IAN Blackford has told European policy-makers the UK Government is “in chaos” and must drop its “obsession” with crashing out of the EU without a trade deal.
The SNP Westminster leader also told a Brussels audience the Prime Minister must improve how her Government works with the devolved administrations.
“UK politics has hit a dead end. There’s no way forward, nor a way back, for Theresa May. She must create a new path – and she can do that – by working across the political spectrum, showing some respect to the constituent parts of the UK and dropping her obsession with a no deal,” he said.
Blackford also appealed to Chancellor Philip Hammond to deliver his budget next week on the basis of the UK’s continued membership of the single market.
His speech comes as the EU Withdrawal Bill has started its progress at Westminster – but with almost 500 amendments to be debated.
“The EU Withdrawal Bill is damaging and unworkable, and Theresa May’s government is in a state of chaos,” he added.
His speech comes days after First Minister Nicola Sturgeon told Theresa May that the EU Withdrawal Bill is not acceptable to the Scottish Government in its current form.
She has previously described it as a "power grab" as it would return responsibilities in devolved areas such as agriculture and the environment from Brussels to London.
Speaking after talks at Downing Street, Sturgeon said no agreement had been reached, but held out the prospect of differences being ironed out. She told journalists the Scottish Government had a mandate for an independence referendum within the current parliamentary term.
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