The Press and Journal (Inverness, Highlands, and Islands)
SNP mocks May over ‘Brexit means Brexit’ assurance
Nats say they will fight to stay in EU
The SNP has mocked Theresa May’s “Brexit means Brexit” assurance by insisting that “remain means remain” in Scotland.
The party’s Westminster leader Angus Robertson played on Mrs May’s repeated rhetoric to insist that Scotland would fight to stay within the European Union.
He drew on support from the German government to remain a memb e r of the union, as he pressed Mrs May on her recent visit to Scotland. Mr Robertson said: “German Vice Chancellor Sigmar Gabriel has already confirmed how Scotland is able to remain in the European Union. “Did you discuss this when you met with First Minister Nicola Sturgeon when you were in Edinburgh, and will you do everything to ensure that remain means remain for Scotland?” Making her debut at prime minister’s questions, Mrs May said: “I did discuss the a rrangements in relation to the negotiations for the United Kingdom leaving the EU with the first minister.
“I was very pleased that my first trip was to Scotland and that I was able to do that so early in my premiership.
“As I’ve been very clear, the Union is very important to me and I was also clear with the first minister that I think there are some ideas being put forward that are impractical, but I am willing to listen to the options that are bought forward and we will be engaging fully with all the devolved administrations.” In a tongue-in-cheek exchange, he also asked the prime minister to extend his party’s thanks to the German government for supporting Scotland’s position ahead of her first visit to the country on Wednesday. He said: “Germany has the highest level of support of any European continental country for Scotland remaining in the European Union. Would you thank Chancellor Merkel for the interest of the members of her government and members of the Bundestag, their interest in having Scotland remaining within the EU?
“And will you assure the