HELENSBURGH'S Member of Parliament has called on politicians across the House of Commons to set aside their party political differences this week to "save Scotland" from a no-deal Brexit.
Argyll and Bute MP Brendan O'Hara said it was "untenable" for politicians in Westminster to stop the people of Scotland having a say over their future amid growing support for Scottish independence.
Speaking as MPs prepared to return from Parliament's summer recess on Tuesday, Mr O'Hara said: “As parliament returns from recess, we enter an absolutely crucial week in the fight to save Scotland and Argyll and Bute from a catastrophic no-deal Brexit.
“Here in Argyll and Bute our further education sector, food and drink sector, agriculture and farming industries and our booming tourism economy are all under perilous threat from Boris Johnson’s Brexit plans.
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“There is no such thing as a good Brexit, and I will not rest in my work to stop the Prime Minister in his tracks and oppose Westminster imposing something that Scotland didn’t vote for.
“There is a clear majority in Parliament to stop a no-deal Brexit. It’s time for politicians to put their constituents before their own political ambitions and tell Boris Johnson that no-deal is not an option.
“Argyll and Bute did not vote for Brexit, and I will always stand up for Scotland’s overwhelming vote to remain in the EU."
Mr O'Hara also said the Prime Minister's move to prorogue Parliament for five weeks before the UK's scheduled departure date of October 31 were "utterly disgraceful and completely undemocratic".
He continued: "From the outset, SNP MPs have promised to do everything we can to stop Brexit and prevent a no-deal disaster. These recent outrageous events make it absolutely essential that MPs from all parties urgently pull together to stop Boris Johnson driving Scotland and the rest of UK off a cliff edge.
"Boris Johnson's act of constitutional vandalism underlines, yet again, just how broken Westminster is and how Scotland has been completely ignored throughout the Brexit process, to the extent that despite Scotland overwhelmingly voting to remain, we now face being dragged out of the EU against our will on the hardest possible terms.
"It's now beyond doubt that the only way to properly protect Scotland's interests is by becoming an equal and independent European country.
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"It’s no wonder that support for independence and a new referendum is higher than ever."
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