A SCOTTISH Tory MP has attacked Theresa May’s Brexit plan after being briefed on its contents by Downing Street.
Ross Thomson said he was “deeply concerned” about the proposal before he went in, and left feeling convinced it would lead to the UK becoming a “vassal state”.
As the Aberdeen South MP was commenting, Scottish Tory leader Ruth Davidson and Scottish Secretary David Mundell were criticised for their “vow of silence” on the issue.
Labour’s Lesley Laid said Mr Mundell had “pulled his usual invisible man trick”.
Ms Davidson issued a lengthy statement on Saturday in the wake of Mrs May’s cabinet agreeing a soft Brexit plan that would maintain a series of ties with the EU.
However she has yet to comment on the fall-out from the meeting and the resignation of Brexit Secretary David Davis, who said the plan gave “too much away, too easily”.
The Prime Minister’s chief of staff Gavin Barwell has been briefing Conservative MPs at Downing Street about the content of the Chequers plan.
To the fury of many Tories, Mr Barwell has also offered briefing to opposition MPs who Mrs May is now likely to depend on to get her plan through parliament.
Mr Thomson, who backed Brexit, tweeted: “I’ve been deeply concerned by the Chequers plan, but reserved judgement until I could see [the] detail.
“ I’ve just left the Downing Street briefing and I still have concerns. The Brexit plan opening offer appears so diluted that we would be a vassal state. I now await the White Paper.”
The White Paper detailing the UK’s proposal - which will form the basis of negotiations with the other 27 EU nations - is supposed to be issued by the UK government on Thursday.
Ms Laird mocked the Scottish Tory leadership for their minimal response to the crisis.
She said: “The Tory government has collapsed into chaos but both David Mundell and Ruth Davidson appear to have taken a vow of silence.
“The people of Scotland expect better than this. Instead David Mundell has pulled his usual invisible man trick.
“The Prime Minister is now in an unsustainable position and the Scottish Secretary nor the leader of the Scottish Tory party have broken cover to defend her.
“This isn’t strong and stable – this is a complete Tory shambles.”
Ms Davidson is expected to make a statement later today.
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