Sturgeon urges ‘inclusive’ approach to Brexit talks

Nicola Sturgeon has urged the UK Government to take a more inclusive approach to negotiations on leaving the European Union (EU) as talks get under way in Brussels.

Scotland’s first minister renewed calls for the devolved administrations to have a seat at the table during the Brexit discussions, describing the current situation as “troubling”.

She warned UK Brexit secretary David Davis that a failure to pursue the “commonsense” objective of keeping the UK in the single market would put jobs, investment and living standards “on the line”.

Speaking during a visit to the University of Strathclyde’s Advanced Forming Research Centre (AFRC) in Inchinnan, Renfrewshire, Ms Sturgeon said: “I think it is really troubling that these formal negotiations are getting under way today led by a UK Government that has no mandate, no credibility, no authority and no clear idea even among its own ranks of what it’s trying to achieve.

“We need to see a different approach to these negotiations if they are not going to end up being damaging to our economy.

“We need a more inclusive approach that involves voices from every part of the UK, including the Scottish Government, and we need an approach that has a commonsense objective.

“In my view, that commonsense objective should be keeping the UK in the single market because leaving the EU shouldn’t mean jeopardising hundreds of thousands of jobs, shouldn’t mean jeopardising investment and it shouldn’t mean putting living standards on the line.”

Ms Sturgeon refused to be drawn on her plans for a second independence referendum after the loss of 21 SNP seats.

Nicola Sturgeon looks at a 3D simulator during a visit to the AFRC