“FRUSTRATION”, “disappointment” and “complete madness” are just some of the reactions coming out of Scotland after Boris Johnson announced the UK must “get ready” to leave the EU on “Australia terms”.

Australia currently has very few deals with the European Union, meaning the Prime Minister has actually announced that the UK is heading for a rebranded No-Deal Brexit scenario.

With the EU chief negotiator Michel Barnier due in London next week for fresh talks, the idea of “brinkmanship” on the Prime Minister’s part is continuing.

However, Downing Street itself has ruled out the possibility of a deal, declaring that “trade talks are over”.

Many prominent Scots, including the First Minister, have reacted to the news, saying it is the “worst possible” outcome for Scotland.

READ MORE: IN FULL: Nicola Sturgeon's comments on Boris Johnson's No-Deal announcement

Speaking today at her coronavirus briefing, Nicola Sturgeon said she was “deeply frustrated and depressed” by the “avoidable” prospect of a No-Deal Brexit come December.

In a comment sent out later, the First Minister also said it was “beyond belief that in the midst of a global pandemic and deep recession the Prime Minister is telling Scotland to get ready for a disastrous No-Deal Brexit”.

She added: “The Prime Minister must withdraw his threat to force the hardest possible Brexit on Scotland.”

Scottish Constitution Secretary Michael Russell said Johnson was like the Titanic's captain "preparing to embrace the iceberg". 

SNP MPs including Angus MacNeil and Douglas Chapman have joined the First Minister and Russell in condemning the UK Government.

MacNeil wrote on Twitter that the effects of a No-Deal Brexit would be “FIVE TIMES the economic damage of #Covid-19”, adding: “UK is mad and madder, still Scotland has no plan we can implement before January #crap”

Referencing the Tories’ now infamous General Election promise, Chapman wrote: “That 'oven-ready' deal nowhere to be seen and now we're plummeting towards a No-Deal.

“The worst possible deal for Scotland, which we didn't even vote for.

“Get your coat, Scotland.”

The Scottish Greens co-leader, Patrick Harvie MSP, said the Prime Minister’s actions were “criminal”.

He said: “The Westminster government’s chaotic approach to exiting the EU will have dire consequences for the people of Scotland, who let’s not forget have repeatedly rejected the Brexit project. 

“Scotland doesn’t want Brexit, and dragging us out of the EU against our will was always appalling, but for the Prime Minister to do so on a cliff edge in the middle of a pandemic is criminal. 

Calling on Johnson to outline the plans in place for stockpiling medicines so that no-one in the UK will face running out of the medicine they need, the Greens' co-leader (pictured below) added: "There are so many areas of concern about this back of a fag packet Brexit shambles, that it is difficult to know where to begin. 

“It’s clearer than ever that the only thing the UK Government has to offer Scotland is contempt."

The National: FREE Picture: Scottish Green Party Spring conference, Edinburgh, Sat 05/03/2016: Scottish Green Party co-convenor Patrick Harvie (correct) speaking at the Scottish Greens conference at Paterson's Land (University of Edinbrugh campus). Photography for Sc

National columnist Ruth Wishart wrote: “Remember when the PM assured us a No-Deal Brexit was a million to one shot? He obviously doesn't. Trumpian levels of selective amnesia.”

She added: “Final nail in the Brexit coffin courtesy of Boris. #timetogo”

SNP councillor Mhairi Hunter said: “It's complete madness to even contemplate a No-Deal Brexit at this stage of the pandemic. It is not fully under control.”

In a separate tweet, the councillor challenged the “Tories who have been bleating incessantly about a Scotgov advisor on rural economy doing rural economy things during the pandemic, [to] say something about UK Gov going for a No-Deal Brexit during the pandemic.”

Kirsty Hughes, the founder and former director of the Scottish Centre on European Relations, said: “If it's really No-Deal - and it's not clear talks are actually going to stop - that 58% for Scottish independence poll is probably not going to be an outlier.”

Elsewhere, many of the UK’s business leaders have moved to condemn talk of a “Australia-style” deal, which, as Irish politician Neale Richmond pointed out, is “also known as the Mongolian, Mauritania or Somali style post-Brexit deal”.

“Such terms would be devastating for the UK,” he added.

READ MORE: Boris Johnson tells UK to 'get ready' for a No-Deal Brexit

Mike Cherry, the chairman of the Federation of Small Businesses (FSB), said firms were not ready for a No-Deal Brexit, especially one which comes in conjunction with the Covid crisis.

He said: “[Businesses are] being told to both prepare and simultaneously manage a fresh set of Covid restrictions. Many simply don’t have the time or money to make adjustments, even if they want and need to.”

Carolyn Fairbairn, the director-general of the Confederation of British Industry (CBI), said: “After four years of negotiations and so many hurdles crossed, this is no time to give up. Neither side can afford to fall at the final fence.

“A deal is the only outcome that protects Covid-hit livelihoods at a time when every job in every country counts.”