Helensburgh's MP, Brendan O'Hara, writes about Scotland's place in the latest Brexit developments.

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LAST week was another hugely significant one at Westminster with the House of Commons debating both the government’s controversial Immigration Bill as well as having another stab at breaking the log-jam over Brexit, by voting on the Prime Minister’s Plan B – which has a striking similarity to her Plan A.

And although I wouldn’t like to guess exactly where this Brexit bourach is right now, I will confidently predict that whatever the outcome – short of the unlikely event of the government deciding that we are to remain in the EU – Scotland will emerge much worse off as a result.

Because whether it’s a Brexit we didn’t vote for, or an immigration policy which restricts our ability to attract the people with the skills we need, particularly teachers, nurses and other health care professionals, you can guarantee that Scotland’s best interests will be sacrificed in order to satisfy the desires of our larger neighbour.

And that’s because the union of the United Kingdom is not a union of equals.

Arguably, that has always been so, but rarely if ever, has it been so obvious.

Had this been a union of equals, then automatically Scotland’s government would have had a place at the EU negotiations, to protect Scotland’s vital national interests.

Scotland wouldn’t be facing being taken out of the single market and the customs union. Scotland wouldn’t be facing being put at a competitive disadvantage to Northern Ireland. And had this been a union of equals, Scotland wouldn’t be facing the challenges of depopulation turned into a crisis by the ending of freedom of movement.

None of what is happening to Scotland is in our best interests, but it’s happening whether we like it or not – simply because the union of the United Kingdom is not a union of equals.

It is an increasingly intolerable situation but one that will persist for as long as we remain part of the UK

So, roll on a second independence referendum – because I’m am absolutely convinced that when faced with the choice of remaining as a junior partner in a damaging, unequal relationship, or choosing to join the European family of nations as an equal, then this time, Scotland will say ‘yes’ to independence.