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EU Referendum: Ruth Davidson says 'Stability must come first' EU Referendum: Second referendum 'not in best interests'
(about 2 hours later)
The leader of the Scottish Conservatives, Ruth Davidson, has said stability must come first in the wake of the Brexit vote. A second independence referendum is "not in the best interests of Scotland", according to the leader of the Scottish Conservatives.
She said David Cameron's decision to remain in post over the short term was the "right one". Ruth Davidson said she wanted to see "stability prioritised" in the wake of the Brexit vote.
And she called on both the UK and Scottish governments to "work together for the benefit of all people in Scotland". "But I do not believe that a second independence referendum will help us achieve that stability," she said.
The UK voted to leave the European Union by 52% to 48%. The UK voted to leave the EU by 52% to 48% but in Scotland 62% of the electorate voted to remain.
However Scotland voted in favour of the UK staying in the EU by 62% to 38% - with all 32 council areas backing Remain. Ms Davidson spoke at the Scottish Conservative headquarters in Edinburgh shortly after First Minister Nicola Sturgeon announced that a second independence vote in Scotland was "highly likely".
In a statement issued after Tory prime minister David Cameron announced his intention to stand down as prime minister by October, Ms Davidson paid tribute to him. "Like the first minister I am disappointed with the result," said Ms Davidson, who was a key backer of the Remain campaign.
"David Cameron served the office of Prime Minister honourably at all times," she said. But she said Scotland needed to remain part of the UK.
"He restored the UK economy from the depths of the financial crisis, he pushed ahead with a series of necessary social reforms, and, in Scotland, delivered on devolution. "The 1.6 million votes cast in this referendum in favour of remain, do not wipe away the two million votes that we cast less than two years ago," she said.
"I am proud to have served alongside him and, earlier this morning, thanked him for his service on behalf of the party in Scotland." "And we do not address the challenges of leaving the European Union by leaving our own union of nations, our biggest market and our closest friends.
She added: "His decision to remain in post over the short term is the right one, and will help ensure greater stability in the days ahead. It is right that he has already spoken to Nicola Sturgeon to ensure the Scottish government is involved in the negotiations that will follow. "I believe in Scotland's place within the United Kingdom today as much as ever.
"Our two governments need to work together for the benefit of all people in Scotland, and they will. All of us need to take stock of this decision, and put the stability of our country first." "And I believe that - in or out of the European Union - the strength, security and durability of the United Kingdom will endure."
'Passionate debate' 'Discussion and co-operation'
Ms Davidson also called for co-operation between the Scottish and UK governments - and she said she was pleased there had already been discussions between the prime minister and the first minister.
"All of us, and both our governments need to work together for the common good, and in the awareness that families and businesses today are fearful for the future, and need reassurance.
"That requires a calm, measured response to the challenges we face - and a commitment to put our separate political priorities to one side to enable discussion and co-operation."
And she paid tribute to David Cameron who earlier announced his intention to stand down as prime minister.
"He has served Britain honourably for these last six years and I know he will discharge his duties these final few months with the same diligence and love of country that has marked his tenure," she said.
Respect result
Earlier Ms Davidson told the BBC's David Dimbleby: "We as a party have much more to keep us together than divide us and this has been a passionate debate.Earlier Ms Davidson told the BBC's David Dimbleby: "We as a party have much more to keep us together than divide us and this has been a passionate debate.
"But remember just a year ago my colleagues in London were elected on a manifesto to have a referendum on the European Union - we have carried out that, that we would respect the result - whatever it is - and after that we would all as democrats respect the will of the people of this country, come back together and govern to the manifesto on which we were elected.""But remember just a year ago my colleagues in London were elected on a manifesto to have a referendum on the European Union - we have carried out that, that we would respect the result - whatever it is - and after that we would all as democrats respect the will of the people of this country, come back together and govern to the manifesto on which we were elected."
Ms Davidson was a key backer of the Remain campaign and was part of a TV panel of pro-Europeans which went head-to-head with Leave campaigners, featuring Conservative MP Boris Johnson.Ms Davidson was a key backer of the Remain campaign and was part of a TV panel of pro-Europeans which went head-to-head with Leave campaigners, featuring Conservative MP Boris Johnson.
She denied any "personal invective" towards Mr Johnson, saying that any challenges she made of him were linked to his arguments that the UK should end its membership of the EU.She denied any "personal invective" towards Mr Johnson, saying that any challenges she made of him were linked to his arguments that the UK should end its membership of the EU.