STEPHEN Flynn has demanded to know why Scotland is being "denied" access to the EU single market but Northern Ireland is allowed special post-Brexit arrangements.
The Prime Minister in response claimed the SNP Westminster group leader was "playing politics" over the situation in Northern Ireland.
On Tuesday, Rishi Sunak launched his new Brexit deal to address trading arrangements and remove barriers across the Irish Sea.
The Windsor Framework will mean most goods going between Northern Ireland and Great Britain will no longer need customs and regulatory checks – as long as they are not intended for the EU market and are certified as so.
Launching the agreement written in conjunction with the bloc, Sunak said the deal would create “the world’s most exciting economic zone”.
At PMQs yesterday, Sunak was pressed on why Northern Ireland was allowed a “special” deal to access the EU’s single market, while the rest of the UK was denied it.
Another SNP MP also raised the issue of a refugee choir who are due to perform at King Charles's coronation, and asked the PM if any who arrived on small boats would be sent to Rwanda “before or after they sing for the King”.
SNP Westminster group leader Stephen Flynn raised the issue of the Windsor Framework, asking: “Yesterday the Prime Minister said that EU single market access was special, exciting and attractive. If that's the case, why is he denying it to the rest of us?”
Sunak replied: “It's disappointing, the honourable gentleman is seeking to play politics with the situation in Northern Ireland.
“Northern Ireland as he well knows has a unique place in the United Kingdom and what we are trying to do is restore the balance inherent in the Belfast Good Friday Agreement and he would do well to acknowledge that.”
Flynn then pointed out that Sunak had said on Tuesday that access to the EU single market would be a “good thing for business”.
The Aberdeen South MP added: “Now of course, that's in contrast to the leader of the Labour Party who said in December the EU single market access would not boost economic growth.
“Does it hurt the Prime Minister to know that the Labour Party believe in Brexit more than he does?”
In response to Flynn, Sunak said: “With regard to Northern Ireland, the important thing to note is to avoid a land border on the island of Ireland between north and south.
“That is what is crucial to achieve and it's getting the right framework for their arrangements in Northern Ireland and the businesses there that trade across that border on a daily basis with complex supply chain need and value that access.”
Sunak said that was the goal of the Windsor Framework and that he believes the agreement “delivers it”.
“It's not that it's not about the macro issue of membership of the European Union,” the PM added.
“It's about getting the right mechanisms in place to support businesses and communities in Northern Ireland and I would say to the honourable gentlemen, he knows better than that.
“He knows that this is about Northern Ireland, and I hope that he can support what we've agreed.”
Labour leader Keir Starmer has already said that his party will support the new Brexit deal and vote for it in the House of Commons when the time comes.
SNP MP Joanna Cherry also probed Sunak on the special status given to Northern Ireland during supplementary questions.
She said: “Now the Prime Minister has boasted that his new Brexit deal treats Northern Ireland in an unbelievably special position because it will have access to both the UK and the EU markets – and he said that this makes it the world's most exciting economic zone.
“So my question for the Prime Minister is this – if there can be a very, very special status for the province of Northern Ireland, why can't there be a very, very special status for the nation of Scotland?”
Sunak kept his response brief, stating simply: “There is a very special status for the nation of Scotland, and that's inside our United Kingdom.”
Elsewhere, SNP MP Patrick Grady raised the issue of a coronation choir due to perform on May 7 this year, which will be comprised of community choirs including those made up of refugees, NHS staff and LGBT groups.
It comes after numerous celebrities have reportedly refused to perform at the event.
The Glasgow North MP said: “If it turns out that any of the refugees taking part in that choir have arrived here on small boats or from a safe third country should they be deported to Rwanda before or after they sing for the King?”
The Prime Minister replied: “It is amazing, it is amazing when previously we have had a question about the awful tragedy of illegal migration that happened just recently that the honourable gentleman can't accept, can't accept, that it is, in fact, there is nothing there is absolutely nothing compassionate about tolerating illegal migration when people are dying.”
Sunak reiterated that the UK Government will bring forward legislation to “improve the system” and added it was “right” that anyone arriving in the UK illegally should be sent to a “safe alternative”.
