It’s a weird set of circumstances where you could end up with some of the hardest Brexiteers and staunchest Remainers going through the same lobby to oppose the deal https://twitter.com/nicolasturgeon/status/1343226282016993281

In one way, the fact the vote on the deal is a forgone conclusion makes it easier for some to vote against it, as it becomes a consequence-free protest that crucially doesn’t actually risk No Deal - for parties who would of course hate that outcome even more than this deal

But on the other hand, does acting as if your vote carries no weight and using it to send a political message make it any more likely that people will respect your vote/“voice” in future? It’s like living in a safe seat - shouldn’t you still vote as if it could make a difference?

Obvs this is less of an issue for the SNP at Westminster, as their ultimate goal is that they won’t be around there for many more meaningful votes - but what if there was a consent vote at Holyrood, where there isn’t a guaranteed majority for the deal?

A Holyrood vote also wouldn’t carry the jeopardy of causing No Deal, as everyone knows it wouldn’t derail the deal. But would it undermine Sewel somewhat to nakedly use the convention as a political protest vote - if even the party of govt acted like it didn’t carry some weight?

Talking of Holyrood, I imagine this is now really an issue of electoral positioning anyway - although the real question might be whether any of this still has resonance in May, or if the electorate will want to move on to something else after five years of campaigns about Brexit

Wonderful timing - there is indeed going to be Holyrood deliberation of the deal. So there is now an active question as to whether the SNP give the same weight to an already-settled Westminster vote on it, and a Holyrood one where they will tip the balance one way or the other... https://twitter.com/scotparl/status/1343253238011858947

If Holyrood were to vote against the Brexit deal on the same principle/protest-vote basis the SNP are pursuing at Westminster, would they then demand that the UK government respect the will of the Scottish Parliament and go for No Deal instead?