Nicola Sturgeon condemns Tory leader Jackson Carlaw after backing PM’s position on Brexit

Jackson Carlaw has “squandered any shred of credibility he ever had” after backing Boris Johnson’s position on Brexit, according to Nicola Sturgeon.

The Scottish Conservative leader was criticised by the First Minister after he said earlier this week that a further delay to Brexit would be more damaging than the UK leaving the EU without a deal.

Speaking at First Minister’s Questions on Thursday, Mr Carlaw insisted there is a need for compromise on all sides of the debate in order to secure a deal before the UK’s scheduled exit date on October 31.

He said: “Our position is further dither, delay and uncertainty, and the prospect of Jeremy Corbyn as prime minister, to which this First Minister is disgracefully open, is much more damaging to us all than getting this sorted now.

“We are at the 11th hour, there is a need on all sides to compromise if we are going to reach a negotiated settlement, yet the record of this SNP Government has been to fail to do so.

“The First Minister repeatedly says she will do anything possible to stop no-deal, yet despite three opportunities so far this year, her MPs haven’t ever voted for a deal.

“Does she regret not ordering her MPs to vote for a deal when she had the chance?”

But Ms Sturgeon hit back, saying: “My alternative to no-deal is no Brexit, that’s what the people of Scotland voted for.

“All of the efforts at compromise to keep us in the single market and customs union were spurned and cast aside by Theresa May.

“I will not support an option which takes us not just out of the EU, but out of the single market and customs union.”

Making reference to comments made by Scottish Secretary Alister Jack that Mr Carlaw had brought the Scottish Tories “into line with the UK Government” on a no-deal Brexit, Ms Sturgeon said: “Jackson Carlaw has no credibility on this, or perhaps on anything else after the events of this week.

“He’s gone from being an enthusiastic Remainer to a Boris Johnson-loving, no-deal Brexiteer in what seems like a heartbeat.

“He has completely abandoned the interests of the Scottish people – shame on him for that. No wonder his colleagues now want to get rid of him.

“Jackson Carlaw’s position can be simplified to simply doing whatever Boris Johnson instructs him to do.

“He doesn’t care about the best interests of the Scottish people. I’m not even sure he cares about the best interests of the Scottish Conservative Party, because backing no-deal is certainly not in those interests.

“I think Jackson Carlaw has made the miscalculation that backing Boris Johnson is the best way to remain leader of the Scottish Conservative Party, but I have to say, his colleagues seem to have a completely different view of that.

“Jackson Carlaw has squandered any shred of credibility he ever had.”

Mr Carlaw responded: “If the First Minister had the courage of her convictions, she would have voted for a general election several weeks ago and there would have been an opportunity for this issue to have been resolved before October 31.

“She had her chance, once again her MPs were all talk but no action.

“Scottish Conservatives welcome the fact that in the EU and the European Commission, senior figures haven’t rushed to judgment like the First Minister and have made clear that they are prepared to examine this plan in detail.

“And we urge that both they and the UK Government continue their intensive discussions over the coming days.

“That, rather than the ‘neverendum’ the First Minister supports, is the best way to get this resolved.”