IAN Blackford has said "only independence" can protect Scotland's place in Europe after it emerged Boris Johnson is planning to rip up the agreement he signed with the EU increasing the risk of a No-Deal Brexit.
The SNP's Westminster leader spoke out following reports the Prime Minister was gearing up to crash out of the trade bloc at the end of the year.
He also hit out in response to the Prime Minister's claim that crashing out of the EU with no-deal would be a "good outcome" and the news of Tory plans to pass legislation overriding the withdrawal treaty.
Blackford said the Tory plans showed Johnson "cannot be trusted" and was threatening the Scottish and UK economy with a catastrophic blow.
"Boris Johnson's reckless plans for the hardest of Brexits would be devastating for Scotland, causing lasting damage to Scottish jobs and the economy in the middle of a pandemic," said Blackford.
READ MORE: Boris Johnson condemned over plan to backtrack on EU treaty
"By threatening to undermine the UK's international treaty obligations and impose a catastrophic no-deal Brexit on Scotland against our will, the Prime Minister is proving he cannot be trusted and is underlining the need for Scotland to become an independent country."
He added: "Scotland has been completely ignored by Westminster throughout the Brexit process. It is increasingly clear that the UK will now be leaving the EU with either a very bad deal or no deal at all - either of which would be a disaster for Scotland.
"With the Tories hardening their Brexit plans and threatening Scotland with a power grab, it is clearer than ever that the only way to protect Scotland's economic interests and our place in Europe is to become an independent country."
A series of recent polls has put support for independence over 50% with one survey last month saying 55% of Scots would now back a Yes vote.
Last week the First Minister Nicola Sturgeon said she would publish a draft bill before the Holyrood election next May setting out the terms, the timing and the question to be posed in a new independence referendum.
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