Tories accuse Nicola Sturgeon of '˜weaponising Brexit' ahead of Brussels meeting

Nicola Sturgeon has pledged that Scotland's 'partnership' with the EU will remain after Brexit as she prepares to meet EU's chief negotiator Michel Barnier in Brussels today.

The First Minister will unveil plans to expand the Scotland House base of businesses in the EU capital in a show of European solidarity as Brexit disputes intensify in the UK government.

And Ms Sturgeon appeared to back Mr Barnier’s recent call for the UK government to step up the pace of Brexit negotiations as she hit out at the lack of an “agreed position” among the Tory party.

But the SNP leader was accused of seeking to “weaponise” the Brexit debate and using the trip for narrow party political purposes.

Nicola Sturgeon will unveil plans to expand the Scotland House base of businesses in the EU capital. Picture: PA

The Scottish Government wants to stay inside the customs union and single market, which Ms Sturgeon describes as “the best possible outcome from Brexit, short of continuing EU membership”.

Mr Barnier expressed frustration at the state of the negotiations last week, claiming that the UK was playing “hide-and-seek” by refusing to spell out exactly what it wants.

In a strongly worded speech in Lisbon, Mr Barnier stressed that “time is and will remain tight”, and called for progress to “speed up” if details of the future relationship are to be agreed before the Brexit date.

The Scottish and UK governments have been in dispute over what should happen to powers currently held by Brussels after MSPs refused to give their consent to the EU Withdrawal Bill.

Ms Sturgeon is to hold the meeting while in Brussels for the official opening of the expanded Scotland House, a hub for Scottish businesses in Europe.

She said: “People and businesses are desperate for clarity on Brexit, but with just months to go before the withdrawal agreement has to be signed, the UK government still cannot agree a position.

“This damaging uncertainty could come to an immediate end if only the UK government would put jobs and living standards first and agree to continuing single market and customs union membership – for Scotland and the whole of the UK.