SCOTLAND'S MPs could tip the balance in a Commons vote on a hard Brexit now the Tories have lost their overall majority, the SNP's Europe spokesman has claimed.
Stephen Gethins said the tight arithmetic in the Commons hands Scotland's 59 MPs a "historic opportunity to make our mark" to defeat the UK government on Single Market membership.
Gethins has challenged Scotland's 13 Tory MPs and seven Scottish Labour MPs to join with the SNP's 35 MPs and the Scottish Lib Dems four MPs in opposing a hard Brexit.
He said that if all UK Labour MPs and the Scottish bloc of MPs combined they could overturn the notional Tory-DUP majority in the Commons of six.
Gethins said Scottish Labour MPs could persuade their party colleagues at Westminster to support Single Market membership.
He also made a plea to newly-elected Scottish Tory MPs to break rank with the UK party, claiming they were "untainted" by the Brexit divisions in the last parliament.
Gethins highlighted how Ruth Davidson and Scottish Secretary David Mundell has campaigned for Remain in last year's In-Out referendum.
The North East Fife MP said: "Scottish parliamentarians can have a particular role to play in helping bring Westminster together.
"Scotland’s new Conservative MPs are so far untainted by the divisions that played havoc on its parliamentary party during the EU Referendum.
"If Scottish Labour MPs can bring unity to their parliamentary colleagues on this issue, working with the SNP as the third biggest party in Westminster and the 13 Scottish Conservative MPs there would be a majority in favour of the Single Market.
"Scotland’s new intake of MPs have a historic opportunity to make our mark, lead and save the UK from the cliff edge of leaving the European Single Market."
In response, a Scottish Labour spokesperson said: “Labour will always put jobs and the economy first and it’s deeply disappointing that the SNP would rather pick a fight with Labour than join us in challenging the Tories."
A Scottish Tory spokesman added: "Scottish Conservative MPs will do what's best for Scotland, not what's best for the SNP."
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