Scotland and Wales may have bigger say on

THERESA May called the snap election hoping for a strong majority, to give her a free hand to deal with the EU.

While promising a “UK approach” to Brexit, the Conservatives rejected different arrangements for the UK’s component nations or anything more than a consultative role for the devolved governments.

Following the Tory setback at last week’s election, this may have to change.

The SNP has stressed the fact that 62 per cent of Scots voted Remain in the Brexit referendum. Last year it proposed Scotland could remain in the European single market even as the rest of the UK left.

When the UK Government failed to respond, it proposed a new independence referendum as the only way of remaining in Europe.

At the General Election, neither government presented a clear and consistent plan.

The Conservatives’ promised a new, close partnership with Europe, without explaining what it would entail. Neither they nor Labour were clear about how far the UK could keep the advantages of the European single market without bearing its obligations.

The SNP’s twin-track approach of a differentiated Brexit and independence in Europe confused many.

Support for independence has been running at about the same level as in 2014 but support for a referendum has not. Independence and Europe may be a logical combination, but the electorate has never really made the connection.

So the Unionist parties were