May appeases Scots over Brexit

EDINBURGH: Prime Minister Theresa May says Britain will not trigger formal divorce talks with the EU until a “UK approach” had been agreed, a bid to appease Scots who strongly oppose Brexit.

May made the comment yesterday after meeting First Minister Nicola Sturgeon, head of the pro-independence Scottish government.

May said her decision to visit Sturgeon on her own turf less than 48 hours after taking office underlined her determination to keep Scotland in the UK after the Brexit vote had revived the issue of independence, which Scots rejected in a 2014 referendum.

Sturgeon has said she will explore all options for keeping Scotland in the EU and May, who herself had backed the campaign to remain in the bloc, said she wanted the Scottish government to be involved in the Brexit talks.

“I will listen to any options they bring forward. I’ve been very clear with the first minister today that I want the Scottish government to be fully engaged in our discussions,” May said.

“I want to get the best possible deal for the whole of the United Kingdom.”

Scots rejected independence by 55-45 percent in the referendum two years ago, but since then, Sturgeon’s Scottish National Party has gone from strength to strength, winning 56 of Scotland’s 59 seats in the British parliament in last year’s election. – Reuters