DON’T FORCE THE UK DOWN BREXIT BLIND ALLEY
First Minister slates May as talks grind to another halt
NICOLA Sturgeon has demanded more time to help block a damaging “blind Brexit”.
The First Minister said Theresa May and her Tory colleagues need an “urgent reality check” as talks stumbled to another halt in Europe.
Sturgeon spoke out after May ruled out delaying the March 29 departure date.
Meanwhile, European Council president Donald Tusk rejected a key part of May’s proposal, known as the Chequers deal.
Sturgeon said extending the timetable for negotiations is the only way the UK can avoid being taken over an “economic cliff edge” by a split Tory Government.
She said: “Thanks to their incompetence, infighting and indecision, it seems increasingly likely that the choice will be between a no-deal Brexit and a blind Brexit.
“Both options are unpalatable and completely unacceptable. A no-deal Brexit will – by the UK Government’s own admission – by ANDY PHILIP lead to dire economic consequences and a shortage of medicines and foodstuffs.
“Meanwhile, a blind Brexit will simply kick all of the difficult decisions into the long grass – but with the UK already out of the EU.
“Not only would that continue the uncertainty, it would be tantamount to stepping off a cliff edge blindfolded, with no idea of what the landing place will be.”
A senior UK official ruled out extending the time for negotiation while May was with European leaders in Salzburg, Austria, on Wednesday night.
Sturgeon said it’s time for the UK political establishment to “wake up”.
She added: “If the choice we face is between no deal and no detail, then an extension to the Article 50 negotiation period must be on the table as the only way to avoid an economic cliff edge and allow all alternative options to be considered.
“Of course, even at this late stage, Theresa May can escape the corner into which she has boxed herself.
“For two years, the Scottish Government and many others have been telling the Prime Minister that by far the least damaging Brexit option would be to remain in the single market and customs union – it is time for her to listen.”
Sturgeon faced calls yesterday to back a second vote on whatever ends up being the Brexit deal.
The First Minister says she won’t stand in the way of a so-called people’s vote.
But she fears Scotland could easily end up in the same position – voting to remain but being told to leave.
Lib Dem leader Willie Rennie accused Sturgeon of “dithering”.
He said: “Every day the First Minister dithers gives comfort to those who want a hard Brexit.
“Being neutral on the question of having a people’s vote undermines the positive way out of this situation.”
Adam Tomkins, Scottish Tory constitutional relations spokesman, said: “Everything Nicola Sturgeon says about Brexit is with independence in mind.
“It was Nicola Sturgeon who linked Brexit to independence even as the votes in June 2016 were still being counted.
“She knows that Scotland wants neither independence nor a second independence referendum, so now she is seeking to delay Brexit in the vain hope that she can use to it to pursue the only goal she cares about.
“The majority of Scots are sick and tired of her posturing and can see straight through it.”