WATCH: Open Tory warfare as top minister David Mundell blasts 'carpet bagger' Dominic Raab over Brexit resignation
3 min read
Dominic Raab's decision to storm out of the Cabinet over Theresa May's Brexit deal has been brutally savaged by one of his former colleagues.
Scottish Secretary David Mundell - who was one of those rumoured to be considering his own position last night - gave both barrels to ex-Brexit Secretary, branding the top Tory an opportunistic "carpet-bagger" and insisting he was staying put in the Cabinet.
Mr Raab announced his resignation this morning, with a highly-charged letter to the Prime Minister warning that her agreement with the EU presented "a very real threat to the integrity of the United Kingdom" because of its plans to avoid a hard border in Northern Ireland.
But the Scottish Secretary told ITV's Border News: "I am not taking lessons for standing up for our United Kingdom from carpet-baggers.
"Only a couple of years ago Dominic Raab was proposing to introduce a bill of rights into Scotland which would have over written the Scottish legal system and devolution. So I am not impressed by his latter day commitment to the Union. I am sure this is more about maneuvering and leadership."
Mr Mundell went into last night's Cabinet meeting with rumours swirling around Westminster about his own position.
The Scottish Secretary was thought to be on the verge of quitting over whether the Common Fisheries Policy would continue to govern UK waters during any extension of the transition period - an issue with major ramifications in Scotland.
But he today made clear that he had been won round by the Prime Minister's deal, saying he was "absolutely committed to the integrity of the UK".
He added: "I made clear at the Cabinet yesterday that I would need to understand in greater detail the 150 pages of the Northern Ireland protocol and be satisfied that they didn’t indeed compromise the integrity of the UK.
"But I also take very seriously my job in ensuring that Scotland and the UK gets the and I am nbest possible Brexit that doesn’t also threaten the integrity of the UK and that is what I am still committed to doing."
In a final jab at the ex-Brexit Secretary, he said: "I believe the best way of keeping the UK together so to ensure we have a deal as we leave the EU that Brexit delivers for Scotland and the rest of the UK and that is what I am focused on - not being part of some soap opera of resignations going to be bounced into resigning by carpet-baggers."
A Downing Street spokesperson meanwhile said of Mr Raab: "The Prime Minister paid warm tribute to the Brexit Secretary for the work he has done in office on the withdrawal agreement, including the work he did in securing the link between the withdrawal agreement and the future framework."
The row between the two senior Conservatives came as Mrs May battled to hold her fracturing government together, fending off a string of attacks in the House of Commons.
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