Nicola Sturgeon vows to work with Tory rebels and Labour to build Commons 'coalition' against May's Brexit deal

Scottish first minister meets with Jeremy Corbyn and other party leaders to plot how to block government's plan

Nicola Sturgeon said she was willing to work with the 'softer Remain element of the Conservatives' to oppose Theresa May's Brexit deal (AFP/Getty)

Nicola Sturgeon has vowed to work with MPs from all political parties, including Conservative rebels, to build a Commons "coalition" against Theresa May's Brexit deal.

Speaking after meeting Jeremy Corbyn and other opposition party leaders in Westminster, the Scottish first minister said there was a "unity of purpose" and an agreement that "the PM's deal was a bad deal".

She said that, while all options remain on the table, she hoped to convince the Labour leader to join with other parties in pushing for a fresh Brexit referendum.

Despite admitting she was "frustrated" at what she called Mr Corbyn's "lack of leadership" on Brexit, Ms Sturgeon insisted she wanted to put party differences aside to build a parliamentary majority to vote down the prime minister's plans.

She vowed to also work with pro-EU Tories to push for a fresh referendum on Brexit.

Speaking to reporters in Westminster, Ms Sturgeon said of Mr Corbyn: "I don't think his position on Brexit has shown a lot of leadership, even until very recent days, but we've got to look ahead now.

"[Labour] are not yet in a position where we can coalesce around a particular option, but rather than wringing my hands and talking about how frustrated I am about that, I'd rather see if we can build on the positive meeting we had today and get us there. It might not work but I'm going to have a go."

In a further sign of the increasing willingness of opposition leaders to work across party lines to oppose Ms May's Brexit deal, she added: "I'm not sure it's going to help the job we've got to do if I spend a lot of time talking about, in very personal terms, what I think of Jeremy Corbyn.

"I'm not sitting here and telling you I can guarantee that I will get to a position where the SNP and Labour, me and Jeremy Corbyn, are on the same page on this, but I feel a responsibility to have a go at that."

The SNP leader also said she was willing to co-operate with Conservative MPs to build a Commons "coalition" against Ms May's proposed withdrawal agreement.

She said: "Logic would tell you that in the interest of building a coalition against, or an alternative to, the prime minister [it makes sense to include] the more Remain-leaning Tory MPs.

"I think that will inevitably happen...in terms of the softer Remain element of the Conservatives. I think they have a role to play in putting that majority together."

Ms Sturgeon also met with Ms May on Thursday and re-iterated her opposition to the government's deal.

Despite differences between her party and Labour on the need for a fresh Brexit referendum, the SNP leader insisted her own MPs were "on the same page" on the matter.

She said: "There is a certain scepticism that a People's Vote is the salvation for Scotland given we voted Remain the first time round and there's no guarantees that in a second vote you wouldn't have the same outcome, but I still think that if we've got the opportunity UK-wide to stop Brexit, given the shambles that has been made of the negotiations, then that's something the SNP should support and that's the view of the group."

The first minister also hit out at David Mundell, the Scottish secretary, who was reported to have considered resigning in protest at Ms May's Brexit deal and what it would mean for Scotland, but remains in the Cabinet.

Asked about his accusation that she secretly wanted a no-deal outcome in order to further the cause of Scottish independence, Ms Sturgeon said "you cannot take anything David Mundell says very seriously" and suggested the cabinet minister "has not got a lot of credibility left".

She added: "Consistency and credibility are not David Mundell's strong suits".