May urges voters to reject a second referendum
THERESA May has urged voters to use the local elections to voice opposition to a second independence referendum.
Writing in Holyrood magazine ahead of next weekend’s Scottish Tory conference in Glasgow, the Prime Minister said the May 4 vote was a chance to send a “clear message to the SNP”.
She also claimed there was “considerable common ground” between the UK and Scottish governments on Brexit, despite repeated SNP complaints that Westminster is failing to engage with Nicola Sturgeon’s plan for a bespoke Scottish Brexit deal.
Mrs May said: “We all want the freest possible trade in goods and services between the UK and the EU’s member states. This should give British companies the maximum freedom to trade with and operate in European markets and let European businesses do the same here.”
She also rejected the SNP argument that the Brexit vote was grounds for another referendum because Scotland voted 62-38 Remain and the UK as a whole 52-48 Leave.
She said: “Every voter had an equal say and the collective answer was final.”
Referring to the forthcoming conference, she added: “We will also be looking forward to the local elections in May, when voters across Scotland will have the chance to send a clear message to the SNP that they do not want a second independence referendum, by voting Scottish Conservative and Unionist on 4 May.”
The SNP said: “The Prime Minister couldn’t be more wrong to suggest there is considerable common ground between her government and the Scottish Government on Brexit.”