Scots are leaving EU regardless, says May
THE Tories have said Scotland is leaving the EU regardless of a second independence referendum.
In a bid to undermine the SNP’s justification for a second referendum the Prime Minister, Theresa May, said Scotland would be out of Europe in any event, independent or otherwise.
Ms May said the UK is leaving the EU and Scotland would not remain a member if it chose to leave the UK before Brexit takes place.
She was responding to SNP deputy leader, Angus Robertson, who demanded to know where the agreement on Brexit with the Scottish Government was that he said she promised last year.
Mr Robertson said if there is no official agreement reached then Scotland would have its say in a referendum.
He said: “If she doesn’t secure an agreement and is not prepared to negotiate on behalf of the Scottish Government and secure membership of the single market the people of Scotland will have a referendum and we will have our say.”
Ms May said discussions had taken place with the devolved governments and said she would negotiate a deal for the whole of the UK.
She said: “The Right Honourable gentleman should remember this.
“Scotland will be leaving the European Union. It will leave either as a member of the United Kingdom or whether it is independent.
“It is very clear with the Barroso doctrine that it would not be a member of the EU.”
She was referring to the statement by the former European Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso, who said if a country becomes independent from an EU member state it would not remain a member and would have to apply for membership.
It was stated this week by a commission spokesman that the “Barroso doctrine” still applies.
The Tories north of the border seized on reports that the SNP could prefer to seek access to the single market, like Norway, in the event of independence.
Ruth Davidson, Scottish Conser vative par ty leader, said: “Nicola Sturgeon’s grounds for a referendum have simply given way beneath her.
“We are told an immediate referendum campaign is necessary because we are leaving the European Union.
“Yet the SNP is U-turning on immediate EU membership and saying Scotland wouldn’t seek to become a member.
“If European Union membership is the reason for a referendum, what is the point of holding one if the plan isn’t to go back in?
The SNP’s current stated position is for Scotland to be “a full independent member of the EU”.