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A key part of the Brexit negotiations was about the border that separates Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland.

Both sides committed to avoiding the return of a "hard border" - physical checks or infrastructure - after Brexit.

This is where the controversial "backstop" comes in.

The backstop is a safety net - an arrangement that will apply to the Irish border after Brexit, if a wider deal or technological solution cannot keep it as frictionless as it is today.

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SNP MSP Joan McAlpine says that anyone who speaks to anyone in Brussels knows that the withdrawal agreement and the backstop are indivisible.

"The EU will not ditch Dublin."

The prime minister's red line have "boxed the UK into it's own prison" Ms McAlpine adds.

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Mr Rennie says he does not wish to re-run the last referendum, rather he wants Theresa May to put her deal back to the people if she thinks it is good enough.

"People are fed up with this debate, I am fed up with this debate."

The Scottish Lib Dem leader warns that even if the withdrawal agreement is agreed to, it is only the end of the beginning.

He points out CETA (EU-Canada trade deal) was discussed for 23 years and the TTIP (the failed deal between the US and the EU) discussion began in the 1990s and the transition period.

"The agony will go on and on and on."

"All Brexit options will damage our economy compared with what we have now."

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Donald Tusk is being urged to meet MPs to discuss how UK and EU expats' rights can be protected, if there is no deal.

Tory backbencher Alberto Costa wrote to the European Council president to say the issue had united UK MPs "for the first time in the Brexit debate".

He wants protections negotiated as part of the UK-EU withdrawal deal to be upheld, even if the deal is rejected.

The EU has said agreeing "mini deals" outside the withdrawal agreement would imply that negotiations have failed.

European Commission spokeswoman Mina Andreeva, said on Thursday "the best way to protect the rights of these 4.5 million people concerned is through the withdrawal agreement".

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Scottish Lib Dem leader Willie Rennie says we need to unite for a so-called People's Vote.

Tory MSP Liz Smith asks what the question would be on the ballot.

Mr Rennie says it should be a choice between the prime minister's deal and remaining in the EU.

Leavers still cannot agree was Brexit means today, the Scottish Lib Dem leader states.

This is a good enough reason to give the people of the UK a say he argues.

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"Brexit means Brexit is still all they've got," continues Mr Harvie.

He adds: "Time after time they have delayed the decision we all know must be taken, this chaos must be stopped."

The choices are simple: the withdrawal agreement, the cliff edge or stay in the EU, he elucidates.

The agreement has been rejected, no deal will be voted against by MSPs, AMs and MPs, so the answer is a 'People's Vote' to allow the people to cancel this crisis Mr Harvie insists.

He says democracy did not end with the EU referendum.

"We should all unite in supporting today's motion," he concludes calling for the choice to be given back to the people.

Brian Taylor
BBC Scotland Political Editor

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And, so, a few changes. Faintly grudging. With caveats. But change nevertheless, a shift in the seeming blockage that is Brexit.

In the Commons, the prime minister signals that, after all, it may well be the case that a no deal Brexit is thwarted, that the departure date is postponed.

At Holyrood, Richard Leonard tells me that Remain must be an option on the ballot paper if there is to be a further EU referendum. If, note.

Both initiatives, of course, are driven in large part by noises off. By alarums and excursions from those who have left the stage or, more precisely, their former parties.

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Scottish Green co-convener Patrick Harvie says the EU referendum was a "knife-edge result", which one might have thought have lead to a compromise and a "soft" Brexit.

Perhaps this meant remaining in the single market and keeping freedom of movement, Mr Harvie says.

If that had been the case, even the most ardent EU supporters among us might have had to support this the Green MSP states.

"And then we heard: Brexit means Brexit."

Mr Harvie says all there has been since then is "incompetence on an historic scale".

No one in this country knows what our fundamental relationship will be with our nearest neighbours in a few weeks time, he adds.

Mr Leonard says Theresa May has been playing "fast and loose" with people's livelihoods and citizenship, so the only options appear to be a bad deal or no deal.

Both would be damaging to our economy and our social fabric, he tells the chamber.

A guiding principle in trade unions is not to go back to membership with the same proposition he says, explaining this is why Labour did not back another referendum last summer.

We hope there is still an opportunity to revise the deal around Brexit and that the Conservative government falls, he states.

