THERE is "not a rope in existence that is strong enough" to hold Scotland to the rest of the UK if the Conservative Government pursues a hard cliff-edge Brexit, the SNP has warned.

As Theresa May saw off a Commons defeat thanks to a last-minute concession to the pro-EU Tory MPs, the Nationalists ramped up the language of independence, believing the clash over the EU Withdrawal Bill has caused a “fundamental change” in Scotland’s attitude to Whitehall.

While there was relief in Downing Street at winning the vote over giving MPs a so-called “meaningful vote” on a no-deal scenario with Brussels, another battle looms in July when MPs debate the hotly-disputed issue of whether Britain should stay in the European customs union; 10 Conservative rebels have already signed an amendment to the Brexit Trade Bill backing the proposal.

READ MORE: Herald View: Fudge cannot hide the hard truth on Brexit

During a dramatic day at Westminster when opinion moved one way and then another as to whether the Prime Minister would avoid a humiliating defeat on her flagship legislation, the Nationalists’ Europe spokesman suggested if the Tory Government forced Britain into a hard Brexit, Scotland would opt for independence.

Peter Grant told MPs: “Let me just remind the Government once again that if they seek to drag their people over the cliff-edge, our people are not going to follow.

"They will find there is not a rope in existence that is strong enough to hold Scotland to their country if their country seeks to take us over that cliff-edge," declared the Glenrothes MP.

The UK Government’s decision to press ahead with the Brexit bill in the face of Holyrood’s opposition, “changes everything,” according to Ian Blackford, the SNP leader, who again insisted Nationalist MPs would seek to frustrate UK Government business in the “coming weeks and months”.

The nub of the row over the meaningful vote issue rested on who has power – Government or Parliament.

READ MORE: SNP - 'No rope strong enough' to hold Scotland to UK under 'cliff edge' Brexit

Leading Tory Remainer Dominic Grieve tabled an amendment to the Brexit bill, enabling MPs to approve or reject the Government's plans for the next steps if no agreement were reached with Brussels by Brexit Day in March next year.

With the Government offering only an unamendable "neutral motion," allowing MPs to simply take note of the situation, Mrs May was thought to be facing a knife-edge vote.

But shortly before the division, MPs were told a ministerial statement would be issued on Thursday making clear it was for the Commons Speaker to decide whether they got a "meaningful vote" on a no-deal outcome.

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The concession was accepted by Mr Grieve, who was greeted with jeers of "shame" from Opposition benches when he said he would back the Government. One MP likened him to the Grand Old Duke of York.

First Minister Nicola Sturgeon dismissed the concession as a “fudge” while Labour’s Keir Starmer accused the Government of trying to "sideline Parliament when its voice is most needed".

Downing Street's determination to force the Government motion through was underscored when Tory whips said they would not abide by a parliamentary convention allowing votes to be "nodded through" from ambulances in the courtyard outside if MPs were too ill to physically use the voting lobbies.

In the event, several opposition MPs arrived from their sickbeds to oppose the Government as protesters waved EU flags outside.

Labour’s Naz Shah, who has been ill, was pushed in to vote in a wheelchair with a sick bucket on her lap, while pregnant Scottish Liberal Democrat MP Jo Swinson voted despite being past her due date.

As tensions rose in the chamber Julian Smith, the Chief Whip, could be seen whispering to Tory MPs in a bid to convince them of the merit of the Government’s concession.

Mrs May entered the Commons chamber, looking relaxed, as she witnessed MPs voting 319 to 303, a majority of 16, to reject the Lords amendment that would have ensured the Commons could have blocked a no-deal Brexit.

READ MORE: Herald View: Fudge cannot hide the hard truth on Brexit

While pro-EU Tory Nicky Morgan insisted the concession meant MPs would be given a meaningful vote, Liam Fox, the Trade Secretary, was clear it was a mere “procedural change,” which did not alter the fundamental point: “Government cannot be forced by Parliament to negotiate something that the Government does not want to do”.

Ardent Tory Brexiteer Jacob Rees-Mogg said he did not believe the Speaker would take a "cavalier and high-handed approach" by disregarding the principle that neutral motions were unamendable and stressed the vote would strengthen the PM's hand at next week’s EU summit in Brussels.