Sturgeon set for talks to ‘protect Scotland in EU’
NICOLA STURGEON is heading to Brussels to make her case for Scotland to remain in the European Union.
The First Minister is set to hold talks with European leaders in the coming weeks as she steps up efforts to “protect Scotland’s place in the EU” in the wake of the Brexit vote.
Miss Sturgeon will this week unveil a team of experts to advise her on the “legal, financial and diplomatic” options open to Scotland in trying to stay a part of the EU.
Both Scottish Labour and the Lib Dems have said if a way can be found in the EU’s rule book to keep Scotland in the EU and the UK, they will join what is hoped will be a country-wide coalition of support for this to happen.
But it is understood that if the experts and EU bosses signal only an independent Scotland would be able to join the EU, this will trigger the SNP push towards a second referendum.
The case for Scotland remaining in the EU was last night boosted by the former president of Belguim, Guy Verhofstadt, who has said it was “wrong that Scotland might be taken out of EU when it voted to stay”.
Speaking after an emergency meeting of her cabinet, Miss Sturgeon, said: “Our discussions centred on what we can do in the here and now and in the negotiations that lie ahead, to protect Scotland’s relationship with the European Union and our place in the Single Market.
“Cabinet agreed that we will seek to enter
into immediate discussions with the EU institutions and the other EU member states to explore all possible options to protect Scotland’s place in the EU.”
On Friday Miss Sturgeon – who stated another referendum was “highly likely” – said she wanted to meet Jean-Claude Juncker, the president of the European Commission, at the earliest opportunity.
It is expected she will go to Brussels within the next two weeks to try to canvass support for Scotland remaining a part of the EU.
In addition, the consuls general of all EU member states are to be invited to a summit in Bute House to discuss the situation.
Meanwhile, former First Minister Jack McConnell urged Miss Sturgeon to take a different tack to her predecessor when it comes to making the case for independence if a second referendum is called.
He said: “In Scotland, those who support independence will put that to a referendum at some point in the next two years, but they need to do a lot more work on that than they did under the previous leadership.
“I think Nicola needs to be more serious about this than Alex was if I can put it in those terms, she needs to think through all the implications, give everybody the answers – good and bad. Spell out the reality of what this means both in terms of benefits, but also the short term and longer term costs.
“And at the other end, whoever is the new PM needs to think about their vision of the UK.”
And another former Labour First Minister Henry McLeish has indicated he could back a Yes vote in a second independence vote.
He said: “We have now got to a point that has changed the whole dynamic of Scotland and the union. Scotland’s choice now is does it want to be part of the UK out of Europe, or does it want to be out of the UK and a part of the European Union. I am very, very attracted to the notion that we be part of the EU.”
Tor y MSP and Leave supporter Ross Thomson said Miss Sturgeon was on the wrong path.
He said; “The votes cast for Remain in this referendum in no way dilute the overwhelming result of 2014. Simply there has been no material change.
“Over a million Scots voted Leave and 36% of the SNP’s own voters backed us. The very voters Nicola relied on in 2014, had in 2016 and will need in any future referendum have made it clear that they do not wish Scotland to be a member of the EU.”