May offers Sturgeon major role in talks to leave the EU
PM ‘will listen’ to Scottish options after historic meeting
THERESA MAY has offered Nicola Sturgeon a major role in talks over quitting the EU, in a move designed to bind the First Minister to taking a UK-wide approach to Brexit.
The two women, meeting at the First Minister’s official Bute House residence in Edinburgh, spoke alone for about 35 minutes, with the fallout from last month’s referendum at the top of the agenda.
Mrs May, who visited Scotland on her first official engagement after succeeding David Cameron, insisted she is determined to hammer out a “UK approach and objectives” to Brexit before triggering Article 50, the official move that will see Britain quit the EU within two years, and offered Ms Sturgeon a key role in agreeing a negotiating stance.
It leaves the First Minister committed to discussions over the UK’s exit from the EU, which is now inevitable despite her insistence Scotland being taken out of the bloc against the will of its voters is “democratically unacceptable”.
The new Prime Minister has also ceded ground by saying she is willing to consider options the Scottish Government puts forward for maintaining its ties with the EU. The concession came just 24 hours after Chancellor Philip Hammond had dismissed the prospect of Scotland agreeing a separate relationship to the rest of the UK.
Following the summit both leaders hailed a “constructive” discussion, although Scotland’s constitutional future remained no clearer.
Sources close to the First Minister confirmed a new independence referendum remained “highly likely”, and while there was a commitment to engage with the UK Government in efforts to find common ground before triggering Article 50, there is no willingness within the SNP to barter with the rights guaranteed by full EU membership.
Meanwhile, Mrs May’s advisers made clear that despite her desire to achieve a UK approach before formally serving notice to quit the EU, this does not mean handing the Scottish Government a veto over a potential post-Brexit deal, and accepted that Ms Sturgeon may walk away from the talks.
One UK Government source denied offering the First Minister the chance to play a pivotal role in negotiations, despite her life-long commitment to independence, is an effort to call Ms Sturgeon’s bluff by offering her a role in a process it may be in her interest to see fail.
The SNP leader also took to Twitter to deny that “anything we are saying is a bluff”, continuing publicly to leave the door ajar to backing Scotland’s continued position in a post-Brexit UK while keeping her options open over independence.
The UK Government insider said: “Let’s face the reality of the SNP’s position: coming out of one union is not solved by coming out of an even more important one. If it was Alex Salmond, who is a gambler, it would be different. But unless events run away from her I don’t think Nicola Sturgeon will call a referendum when there isn’t the desire for one among the general public and it isn’t certain she can win.”
Asked if Scotland’s relationship with the EU may differ to the rest of the UK’s, Mrs May said: “I want to get the best possible deal for the United Kingdom out of our negotiations for leaving the EU, but I’m willing to listen to options.
“I’ve been very clear with the First Minister today that I want the Scottish Government to be fully engaged in our discussions and our considerations, and I will listen to any options they bring forward.”
Ms Sturgeon said that despite differences politically, she believed she could develop a “good working relationship” with Mrs May, saying the pair “approach business in a similar way”.
She said: “These negotiations have yet to take shape and the UK Government don’t yet know exactly how they will proceed from here, but there is an agreement Scottish Government officials will be very closely involved in discussions to give shape to this process and will be involved in that process.”
She added: “Crucially, and this is the most important point from my point of view, is that process will be open to considering options the Scottish Government brings forward.”
THE new Prime Minister has insisted Scotland has “had its vote” on independence but stopped short of ruling out a repeat referendum if it is backed by Holyrood.
Theresa May, asked after her Bute House summit with Nicola Sturgeon whether she would authorise a second independence vote, refused to answer directly instead saying, “I think the question is: should there be another referendum?”
While the constitution is a matter for London under the devolution settlement, the First Minister has insisted calling a vote to leave the UK in an attempt to hang on to Scotland’s EU status is “highly likely”, following last month’s EU referendum that leaves the country in line to be taken out of the bloc against the will of the public.
Opinion polls have shown an increase in support for independence following the vote, indicating a narrow majority are now in favour.
Mrs May added: “As far as I’m concerned the Scottish people had their vote, they voted in 2014, and a very clear message came through. Both the United Kingdom and the Scottish Government said they would abide by that.
“We now have the challenge though, as a United Kingdom, to ensure we can get the best possible deal for the whole of the United Kingdom from the EU negotiations when the UK leaves the EU. I’m very clear the Government I lead will be for all parts of the United Kingdom and for all people.”
Following their talks, the First Minister again emphasised another independence referendum remained on the table, despite her commitment to participate in talks with the UK Government in its attempt to agree a UK-wide negotiating position before formally serving notice to quit the bloc.
She said: “I’ve said previously if we want to protect our relationship with the European Union then Scotland may have to consider becoming an independent member. If it proves not to be possible to fully protect Scotland’s interests through the UK process then the Prime Minister knows a second independence referendum is of course on the table.
“However, I’ve also been consistently clear I want to examine all options for protecting Scotland’s position, protecting our interests, protecting our relationship with the EU.”
The SNP leader later sent out an email to supporters updating them on talks with Mrs May, in which she told them “with Scotland facing exit from the EU against our will, warm words about a ‘special Union’ won’t cut it. A Union that ignores our wishes would not be very special at all.”
She did not mention independence explicitly but cryptically signed off the email with by stating: “I’ll be working tirelessly to protect Scotland’s place in Europe … come what may.” While the SNP does not have a majority at Holyrood, more than half of MSPs back independence, taking into account the six Scottish Greens.
Ms Sturgeon has already ordered civil servants to begin drafting legislation that would lead to a second vote, with Patrick Harvie, the Green Party co-convenor, indicating he would support it. However, the agreement of the UK Government would be needed, as it was ahead of the 2014 referendum, if it is to be legally binding.
Scottish Secretary David Mundell yesterday insisted there is “no mood” for a second independence referendum as he dismissed the idea of a special Brexit deal for Scotland as “fanciful”.
‘‘ As far as I’m concerned the Scottish people had their vote, they voted in 2014, and a very clear message came through