FREE now SUBSCRIBE Invalid email Make the most of your money by signing up to our newsletter fornow We will use your email address only for sending you newsletters. Please see our Privacy Notice for details of your data protection rights.

SNP Constitutional Relations Secretary Mike Russell issued a doom-laden prediction of the "chaos" surrounding a no-deal Brexit as he updated MSPs on his government's plans. Mr Russell said contingency work was being done to be ready for the "worst case scenario" and insisted that staying in the EU single market and customs union was still an option. But Tories attacked Mr Russell for rejecting a plea from Scotland's farmers to "get your shoulder to the wheel" and back Theresa May's Chequers plan. It came after Mr Russell claimed the Prime Minister was presenting people with an "utterly false choice" between her blueprint and the "catastrophe" of a no-deal Brexit.

First Minister Nicola Sturgeon has made clear SNP MPs will not support the plan in the Commons "as it stands". Speaking at Holyrood, Mr Russell told MSPs: "However carefully we prepare for a no deal scenario, it will still result in chaos." Scottish Conservative constitution spokesman Adam Tomkins dismissed the statement as "empty posturing" after EU chief negotiator Michel Barnier revealed a deal could be struck in six to eight weeks. Mr Tomkins also highlighted a plea from NFU Scotland calling on Mrs May's opponents to put aside party politics and get behind the Chequers plan.

Nicola Sturgeon has made clear SNP MPs will not support the plan in the Commons "as it stands"

The MSP said Mr Russell was "desperate to be the herald of doom" only to have been contradicted by Mr Barnier on Monday. He said: "This is good news but the SNP don't want to hear it. Everything they say about Brexit is negative. "The only thing being stockpiled here is ministerial grievance and tired political cliche." Accusing the Nationalists of frustrating the Brexit process he added: "Let's get behind Chequers."

But Mr Russell claimed his rival was trying to create a "smokescreen" for the "chaos" ahead. He was later challenged to drop the threat of a second independence referendum by Scottish Tory chief whip Maurice Golden. Mr Russell replied: "The situation is at some stage the people of Scotland are going to have make a choice. "They are going to have to make a choice between whatever Brexit is presented by his colleagues south of the Border and the normal independent future."

Mike Russell issued a doom-laden prediction of the "chaos" surrounding a no-deal Brexit