Conservative minister David Mundell showcased the most incredible bit of doublespeak outside parliament on 27 February.
ITV asked the Scotland secretary about the SNP’s amendment to block a no-deal Brexit. In response, Mundell made the extraordinary claim that the SNP was trying to bring about a no-deal situation.
By putting forward a bid to block it? Okay…
Mundell in a muddle
The SNP put down an amendment to rule out no-deal “under any circumstances”. They lost the vote by 288 to 324.
Mundell has previously threatened to resign over the EU deal. He was among those who voted against the SNP motion. And his incredible interview was soon doing the rounds on social media:
WATCH: Scottish Secretary @DavidMundellDCT explains why he didn't back an amendment from @thesnp tonight which would have completely ruled out a no-deal #Brexit. pic.twitter.com/SxP9rCpeTR
— Representing Border (@ITVBorderRB) February 27, 2019
The Scotland secretary was quizzed on the SNP motion that evening. He told the interviewer he didn’t want to leave without a deal, before saying:
Tonight’s SNP amendment, in my view, was just a stunt. The SNP all the time claim that they don’t want no-deal, but everything they actually do, generally, is about contriving to bring about no-deal, because they believe that is actually the best backdrop – that chaos, that disruption – for their independence agenda.
Just to recap quickly, the SNP tried to block no-deal. Mundell voted against that.
“Watched this four times now and it still makes absolutely no sense”
Social media users were not too kind to the senior minister. Former SNP MP John Nicholson tweeted:
So let me get this right; @theSNP proposed blocking a no deal #Brexit tonight because they want a no deal #Brexit I suspect history won’t be kind to David Mundell. https://t.co/Fc4oyeoNer
— JOHN NICOLSON 🇵🇸 🇺🇦 (@MrJohnNicolson) February 27, 2019
Scottish journalist Iain Macwhirter also questioned Mundell’s logic:
Said Mundell argues that the SNP tabled their motion to rule out no deal “because the SNP want no deal chaos”. Is the man quite mad? https://t.co/Jl1V2QV3UU
— Iain Macwhirter (@iainmacwhirter) February 27, 2019
As did SNP head of communications Tom French:
Watched this four times now and it still makes absolutely no sense.
David Mundell says he voted against ruling out No-Deal because he doesn’t want No-Deal but the SNP are bad because they want No-Deal, which is why SNP MPs voted for the SNP amendment to rule out No-Deal #simples https://t.co/dS7VtLCPZt
— Tom French (@tomfrench85) February 27, 2019
Mundell’s comments can easily be dismissed as ridiculous – mostly because they are. But they also show the incredible lack of logic present among high-ranking officials in this government.
If the Conservatives continue along this path, the union might really be in trouble.
Featured image via Twitter – Representing Border
