Scotland’s relationship with Europe should never again be decided by what has been described as a political game played within the Conservative Party, according to the SNP’s candidate in the Aberdeen South by election.
The comments follow the release of a new documentary examining the events leading up to the 2016 Brexit referendum.
The programme reportedly reveals that former Prime Minister David Cameron offered Boris Johnson a senior Cabinet role in exchange for backing the campaign to remain in the European Union.
According to the documentary, the discussion took place during a game of tennis between the two politicians.
The revelation has reignited debate about the origins of Brexit and its impact on Scotland, which voted to remain in the European Union during the referendum.
SNP candidate Richard Thomson said the episode highlighted how decisions with far reaching consequences had been shaped by internal Conservative Party politics rather than the interests of Scotland.
Richard Thomson said:
“Scotland’s future in Europe must never again be gambled by two Tory toffs playing tennis, it was literally a game for the Tories and we have all ended up losing.
“David Cameron and Boris Johnson cared about their careers, they didn’t care one bit about the economic madness that Brexit would unleash.
“Brexit Britain has suffered a decade of damage and decline and yet Westminster is still in denial.
“It shows just how out of touch the Westminster establishment remains, a decade is long enough for anyone to see the disaster that Brexit has so obviously been.
“The good news is that Scotland can escape from the constant crisis and chaos of Brexit Britain by choosing the fresh start of independence in Europe.
“Not for the first time, the people are way ahead of the politicians on this, recent polling in both Scotland and across the UK points to that fact.
“A growing majority of people want to re-join the European Union.
“For Scotland, the choice is clear, a Farage future at Westminster or back home in the European Union with independence?
“Only the SNP can build a future beyond Brexit Britain and bring our country back into the European Union.”
Brexit continues to be one of the defining political issues of the past decade, with debate continuing over its economic impact and the UK’s future relationship with Europe.
The issue remains particularly significant in Scotland, where a majority of voters backed remaining in the European Union during the 2016 referendum.
