The leader of the Scottish National party at Westminster, Ian Blackford, has invited opposition leaders from across the Commons to a new year summit in order to coordinate cross-party efforts to limit the “catastrophic damage” of a hard Brexit.

In a letter sent on Thursday to the Labour leader, Jeremy Corbyn, Vince Cable of the Liberal Democrats, the Green party’s Caroline Lucas, and Liz Saville Roberts of Plaid Cymru, Blackford urges his fellow opposition parties to unite in the Commons as the UK government enters the second phase of UK-EU Brexit negotiations with the focus turning to trade.

Quick Guide What are Brexit options now? Four scenarios Show Staying in the single market and customs union The UK could sign up to all the EU’s rules and regulations, staying in the single market – which provides free movement of goods, services and people – and the customs union, in which EU members agree tariffs on external states. Freedom of movement would continue and the UK would keep paying into the Brussels pot. We would continue to have unfettered access to EU trade, but the pledge to “take back control” of laws, borders and money would not have been fulfilled. This is an unlikely outcome and one that may be possible only by reversing the Brexit decision, after a second referendum or election. The Norway model Britain could follow Norway, which is in the single market, is subject to freedom of movement rules and pays a fee to Brussels – but is outside the customs union. That combination would tie Britain to EU regulations but allow it to sign trade deals of its own. A “Norway-minus” deal is more likely. That would see the UK leave the single market and customs union and end free movement of people. But Britain would align its rules and regulations with Brussels, hoping this would allow a greater degree of market access. The UK would still be subject to EU rules. The Canada deal A comprehensive trade deal like the one handed to Canada would help British traders, as it would lower or eliminate tariffs. But there would be little on offer for the UK services industry. It is a bad outcome for financial services. Such a deal would leave Britain free to diverge from EU rules and regulations but that in turn would lead to border checks and the rise of other “non-tariff barriers” to trade. It would leave Britain free to forge new trade deals with other nations. Many in Brussels see this as a likely outcome, based on Theresa May’s direction so far. No deal Britain leaves with no trade deal, meaning that all trade is governed by World Trade Organization rules. Tariffs would be high, queues at the border long and the Irish border issue severe. In the short term, British aircraft might be unable to fly to some European destinations. The UK would quickly need to establish bilateral agreements to deal with the consequences, but the country would be free to take whatever future direction it wishes. It may need to deregulate to attract international business – a very different future and a lot of disruption.

The letter calls on them to “work with [the SNP] to keep the UK in the single market and stop a catastrophic Tory Brexit which threatens jobs, the economy and the Good Friday agreement”.

The SNP believes that, with the Liberal Democrats, the Green party and Plaid Cymru already committed to remaining in the single market and customs union, a parliamentary majority to protect the UK’s membership could be secured with support from Labour and soft Brexit Conservatives.

Recent polling found Labour supporters were confused about the party’s stance on Brexit and that more than half would oppose Labour backing Brexit.

Blackford plans to host the Commons meeting on Monday 8 January, the first day after the Christmas recess. He said: “As we move into the crucial second phase of the Brexit negotiations, it is now absolutely vital that we have an effective cross-party effort to safeguard our membership of the single market and customs union.

“It is time for MPs of all parties to put politics aside and work together, in the national interest, to protect our place in the single market and customs union. Short of retaining our EU membership, that is by far the least damaging option, the best compromise, and the only way to protect jobs, incomes, and workers’ rights.

He added: “As we saw with the successful amendments to the EU withdrawal bill, when opposition parties work together effectively it is possible to secure a parliamentary majority and deliver change in the national interest.”



Blackford made a similar overture to Corbyn in early December, after the conclusion of stage one talks when DUP intervention nearly scuppered the process.

In the same week, the SNP leader and Scotland’s first minister, Nicola Sturgeon, called for the Labour leader to “get his act together” and join the SNP in fighting for a Brexit compromise.

These interventions reflect a growing confidence among the SNP leadership that they can rebuild support for the Scottish government’s stance on Brexit, after linking it directly to a second independence referendum proved so damaging in June’s general election.

The SNP assumes that any special terms for Northern Ireland will fuel public anger that the Tories have no mandate to enforce a harder line for Scotland, given the country’s majority support for the remain campaign and continued consensus that preserving the closest possible economic ties with Europe is the most desirable outcome.



