Tommy Sheppard launches campaign with Brexit pledge

SNP MPs could block any UK government plan for Brexit unless it contained 'special arrangements' for Scotland, a candidate for the party's depute leadership has said.
By The Newsroom
Published 7th Aug 2016, 11:42 BST
Updated 25th Aug 2016, 19:23 BST
Edinburgh East MP Tommy Sheppard said the partys MPs could vote down any proposal that did not reflect the fact that 62 per cent of Scots voted to remain in Junes referendum. Picture: TSPLEdinburgh East MP Tommy Sheppard said the partys MPs could vote down any proposal that did not reflect the fact that 62 per cent of Scots voted to remain in Junes referendum. Picture: TSPL
Edinburgh East MP Tommy Sheppard said the partys MPs could vote down any proposal that did not reflect the fact that 62 per cent of Scots voted to remain in Junes referendum. Picture: TSPL

Edinburgh East MP Tommy Sheppard said the party’s MPs could vote down any proposal that did not reflect the fact that 62 per cent of Scots voted to remain in June’s referendum.

He was speaking as he formally launched his campaign for the depute leader post left vacant by Stewart Hosie with a pitch to overhaul the party in readiness for a second independence referendum.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

Sheppard, a former Labour councillor, said: “I’m not a party spokesperson but I’m pretty sure, and I will certainly argue, that unless the Brexit plan contains special arrangements for Scotland to allow us to have a different relationship with the EU, keeping our European passports while our neighbours in England and Wales lose theirs, unless that is there we will be voting down any Brexit plan that comes in front of the House of Commons and that’s something she [May] is going to have to take into account.

“So we are not completely powerless in this game. We do have some influence.”

Related topics:MPsBrexitSNPScotlandLabour