Published: 8:05 AM October 17, 2018 Updated: 6:30 PM September 17, 2020

SNP Westminster leader Ian Blackford has warned of the economic impact of Brexit Photo: PA / Jane Barlow - Credit: PA Wire/PA Images

A no-deal Brexit will wreck the economy, the SNP's Westminster leader has warned.

Ian Blackford slammed Theresa May's government saying it would be 'madness' to leave the EU without a deal.

His comments come as May prepares to address EU leaders in Brussels amid falling expectations and heightened fears the UK is set to spiral out of the bloc without a deal.

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He warned a no-deal Brexit would be a dereliction of duty from the prime minister.

Speaking on the BBC's Good Morning Scotland radio programme, he said: 'When you look at the fact that we've got a UK Government that's burdened by debt of almost £1.8 trillion to put yourself in the situation that you are going to crash the economy, because that's what you're doing, this is absolutely unprecedented.

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'UK government analysis suggests that the Scottish economy could fall by as much as 9% over 15 years.

'This is madness. No government should be doing that.

'You have a responsibility to look after people and I'm charging the prime minister of not discharging that responsibility properly.'

He said we must 'stop where we are' and recognise the consequences of leaving the EU without a deal and repeated calls for the remaining in the single market and customs union, for which he believes there is a majority in the House of Commons.

Blackford added the issue of a referendum on the final Brexit deal, a People's Vote, should be looked at if either no agreement is reached between the UK and the EU or if it is a 'bad deal'.

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