'IN a week where the Tories caused outrage by accusing anyone not supporting the UK Government as not ‘backing the UK team', Tory MSP Adam Tomkins admitted on Monday that the Tories will not fight for the best deal for Scotland during the Brexit negotiations.

Speaking on Good Morning Scotland, he said: “What we need to do is not get the best deal for Scotland; we need to get the best deal for the whole of the United Kingdom.” He also accepted that the UK was headed for a hard Brexit, despite David Davis’s admission that the UK may agree to pay large amounts into the EU after leaving and Ruth Davidson previously pledging to support the single market, even if this meant continued freedom.

This is the clearest confirmation yet that they want Scotland's distinctive voice, interests and overwhelming Remain vote to be ignored in favour of a hard Brexit pursued by right-wing Tories.

The SNP have condemned the government for failing to have any clarity on their plan for Brexit or biggest challenges facing the UK and the role of the devolved administrations before Article 50 is triggered. Labour also supported a UK Government amendment to a motion which gives the government the green light to proceed without due scrutiny and the absence of respecting Scotland’s overwhelming vote to remain in the EU, leading to them being criticised for “letting the Government off the hook over their last minute “panic plan” that lays bare the chaos in the Cabinet.

It is only after 167 days of silence from the UK government that they have trumpeted their last minute panic plan. However, it is far from a plan. It is worrying and indicative of a government that the scribbled notes offered slightly more clarity than Theresa May’s recent revelation of her red, white and blue plan.

Kezia Dugdale made a personal commitment that Labour’s ‘priority’ would be ‘working to keep Scotland in the EU’ but instead Labour MPs are doing the very opposite – voting for Tory plans to drag Scotland out against our will. It is now absolutely vital that Labour MSPs do not follow suit and also do not join the Scottish Tory sell-out on the single market, led by Ruth Davidson.”

Meanwhile Labour’s support for a “new Act of Union” is the latest in a long line of promises for more devolution and follows the party promising to deliver the “maximum devolution possible” just two years ago. During the Smith Commission Labour opposed more devolution than was ultimately agreed and Kezia Dugdale has since repeatedly demanded that others stop discussing the constitution.

They are the ones who seem to be obsessed and only seem concerned about finding a 'solution' that is best for the Labour Party rather than what is best for the Scottish people'.