Thread by @joannaccherry

There seems to be some confusion about why @theSNP MPs abstained on #Boles & #Clarke amendments last night but it’s really very straightforward so here’s a thread explaining why #Brexit #IndicativeVotes

So @theSNP preference in line with the majority of #Scottish voters is to #Remain in the EU but v early on @scotgov put forward a compromise position in #ScotlandsPlaceInEurope to stay in the #SingleMarket & a #CustomsUnion & it was endorsed by @theSNP conf

It’s important to appreciate that to benefit from freedom of movement is vital for Scotland’s economic & demographic needs & to benefit from it you have to be a member of the single market.

So #Boles offered #singlemarket #EEA style with watered down freedom of movement & a temporary customs arrangement

And #Clarke offered a #CustomsUnion only with no single market & no freedom of movement. Hence it’s high support as many Tory & Labour MPs see freedom of movement as a big vote loser

Thus neither #Boles nor #Clarke matched the @scotgov compromise in #ScotlandsPlaceInEurope, met #Scotland’s economic & demographic needs or met @theSNP party policy as voted on at conference. So we abstained

It’s quite simple really but, as with my #RevokeArticle50 motion we remain in cross party discussions to see whether reasonable compromise can be achieved while maintaining our primary position that we want to #Remain in the #EU