seriousness and it will cause enormous difficulty.
“This is a fantasy, it [the UK Government] is pursuing a fantasy, there isn’t a good Brexit. It’s no secret we don’t agree with the policy, the policy was not voted for by Scotland. It is based upon a fantasy of the UK – some buccaneering, glorious trading nation – which just doesn’t exist and can’t exist, and it’s important to say that.”
A UK Government spokesman said: “Since the Prime Minister’s speech in Florence, there has been a new, positive dynamic to the negotiations and we have made tangible progress on a number of vital areas. On trade, we want to continue working with the EU to promote the long-term economic development of our continent as we move forward.
“The British people have decided to be a global, free-trading nation. We want to maximise our trade opportunities by seeking a deep and special partnership with the EU and boosting our trade relationships around the world.”
Earlier in the week, senior SNP MP Pete Wishart said the “horrors of Brexit” would leave the Scottish nation “crying out” for a second independence referendum.
“They will be coming to the Scottish National Party saying ‘get us out of this mess’,” he said
He added: “We have the opportunity, there’s a lifeboat attached to the good ship UK that’s heading for that Brexit iceberg it’s called Scottish independence. Let’s get on board that lifeboat, let’s row as fast as possible.”
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