SNP backs staying in EU over soft Brexit, says Sturgeon

1 April 2019, 12:03

Nicola Sturgeon has said her party's preference is for no Brexit, rather than a soft Brexit, ahead of further votes at Westminster.

A second round of indicative votes will be held on Monday, with a series of proposals tabled by MPs to see if any can command a majority.

The First Minister suggested a proposal put forward by SNP MP Joanna Cherry calling on the UK Government to revoke Article 50 if no extension can be obtained is the "most important" motion being tabled.

Last week, none of the eight alternatives to Prime Minister Theresa May's deal proposed by MPs were approved.

Ms Sturgeon tweeted on Monday: "The most important motion laid today is this one from Joanna Cherry - it makes revoking Article 50, rather than a no-deal Brexit, the default option if Parliament can't agree a way forward.

"I hope all parties will support."

Ms Sturgeon said SNP MPs would decide how to vote when proposals are selected later.

"Today's vote is not on a preferential basis so there may be an opportunity to keep alive 'least worst' options against no deal/hard Brexit," she said.

"But to be clear, our preference is not soft Brexit - it is no Brexit."

At First Minister's Questions in the Scottish Parliament last week, Ms Sturgeon said the SNP had argued for a single market/customs union membership compromise for two years when stopping Brexit did not appear to be an option.

She suggested putting the question of EU membership back to the people in a referendum would now be the right thing to do.