Doomed to failure: May’s hope of UK-wide consensus on Brexit

POLITICAL EDITOR

THERESA May’s hope of a UK-wide approach to Brexit could flounder within days as the stark differences between the nation’s politicians are laid bare. Nicola Sturgeon will meet her Welsh and Northern Ireland counterparts in Cardiff this week at an extraordinary meeting of the British Irish Council (BIC).

After their first face-to-face meeting on Friday, May said she wanted to agree a “UK approach” to Brexit before she triggered the two-year Article 50 withdrawal.

However, this week’s meeting of the BIC, which brings together the UK and Irish governments, those of Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland, and the administrations of the Isle of Man, Jersey and Guernsey, is more likely to expose deep, political divisions on the subject.

A Scottish Government source said May’s UK approach could prove an “impossible dream”.

Sturgeon will be the only national leader present in Cardiff who is in step with their own electorate on Brexit, given Scotland’s 62-38 vote in favour of remaining.

Welsh First Minister Carwyn Jones, who will host the summit, campaigned to Remain, but Wales voted 52.5 per cent for Leave.

The Northern Ireland executive is split down the middle.

The region voted almost 56 per cent in favour of staying in Europe, but First Minister Arlene Foster’s DUP backed Leave and her deputy Martin McGuinness’s Sinn Fein backed Remain.

There has been continued friction between the two parties since Brexit, with McGuiness backing a cross-border poll on a united Ireland and a cross-border forum on all-Ireland issues.

Foster dismissed the latter out of hand, but Irish Taoiseach Enda Kenny, who will also be in Cardiff, said the forum may still go ahead.

Brexit also raises the prospect of a hard border with checkpoints returning between Northern Ireland and the Irish Republic for the first time since 1998.

On becoming the new Northern Ireland Secretary last week, James Brokenshire said open borders were an “absolute priority”.

It is not yet clear if the Prime Minister, who supported a Remain vote only to see the UK vote 52-48 for Leave, will attend the summit.

Scottish Secretary David Mundell typically attends on behalf of the UK Government. However, David Davis, the new Cabinet Secretary for Brexit, is thought more likely to be present.

Government sources also suggested May is someone Sturgeon “can do business with”, in light of their constructive meeting.

Downing Street insiders returned the compliment, praising Sturgeon’s straightforward approach, and contrasting it with Alex Salmond’s showboating.

A Scottish source said: “On a personal level, they [May and Sturgeon] got on fine. While they may not know each other well, there’s reason to think they can talk to each other on the same level.”

A Westminster insider added: “With Alex Salmond it was always about him. With Sturgeon it’s about the cause. She’s a far more pragmatic person.”

LibDem MP Alistair Carmichael, who worked with May in coalition as Scottish Secretary, said she was very like Sturgeon.

He said: “They both have the same very detailed approach to preparation and policy. Although they come from very different political perspectives, you can see there are similarities there.

“My sense is that she will take advice on Scotland.”