Nicola Sturgeon and Theresa May lock horns at Drexit summit

First Minister trades verbal blows at frustrating meeting

Nicola Sturgeon and Theresa May have traded verbal blows following a “deeply frustrating” Brexit summit.

The First Minister and Prime Minister clashed during a Downing Street meeting involving the leaders of all the UK’s devolved administrations.

Ms Sturgeon branded a warning from Number 10 not to undermine the UK’s negotiating position as “nonsense”.

Agreeing the gathering was “feisty”, the SNP leader said: “We had a very frank exchange of views.

“I don’t mind admitting large parts of the meeting were deeply frustrating.”

She added: “To be brutally frank about it, you can’t undermine something that doesn’t exist, and from everything I have heard today in Downing Street there isn’t yet a UK Government negotiating position.

“I’ve no interest in undermining that when it does exist, but I do have a massive interest in protecting Scotland’s interest. What I’m not prepared to do is stand back and watch Scotland driven off a hard Brexit cliff-edge.”

It is understood a follow-up meeting of a sub-committee comprising UK Brexit Secretary David Davis and politicians from the Scottish Government, Welsh Government and Norther Irish Executive will take place in a fortnight’s time.

But Ms Sturgeon expressed concern that UK ministers were not being open about their agenda and claimed devolved leaders had been left “no clearer” about how the Government will pull Britain out of the EU despite two hours of talk. Sources close to the First Minister said they would believe promises of greater access to the Cabinet’s thought process “when we see it”.

The PM told the leaders she wanted their input in shaping the negotiations to leave the EU.

Scottish Secretary David Mundell hinted there could be a compromise by saying there may be “nuances and options” in a single UK Brexit deal that could take Ms Sturgeon’s stance into account.

Mrs May said: “The country is facing a negotiation of tremendous importance and it is imperative that the devolved administrations play their part in making it work.

“We have important work to do for the UK in terms of negotiating a smooth exit from the EU and getting the best possible deal for the whole of the UK.”

Welsh First Minister Carwyn Jones said there had been no details about what happens next in the divorce talks, and warned “time is not on our side”.

The Labour politician said access to the single market was the most important issue, but dismissed suggestions by Ms Sturgeon that Scotland could remain part of the trading agreement even if the rest of the UK did not.

Martin McGuinness, the Northern Ireland Deputy First Minister, said there was a “joint responsibility” to manage the Brexit process. kiandrews@thecourier.co.uk

PA. Nicola Sturgeon says there is no negotiating position for Britain yet.