But if we cannot do that, there is no alternative but to put a credible leave option and a remain option to a vote, the Scottish Labour leader states.

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The leader of Scottish Labour has said the option of remaining in the EU must be on the ballot paper for any further Brexit referendum.

Richard Leonard told BBC Scotland that the move could be the only way to break the deadlock at Westminster.

Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn announced on Monday that the party would back another referendum if its own proposed Brexit deal was rejected by MPs.

Prime Minister Theresa May said this would take the UK "back to square one".

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Scottish Labour leader Richard Leonard says he supports the motion in the name of the first minister of this parliament and "in unity with the Labour first minister of the Assembly of Wales".

"We will demonstrate that the clear majority in this Parliament wishes to see an end once and for all to the no deal option."

He says: "Theresa May's deal is not within our grasp, it's dead".

"The reality is there needs to be a new approach," continues Mr Leonard.

We need a deal that protects jobs and workers' rights and has a customs union, he says.

Mr Carlaw urges MPs not to vote to extend Article 50, insisting that the later vote will still be between no deal or a deal similar to the one on the table.

He also suggests an extension would only increase uncertainty.

"Delaying a decision in Brexit is not a solution, it is simply a way to prolong the division."

I back a deal, I back Brexit being delivered he states.

Scotland needs fresh clean leadership and in just two years there will be a chance to elect a government which gives it just that Mr Carlaw concludes.

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The Scottish Conservative deputy leader says there are just 25 days until we leave the EU.

"If there is no agreed deal, we leave with no deal."

That's the operation of the law and no amount of bluster will change this, he says.

Lib Dem MSP Alex Cole-Hamilton asks if Mr Carlaw has faith in the people why does he oppose a 'People's Vote'.

Mr Carlaw tells Mr Cole-Hamilton he voted no in the independence referendum and remain in the EU referendum.

"I hope very much I will never have to vote again in a referendum in my lifetime."

Labour MSP Neil FIndlay asks if the deal was such a "roaring success", why did the Commons reject it?

Mr Carlaw says it was rejected for a variety of reasons, but since that date work has progressed to achieve a different deal.

Scotland does not just value those who have made their home here for their economic value, but they have contributed to the very fabric of our country the Scottish Tory leader states.

Major events like Brexit are not about graphs and charts, but about people he says.

We all need to work together to ensure the UK is a tolerant and welcoming nation, Mr Carlaw states.

The prime minister's deal delivers on many of the asks made by the Scottish government, he insists.

The Tory MSP suggests the SNP has been using Brexit to push their case for independence.

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Mr Carlaw says the argument is that 2016 vote is invalid because Leave voters did not understand what they voted for.

We're being asked to believe 17m people who voted to leave were "hoodwinked".

He calls for support for Theresa May's deal saying the EU Withdrawal Agreement and Political Declaration are worthy of support.

The Scottish Conservative deputy leader insists a deal is "now within our grasp".

He points out we will be able to strike new trade deals while remaining close to our European neighbours.

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Ministers will resume efforts later to secure legally-binding changes to Theresa May's Brexit deal that might get MPs' backing in a week's time.

Brexit Secretary Stephen Barclay and Attorney General Geoffrey Cox will meet EU officials in Brussels in search of guarantees over the backstop plan to avoid border checks in Ireland.

Mr Cox has dismissed reports he has given up on securing a firm end date to ensure the UK is not stuck.

MPs will vote on the deal by 12 March.

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Scottish Conservative deputy leader Jackson Carlaw confirms his party will vote against the Scottish government's motion this afternoon.

But he welcomes the opportunity to debate the withdrawal from the EU.

He highlights the one million "largely forgotten" Scots who voted to leave, saying these people have often been ignored.

The EU referendum was not carried out with caveats - it was either we all vote to go or all vote to stay, he adds.

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Ms Sturgeon says an extension could open up the possibility of being in the single market and the customs union.

"The preferable outcome in my view is a second referendum."

She tells the chamber she understands a second vote will not appeal to everyone, but simply carrying on with Brexit and heading to disaster must not happen.

The first minister says she feels a "deep and profound sense of loss" for Scotland at the prospect of Brexit.

She commends her motion to the parliament and she hopes both the Scottish Parliament and Welsh Assembly will vote for both motions.