THE door is still open for Scotland to sign up to a last-minute deal on post-Brexit powers, Theresa May’s de facto deputy will say today.

David Lidington will insist any move to disrupt the UK common market would be a ‘self-inflicted blow’ to thousands of Scottish companies.

Speaking at a CBI Scotland lunch in Edinburgh, he will argue it is not too late for Scottish ministers to reach a deal with the UK Government over where devolved powers will be held after Brexit.

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He is expected to say: “At a stroke, they can join the Welsh Government – who have also put so much into getting us to this stage – and recommend to the Parliament here in Holyrood that we should end any lingering question of legal uncertainty for businesses in all parts of the UK.”

It comes as a cross-party Holyrood committee recommended rejecting a key part of the Westminster Brexit law unless there was a “political solution” to a dispute over its content.

The SNP, Labour and Green MSPs on the Finance and Constitution committee said the parliament should withhold legislative consent for Clause 11 of the EU Withdrawal Bill.

The controversial section deals with the way powers in devolved areas are redistributed once they are repatriated from Brussels at the point of Brexit next year. The three Tory MSPs on the committee dissented.

The UK government wants to temporarily reserve devolved powers in around 24 areas in order to create UK-wide frameworks to protect the internal market. But the Scottish Government argues frameworks must be agreed by consent, not imposed.

With the two sides deadlocked, MSPs are due to vote on whether to give legislative consent to the EU Withdrawal Bill next Tuesday.

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If they refuse, it will take the devolution settlement into uncharted territory and could lead to Westminster imposing the Withdrawal Bill on Scotland against Holyrood’s wishes. The Welsh Government agreed to the latest offer from UK ministers last month.

Scottish Secretary David Mundell insisted people were fed up of the “constitutional nit-picking argy-bargy” and just wanted to see agreement.

He insisted he had done everything he could to reach a deal with the Scottish Government, and dismissed claims of a power-grab as “absolutely nonsensical”.

He added: “If we can find a third way, we are open to doing that. Lots of these agreements have gone right to the wire – the EU is famous for its wire agreements.”

Mr Mundell suggested talks could continue even after next week’s vote, and rejected suggestions the two sides are hurtling towards a constitutional crisis.

He said: “I think the public in Scotland would like to see the Scottish Government focusing on the health service, on education and on Scotland’s transport.

“They also want to see it – and indeed us – working collaboratively together to get the best deal for Scotland as we leave the EU.

“They don’t want to see this constitutional nit-picking argy-bargy. They want to see constructive dialogue, and so do I.

“I think very few people are paying a lot of attention to this row, because it’s so peripheral to real life.”

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Responding to Mr Lidington’s remarks, SNP Brexit minister Mike Russell said the UK Government is in “complete, utter chaos over Brexit”.

He said Scottish ministers had outlined solutions for an agreement, which involve either removing Clause 11 or sticking to the present system, and agreeing constraint on new legislation north and south of the border.

He added: “If David Lidington wants business and citizens across the UK to have clarity, his government could do so tomorrow by committing to remaining in the single market and the customs union – which is, after all, what the Scottish Parliament and the Scottish people voted for.”