May 'foolish to bulldoze ahead' on Brexit says Mike Russell

Mr Russell told the BBC's Sunday Politics Scotland programme the views of the UK's parliaments could not be "set to one side"

Scotland's Brexit Minister Mike Russell has said Theresa May is "foolish" to "bulldoze ahead" following the High Court ruling on a parliamentary vote.

In a BBC interview, he also suggested the French government may know more about UK ministers' thinking on Brexit than the Westminster parliament.

The prime minister has insisted her government is "getting on" with Brexit.

Judges ruled on Thursday that Parliament should vote on when the government could trigger Article 50.

Mrs May has promised to get this done by the end of next March, beginning the formal process of leaving the EU.

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Speaking on the BBC's Sunday Politics Scotland programme, Mr Russell said the Scottish government was still considering becoming an active participant in the legal action and he said Mrs May seemed to "wilfully misunderstand" what the ruling was about.

He said: "It was about parliamentary scrutiny, not whether or not there should be Brexit."

The Welsh government has already announced it is to apply to have a voice in the legal case.

Mr Russell said it was a "possibility" the court could be asked to rule that legislative consent for Brexit from Holyrood is necessary.

"Clearly it is vitally important that parliament scrutinises the decision of the executive. Not just the UK parliament," he said.

"Things have moved on very greatly in the last 20 years. There are a number of parliaments in the UK - they can't just be set to one side, and Theresa May's intention to just bulldoze ahead with a plan that she doesn't actually appear to have is very foolish indeed."

Theresa May promised to work for the "best possible deal" from Brexit

Mr Russell repeated the SNP's call for Scotland's interests to be represented in any Brexit negotiations, saying it was "absolutely crucial" the Scottish government was "deeply involved" in the process.

He said the UK government's negotiating position on Brexit remained unclear.

Referring to assurances that Westminster gave to the carmaker Nissan, Mr Russell said that because the company was part-owned by the French government, France may know more about Ms May's Brexit strategy than MPs.

"I think we're trying to get some impression of what the UK government are up to.

"Nissan knows it, the government of France may know it because they part-own Nissan through Renault, but the other nations don't know it, parliament doesn't know it. That's not how you run a democracy."

Mrs May has insisted government will not be put off its Brexit timetable by the High Court ruling.

Speaking at Heathrow Airport as she left for a trade mission to India, she said: "The British people, the majority of the British people, voted to leave the European Union. The government is now getting on with that.

"I want to ensure that we get the best possible deal for the UK as we leave the EU, that's the best possible deal for trading with and operating within the single European market.

"But alongside that, the UK will be a confident, outward-looking nation, taking its place on the world stage, looking to build relationships around the globe."

'Best deal possible'

Mr Russell also told BBC Scotland the SNP was willing to work with Labour counterparts in order to ensure the UK remained within the single market.

"You can certainly assume there's a communality of interest in that matter and that bodes well for working together on this issue," he said.

"The SNP MPs have always made it clear they're happy to work with Labour and with others to ensure the people of Scotland are consulted and some sense prevails in this."

Mr Russell said he could not imagine any circumstances in which SNP MPs would vote in favour of triggering the process of leaving the European Union.

Scottish Labour Europe spokesman Lewis Macdonald said: "We are happy to see the SNP recognise the importance of the single market and open trade to Scottish jobs and the Scottish economy. It is becoming increasingly clear that the Tories have neither a mandate nor a plan for a hard Brexit.

"We also know that the UK single market is even more important for jobs in Scotland, which is why Labour is opposed to any plans for a second independence referendum."

A spokesman for the Scottish Conservatives said: "Labour and the SNP should spend less time hatching a plan to sabotage the government, and more time working with ministers to ensure we get the best deal possible.

"The Brexit decision has been made and voters now expect both the UK and Scottish governments to crack on and make a success of this."