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Sturgeon calls for unity in Scotland and tells UK government: 'Get a grip' Sturgeon calls for unity in Scotland and tells UK government: 'Get a grip'
(about 1 hour later)
Nicola Sturgeon called on Scotland to move forward in a spirit of unity and national purpose as she condemned the leadership vacuum in Westminster and called on the UK government to “get a grip” in her first statement to the Holyrood parliament since last week’s referendum result. Nicola Sturgeon called on Scotland to move forward “in a spirit of unity and national purpose” as she condemned the leadership vacuum in Westminster.
She called on the UK government to “get a grip” in her first statement to the Holyrood parliament since last week’s referendum result.
Scotland’s first minster told the Holyrood chamber: “These are times that call for principles, purpose and clarity – in short, for leadership. That is why the vacuum that has developed at Westminster is so unacceptable.”Scotland’s first minster told the Holyrood chamber: “These are times that call for principles, purpose and clarity – in short, for leadership. That is why the vacuum that has developed at Westminster is so unacceptable.”
“One thing is clear: there cannot be three months of drift while both the government and main opposition parties at Westminster immerse themselves in internal elections. That would compound the difficult situation we are already facing and risk even more damage to our economy.” Speaking in advance of an emergency debate in which she urged MSPs to back her efforts to protect Scotland’s place in Europe, Sturgeon warned: “One thing is clear: there cannot be three months of drift while both the government and main opposition parties at Westminster immerse themselves in internal elections. That would compound the difficult situation we are already facing and risk even more damage to our economy.”
The SNP leader went on: “We have heard that – almost incredibly – there was no plan for this outcome. It is my view that the UK government must now get a grip on this: first, to restore stability and confidence, then, to set out its plan for the way forward. It must involve the Scottish government in that work at every step of the way.”The SNP leader went on: “We have heard that – almost incredibly – there was no plan for this outcome. It is my view that the UK government must now get a grip on this: first, to restore stability and confidence, then, to set out its plan for the way forward. It must involve the Scottish government in that work at every step of the way.”
Underlining her determination to protect Scotland’s relationship with the European Union, Sturgeon confirmed that she will travel to Brussels on Wednesday to meet representatives of the major groups in the European parliament andits president, Martin Schulz. Underlining her determination to protect Scotland’s relationship with the EU, Sturgeon confirmed that she would travel to Brussels on Wednesday to meet representatives of the main groups in the European parliament and its president, Martin Schulz. The first minister has yet to secure a meeting with the president of the European commission, Jean-Claude Juncker.
At the beginning of a debate during which all party leaders took the opportunity to reassure people from other countries who have chosen to make Scotland their home, Sturgeon urged the parliament to “make clear that Scotland is an open and welcoming country and that prejudice, hate and racism will not be tolerated, now or at any time”. She also detailed her recent discussions with business representatives, stressing her intention to secure access to the single market for Scotland. She noted that, if the country does find a way to maintain its relationship with the EU while the rest of the UK does not, “then [it] will become an even more attractive place to do business”.
On the question of independence, Sturgeon told the chamber that, if the Scottish government does conclude that the best or only way to protect Scotland’s place in the EU is through a referendum on independence, then she would return to Holyrood and ask the chamber to vote on it. At the beginning of a debate during which all party leaders offered reassurance to people from other countries who have chosen to make Scotland their home, Sturgeon urged the parliament to “make clear that Scotland is an open and welcoming country and that prejudice, hate and racism will not be tolerated, now or at any time”.
She acknowledged that not every voter in Scotland had supported the remain campaign, promising that “I am committed to listening, to understanding and seeking to address the concerns they have”.
On the question of independence, Sturgeon told the chamber that if the Scottish government does conclude that the best or only way to protect Scotland’s place in the EU is through a referendum on independence, then she would return to Holyrood and ask the chamber to vote on it.
Referring to a motion which followed her statement – seeking cross-party support for discussions with the UK government, other devolved administrations, EU institutions and member states to try to secure Scotland’s relationship with the EU and its place in the single market – she insisted: “A vote for this motion is not a vote for a referendum on independence.”Referring to a motion which followed her statement – seeking cross-party support for discussions with the UK government, other devolved administrations, EU institutions and member states to try to secure Scotland’s relationship with the EU and its place in the single market – she insisted: “A vote for this motion is not a vote for a referendum on independence.”
Related: Brexit news live: Corbyn facing secret ballot of MPsRelated: Brexit news live: Corbyn facing secret ballot of MPs
While Labour, the Scottish Liberal Democrats and the Scottish Greens have pledged to back to motion, to be voted on at the end of Holyrood business on Tuesday afternoon, the Scottish Conservatives will not support it. While Labour, the Scottish Liberal Democrats and the Scottish Greens have pledged to back the motion, to be voted on at the end of Holyrood business on Tuesday afternoon, the Scottish Conservatives will not support it.
Their leader Ruth Davidson has put forward an amendment that deletes the mandate for Sturgeon to have discussions with EU institutions and member states and adds a clause stating that 1.6m votes for remaining in the EU do not overturn the 2m votes for remaining in the union cast in 2014 and “do not in themselves demonstrate demand for a second independence vote”. Their leader, Ruth Davidson, has put forward an amendment that deletes the mandate for Sturgeon to have discussions with EU institutions and member states and adds a clause stating that 1.6m votes for remaining in the EU do not overturn the 2m votes for remaining in the union cast in 2014 and “do not in themselves demonstrate demand for a second independence vote”.
Responding to Davidson’s amendment, Sturgeon said: “It would be ironic – and deeply regrettable – if the party that has put us into this unfortunate position ended up today as the only one standing in the way of our efforts to resolve it.”Responding to Davidson’s amendment, Sturgeon said: “It would be ironic – and deeply regrettable – if the party that has put us into this unfortunate position ended up today as the only one standing in the way of our efforts to resolve it.”
Davidson responded: “You do not dampen the shockwaves caused by one referendum by lighting the fuse for another.”Davidson responded: “You do not dampen the shockwaves caused by one referendum by lighting the fuse for another.”
She added: “The lesson [of the referendum] was not a simple them and us: not when a million of our countrymen voted to leave to.”She added: “The lesson [of the referendum] was not a simple them and us: not when a million of our countrymen voted to leave to.”
But Scottish Labour leader Kezia Dugdale’s voice shook with rage as she accused Davidson’s party of “putting the future of the UK in danger at every turn”.
Dugdale told the Tory leader: “I struggle to put into words the anger I feel towards her party at the moment. An anger that’s been building since David Cameron announced English votes for English laws within minutes of the Scottish independence referendum result.
“An anger that grew when her party set Scottish voters against English voters in a hugely divisive and disingenuous 2015 campaign. Anger at a party that forced this EU referendum on a country that did not want it, only to resolve an ego contest in the Tory party... And a Tory campaign in last month’s election that told the nation that all that mattered was whether you were a unionist or a nationalist.“The Tories have put the future of the UK in danger at every turn and it’s high time they shouldered responsibility for that.”