NICOLA Sturgeon has insisted a no-deal Brexit “may actually be the most likely outcome” of the UK’s negotiations with the European Union.
The First Minister said she was increasingly concerned about the “staggering incompetence” of Theresa May’s Government.
It came as she confirmed the Scottish Government will not give its consent to any Brexit-related legislation “that impinges on devolved matters”.
She said: "Almost with every day that passes right now, instead of the UK Government opening up negotiating space that increases the possibility of reaching a deal that then can attract political support, they seem to be closing down that negotiating space and digging themselves deeper into the hole they've got themselves in.
"I am increasingly concerned, literally with every day that passes right now, that the prospect of a no deal is becoming ever greater.
"As things stand just now I think no deal may actually be the most likely outcome, and that is deeply concerning.
"Given that we are two years on from the vote, five months away from exit, it is staggering incompetence that the Government has allowed the situation to get to this stage.
"I think Brexit is frankly shaping up to be the biggest failure of government policy and handling of a situation that any of us have ever seen perhaps in our entire lifetimes."
Mrs May has insisted a Brexit deal is 95 per cent agreed, but there remains an “impasse” over the border between Northern Ireland and the Republic.
Negotiators on both sides have been unable to agree on a so-called “backstop” which would rule out the need for a hard border after the UK leaves the EU.
Speaking to Holyrood's committee conveners, Ms Sturgeon said the UK was getting into territory where the extension of Article 50 "couldn't and shouldn't be ruled out".
She argued the will of the Scottish Parliament was previously ignored when UK ministers decided to push ahead with Brexit legislation despite failing to get consent from Holyrood.
She said: “As things stand at the moment, it is not the Scottish Government’s intention to recommend consent to any Brexit-related legislation that impinges on devolved matters because we think what happened over the Withdrawal Act was completely unacceptable, where the consent of this parliament was ignored.
“If that’s going to be the approach the UK Government takes, then what’s the point of this parliament looking and deciding whether or not it wants to bring forward consent?”
The Scottish Tories dismissed her remarks. Constitution spokesman Adam Tomkins said: “Nicola Sturgeon’s interventions on Brexit are entirely predictable.
He said: “She doesn’t want [Brexit] to happen or be a success, and will do everything she can to be an obstacle.
“It wouldn’t matter how much Scotland stood to benefit from the UK leaving the EU, the First Minister would still stand in the way.”
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