TWEEDDALE MP David Mundell backed the government’s draft Brexit plan this week, despite concerns over Northern Ireland and the fishing industry.

Ahead of a Cabinet meeting on Wednesday, the Secretary of State for Scotland, along with the other 12 Scottish Tory MPs, wrote to Prime Minister Theresa May seeking assurances on the fishing industry.

And Mr Mundell had previously penned a joint letter with Scottish Conservatives leader Ruth Davidson, warning he could not support any deal that introduced different arrangements for Northern Ireland.

The 585-page withdrawal agreement includes putting in place a “backstop” – to ensure there is no hard border between Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland.

This means Northern Ireland would stay aligned to some EU rules on the likes of food products and goods standards.

But, following the marathon cabinet meeting this week, the member for Dumfriesshire, Clydesdale and Tweeddale said a no deal would be “appalling” for Scotland and threw his weight behind the plans.

In a video, he said: “The Cabinet has agreed that we should move to the next stage in our negotiations with the EU.

“We want to see a special [EU] council meeting held at the end of November, so that we can reach an agreement.

“An agreement that can then be put to Members of Parliament to decide whether it is in the best interests of Scotland and our United Kingdom. I believe that it is very, very important that we get a deal. The right deal of course. A deal, particularly for Scotland, that recognises our wish to leave the Common Fisheries Policy.

“A no deal outcome to Brexit would be the worst possible outcome for Scotland, in terms of our economy and effect on the lives of everybody who lives there.

“That is why I backed moving to the next stage of the process today and I hope that we can now reach that deal that will deliver the best possible outcome.”

Following Wednesday’s meeting, the Prime Minister said the Cabinet had backed the withdrawal agreement, calling it a “decisive step forward”.

But on Thursday, the Secretary of State for Exiting the European Union, Dominic Raab, and the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, Esther McVey, had both handed in their resignations.

And Northern Irish minister Shailesh Vara also quit, saying the agreement “does not provide for the United Kingdom being a sovereign, independent country, leaving the shackles of the EU”.