Martin Docherty-Hughes, MP for West Dunbartonshire, has called on the UK government to take immediate action to extend Article 50 – suggesting that a ‘People’s Vote’ remains the best option to break the deadlock over Brexit.
The local SNP MP, who voted to against Theresa May’s proposed Brexit deal for a second time this week, said he will not support a Tory hard Brexit that hurts the jobs and living standards of his constituents in West Dunbartonshire.
In key votes at the House of Commons, MPs voted to seek a Brexit delay beyond 29 March and reject leaving the EU with no-deal. But the Prime Minister is expected to try and get MPs to back the government’s proposed Brexit deal for a third time before agreeing to seek an extension to Article 50.
Martin Docherty-Hughes MP said:
“It’s been another chaotic week at Westminster as the Prime Minister’s damaging Brexit deal was once again rejected by a huge margin.
“I have been clear as West Dunbartonshire’s MP that I will not vote for a Tory Brexit that’s detrimental to the jobs and living standards of my constituents.
“In 2016 our communities – along with the rest of Scotland – voted overwhelmingly to remain in the EU, and we must not be dragged out against our will.
“Now that a no-deal Brexit has been defeated in parliament, the Prime Minister must act quickly to extend Article 50 to prevent us crashing out of the EU in less than two weeks.
“By continuing to recklessly run down the clock it only increases the risk of a damaging hard Brexit that will be devastating to Scotland’s economy and public services.
“The SNP believes that the most sensible way out of the Brexit deadlock is to put the decision back to the people in a second referendum.
“All through this Brexit process Scotland’s wishes and interests have been ignored. And if Westminster continues to fail Scotland it’s clear we must have the right to choose our own future.”
