The Press and Journal (Aberdeen and Aberdeenshire)
Sturgeon slapped down over talks on Brexit
EU: First minister voices frustration
Nicola Sturgeon has been warned not to “undermine” Brexit negotiations after crunch talks at Downing Street.
The leaders of UK’s devolved administrations said they were “no clearer” about how the Government will pull Britain out of the EU despite two hours of talks with Theresa May.
But Downing Street launched a response to the first minister’s charm offensive across Europe, suggesting the Scottish Government should “in no way undermine the UK’s position”.
Ms Sturgeon recently announced an initiative to create more Scottish trade envoys, as well as establishing a centre in Berlin to help promote Scottish exports.
These moves came after the SNP leader made a number of visits to the continent, meeting both EU officials and diplomats from national governments.
However, when asked about Ms Sturgeon’s decision to create more trade envoys, a spokeswoman for the prime minister said: “We have been very clear we should be working together to secure the best possible deal for the whole country.
“And we expect representatives of the devolved administration to act in that way and in no way to undermine the UK’s position.”
The comments came as Ms Sturgeon joined the leaders of Wales and Northern Ireland for Brexit-related discussions in Downing Street. Speaking after the meeting had finished, the first minister argued she was “no clearer” about how the UK would pull out of the EU.
She added: “I don’t know any more now about the UK Government’s approach to the EU negotiations than I did before I went in to the meeting.
“I can’t speak for the other devolved administrations, but I think there was a degree of frustration shared by all of us about that.”
The first minister insisted there was “a long way to go” and warned the consequences of a hard Brexit for Scotland were “severe”. Scotland will bring forward “specific proposals” for a so-called flexible Brexit that would keep the nation in the single market even if the rest of the UK was not part of the trading agreement, in the next few weeks.
Ms Sturgeon said: “We are hearing the words that (Ms May) will consider options like that, but so far those words are not matched by substance or action.”
Scottish Conservative leader Ruth Davidson argued that the best way to deliver a good Brexit deal for Scotland was for Ms Sturgeon to rule out a possible second referendum on independence.
She added: “Using Brexit to crank up support for separation is the wrong way to go. If the first minister truly wants to act in the best interests of Scotland, she should take her plans for an unwanted independence referendum off the table.”
“We should be working together to secure best possible deal”