Nicola Sturgeon has claimed it took 36 hours for David Davis to return a Scottish Government call on the Brexit “hotline”.
Theresa May announced the institution of the direct line to the UK’s minister for leaving the EU to much fanfare after a meeting with the first minister.
But the SNP leader told MSPs yesterday that Mr Davis’ counterpart in Scotland, Michael Russell, had to wait more than a day for him to call back on the “hotline”.
The UK Government disputed Ms Sturgeon’s account of events.
The row came as Scottish Secretary David Mundell said there would be no “special deals” for Scotland in Brexit negotiations – but hinted they could get concessions as part of a UK-wide deal.
Appearing in Holyrood, Mr Mundell insisted there had been “useful” engagement between the UK and Scottish governments.
But Ms Sturgeon ridiculed that suggestion at First Minister’s Questions, telling MSPs: “Michael Russell’s office called that hotline this week.
“He called it just before midday on Tuesday. It took until after 6pm yesterday to actually get David Davis on the hotline – 36 hours.
“So yes there is now a telephone line we can call, it’s just currently not very hot.”
Earlier, Mr Mundell had stressed his government was aiming to reach a “bespoke” agreement for all parts of the country.
The Scottish Secretary said: “What is envisaged … is there would be a single agreement for the whole of the United Kingdom.
“That doesn’t mean that within that agreement there can’t be specific issues that would relate to Scotland, Wales or Northern Ireland.
“There won’t be a Scotland-only agreement, or a Wales-only agreement, or a Northern Ireland-only agreement.
“There will be a United Kingdom agreement, but that agreement can include differential arrangements in different parts of
the United Kingdom if, as part of the negotiation process, that is seen to be the best way forward.”
The Scottish Secretary, who is the Tories’ only MP in Scotland, said Ms May had chaired a “substantive session” with the leaders of the devolved administrations.
A Department for Exiting the European Union spokesman said: “This is not correct. The Scottish Government asked for a call to be arranged for yesterday morning and the Secretary of State spoke to Mike Russell later in the day, as soon as his diary allowed.
“We have been clear that we want a constructive dialogue with the devolved administrations.”
