Theresa May is in Glasgow on 28 November holding a press conference. The prime minister is touring the UK to defend her Brexit Deal. This comes before the crucial vote in the House of Commons on 11 December. But May’s press office has ‘banned’ Scotland’s only pro-independence newspaper the National from attending.
No 10 made this move just one day after Scottish first minister and leader of the SNP Nicola Sturgeon was ‘excluded‘ from any UK-wide televised Brexit debate.
“She’s hiding from the public”
SNP MSP for Paisley George Adam said that May is “running feart” [scared].
Adam also told the National:
As is par-for-the-course on her day trips to Scotland, she’s hiding from the public and dodging questions from the press – only speaking to a hand-picked audience.
She’s in town just a day after analysis revealed her damaging Brexit plan will cost Scotland £9 billion in GDP. That’s £1600 per person. Little wonder she’s trying to hide from scrutiny.
“Limited capacity”
According to Number 10’s press office, the National did not receive an invitation to the press conference due to “limited capacity”. But this is not the first time this has happened.
The pro-independence newspaper claims it was “denied a chance” to question May’s “de facto deputy” David Lidington a few weeks ago.
“Two biggest parties at Westminster”
Lidington has also said that Sturgeon should not take part in any UK-wide televised Brexit debates.
As reported in the Herald, the Tory MP said to the BBC:
This is a debate between the leaders of the two biggest parties at Westminster which is where the decision on whether to approve the deal or not will take place.
The Prime Minister obviously will speak up in favour of the deal she has negotiated, I’m assuming that Mr Corbyn, if he wants to do this, will argue for the rejection of the deal.
He suggested a debate between the secretary of state for Scotland David Mundell and Sturgeon instead. Lidington did, however, say this was a “matter for the broadcasters to discuss amongst themselves”.
Featured image via: Annika Haas/Wiki Commons
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