Scotland’s only Labour MP is to join the SNP in a bid to block the Prime Minister starting Brexit.

Ian Murray has put his name to the amendment which calls on MPs to block the progress of the European Union (Notification of Withdrawal) Bill in the House of Commons.

Murray’s decision means he will defy his party leader Jeremy Corbyn’s three-line whip ordering Labour MPs to vote to trigger Article 50.

The Prime Minister has promised to begin the leaving process before the end of March.

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The amendment says MPs should reject the bill as the UK Government has not set out any “provision for effective consultation with the devolved administrations on implementing article 50”.

It also accuses Downing Street of leaving “unanswered a range of detailed questions covering many policy areas about the full implications of withdrawal from the single market”.

The Scottish Government published proposals in December for Scotland to stay in the European single market even if the rest of the UK left.

Speaking before the debate in the Commons, Ian Murray said: “I represent a constituency where 78% of voters backed remain and I will be standing up for them in the Commons by voting against the triggering of Article 50.

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“I have signed all Labour’s amendments to the bill so far and I will support Labour amendments throughout the Brexit process as parliament must do everything it can to get the best deal for Scotland and the UK – including safeguarding the rights of EU nationals to remain here.

“But I cannot vote for the extreme hard Brexit that Theresa May is pursuing, which risks damaging the economy of Edinburgh, Scotland and the entire UK.

“The Tories are threatening to inflict economic vandalism on our country.”

He added: “The only thing more damaging for our economy than a Tory Brexit is the SNP’s reckless plan for independence.

“If SNP MPs are serious about standing up for Scotland they will tell Nicola Sturgeon to drop her plans for another referendum and tell her to get back to the day job.

“She should be focused on growing our economy and investing in public services, rather than cutting £327m from local budgets and threatening a second independence referendum.”

The SNP amendment has also found support from the SDLP, Plaid Cymru and Green Party’s sole MP Caroline Lucas.

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Former party leader and Gordon MP Alex Salmond said: “Parliamentarians and the public should not be in the position of finally having confirmation of a white paper at the very same time that MPs are expected to vote on the triggering of Article 50.

“That is not just a dismissal of democracy in this parliament, it is a reflection of this Tory government and its plan to blindly take the UK to the brink.

“It is time for the opposition parties to live up to their title and back the SNP’s reasoned amendment to hold this government to account for failing to outline a single ounce of detail and instead opting to bulldoze this bill through parliament.

“This is a bill without a white paper, without a policy position, without guaranteeing the rights of EU citizens and without a clue.”