NICOLA STURGEON will today challenge Theresa May face-to-face over how she intends to avoid a “catastrophic” Brexit and warn her that growing UK Government threats of a no-deal could become a self-fulfilling prophecy.

The First Minister will use a visit by the Prime Minister to Scotland to demand she sets out a Plan B on Brexit clarifying what voters should expect from negotiations with Brussels.

In an effort to persuade EU leaders to accept Mrs May’s Chequers plan for a soft Brexit, a series of Cabinet ministers warned last week that a chaotic no-deal was increasingly likely.

On Sunday, International Trade Secretary Liam Fox put the odds on crashing out next March without a deal on trade, customs or a transition period as high as 60-40.

He blamed “intransigence” and inflexible thinking by officials for continued EU resistance to the Chequers plan, which would cherry-pick arrangements on goods, services and migration. Ms Sturgeon said the heavy-handed “scare tactics” got in the way of more productive talks.

She said: “A no-deal Brexit would be utterly unacceptable and deeply damaging, but by talking it up as a negotiating tactic there is a very real danger it becomes a reality.

“While the UK’s focus is on scare tactics of no deal, there has no visible progress on securing a future relationship that protects trade in goods and services.”

Today’s meeting is the first between the leaders since March, when Ms Sturgeon complained the UK was undermining devolution with the EU Withdrawal Bill.

In the months since, relations between the two governments have nosedived, with the passing of the bill into statute and arguments over the constitution.

In June, SNP MPs walked out of Prime Minister’s Questions and forced an emergency debate on the Sewel Convention after accusing ministers of treating Scotland with contempt.

The UK Government’s law officers also tried to have Holyrood’s alternative Brexit Bill struck down at the Supreme Court last month.

The Prime Minister will visit the Edinburgh Festival and sign off a £1.2 billion City Deal for the capital and south-east Scotland to support innovation, infrastructure, housing and culture. She will say Brexit can result in a “brighter future” for the whole United Kingdom.

“These City Deals build on existing strengths to open up new possibilities for the future in Scotland and the whole of the UK as part of our modern Industrial Strategy.

“As we leave the EU, the UK Government is working in partnership with business, academia and the devolved administrations to create more good jobs and spread economic prosperity across the country. By making the most of our country’s assets and the talents of all of our people, we can build a brighter future for the whole UK.”

Ms Sturgeon said Mrs May had two key challenges before the October meeting of EU leaders: to secure a withdrawal deal and orderly transition, and to get a detailed agreement on future UK-EU relations to let businesses and individuals plan with confidence. This would avoid a vague, confidence.

This would avoid a vague, so-called “blind Brexit”, and let Parliament vote on the deal.

She said: “With the Chequers proposals falling flat, even if a withdrawal agreement can be secured, there is a very real risk that we end up with a blind Brexit, which will see the UK step off the cliff edge next March without knowing what landing place will be.

“That would do as much harm to jobs, investment and the economy as a no-deal Brexit, and would leave the country directionless through the transition period. Given this lack of clarity and real concerns of no agreement, it is time the Prime Minister told us what her Plan B is.

We cannot have no deal and we cannot have a blind Brexit.

“The whole of the UK deserves answers. We cannot continue without a back-up plan.”

A survey published by the Fraser of Allander think-tank yesterday found 75 per cent of Scots businesses felt in the dark about Brexit and most blamed the UK Government.

Greater clarity would also help Ms Sturgeon decide whether to push for a second independence referendum, something she planned to do in the autumn, but which could be derailed by uncertainty and delay over Brexit.

Ms Sturgeon will also call on the PM to address recent cross-party criticism from MPs that, after 20 years, the UK Government machine still does not fully respect or understand devolution.

She said there had to be “constructive and genuine”

discussions on Scotland having a proper role in future negotiations.

“The UK Government needs to start listening to the views of the people of Scotland, end the power-grab and start respecting the Scottish Parliament,” she said.

Funded by £300 million each from the UK and Scottish governments and £500m from councils in Fife, Edinburgh, Scottish Borders and the Lothians, the City Deal aims to create 21,000 jobs.

Around £300m will go on cutting-edge research at Edinburgh three’s universities, £140m on road infrastructure, £65m on housing and £20m on a 1,000-seat concert hall in Edinburgh.

Mrs May will also announce £13m for six science hubs across the UK, including £2.9m for Glasgow and £1.5m for Dundee, to improve facilities to attract new visitors.