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Scots and UK governments discuss Brexit UK minister David Lidington casts doubt on special Scots EU deal
(about 5 hours later)
The UK government's Europe minister is in Edinburgh for Brexit talks with the Scottish government. A foreign office minister has cast doubt on the possibility of Scotland securing a special deal to remain part of the EU as the UK leaves.
David Lidington will meet Scotland's external affairs secretary, Fiona Hyslop, and members of the first minister's Standing Council on Europe. Europe Minister David Lidington was in Edinburgh for talks with his Scottish government counterpart Fiona Hyslop.
Mr Lidington said he wanted to honour the promise to include the Scottish government in preparations for the Brexit negotiations. He said there was a "clear legal position" that "we have to leave the EU".
He also met Scottish Conservative leader Ruth Davidson. First Minister Nicola Sturgeon said ruling out any options for Scotland would be "seriously premature".
Voters in Scotland backed remaining in the European Union by 62% to 38%, while the UK as a whole voted 52% to leave in a referendum on 23 June.
The Scottish government has pledged to study all possible options for the future - one could include a special deal allowing Scotland to retain access to the EU, another could be a second independence referendum.
'Best possible deal'
Asked if there was a way Scotland could remain in the EU, Mr Lidington said: "The legal position is very clear, we have to leave the EU, before you can apply to be a member again, and the Spanish government has made it very clear that they don't see this as a prospect.
"The important thing is that the Scottish government works very closely with the UK government to get the very best possible deal for Scotland and its people in the forthcoming negotiations."
When asked if Scotland's future relationship with the EU would be from the outside, he replied "yes".
Mr Lidington added: "I'm very sad about the result, but it has to be respected."
Ms Sturgeon said she would not read too much into Mr Lidington's comments, adding that there might not even be a Europe minister when the new UK government is set up following the Tory leadership contest.
The first minister said she remained of "the very firm view that Scotland voted to remain in the EU", and that her job was to make sure all options were considered to "achieve that outcome".
She said: "For anyone to rule out these options before they've been considered is seriously premature.
"We have no sense of how things are going to move forward. The complete lack of planning [from the UK government] has been exposed over the last few days.
"The fundamental point is that Scotland didn't vote to leave the EU. Scotland voted to stay in the EU and that should be our starting point of principle."
Mr Lidington also met members of the first minister's Standing Council on Europe, as well as Scottish Conservative leader Ruth Davidson.
Ms Davidson said she had stressed the importance of the European single market to Scotland's economy, and the "over-riding priority" to retain access to it.Ms Davidson said she had stressed the importance of the European single market to Scotland's economy, and the "over-riding priority" to retain access to it.
'Protecting trade'
She added: "We both agreed that it is vital for the voice of Scotland to be heard in these talks, and that the Scottish government should be involved at all stages of the negotiations.She added: "We both agreed that it is vital for the voice of Scotland to be heard in these talks, and that the Scottish government should be involved at all stages of the negotiations.
"Protecting our trade with the European Union will boost our economy, sustain jobs and help to fund vital public services.""Protecting our trade with the European Union will boost our economy, sustain jobs and help to fund vital public services."
Scottish First Minister Nicola Sturgeon has pledged to explore all of the options for safeguarding Scotland's place in Europe, and has raised the possibility of a second independence referendum.
Scotland voted by 62% to 38% in favour of remaining in the EU in last month's referendum, but faces the prospect of having to leave after the UK as a whole voted in favour of Brexit,
Mr Lidington said he expected Wednesday's talks to be constructive, and that the meeting demonstrated the UK government's commitment to engaging with the Scottish government and getting their direct input on future negotiations over the UK's future relationship with the EU.
He said the talks were part of the groundwork being done ahead of a new prime minister taking office and setting out what the negotiating position of the UK should be.
He told BBC Scotland: "I want to understand today how the Scottish government wants to play this - what their priorities are, and to try and make sure they are fully consulted and understand what the opportunities are to participate in this process."
The talks will be held as MPs gather at Westminster for the first Scottish Questions since the UK voted to leave the EU, with the session expected to be dominated by the impact of the Brexit vote.
It will also see the debut at the dispatch box of Labour MP Dave Anderson, who now speaks for the party on Scottish and Northern Irish matters, following the resignation of the shadow Scottish secretary Ian Murray.
'Negotiating chip'
On Tuesday, Ms Sturgeon branded as "inhumane" the UK government's failure to guarantee the rights of EU citizens living in Scotland to remain following the Brexit vote.
She insisted that people from other countries who had come to the UK and made their lives here "shouldn't be used as a negotiating chip in a wider discussion with Europe".
The first minister also held talks with Scotland's leading business organisations to hear their concerns about the impact of leaving the EU.
She said: "I'm very keen to work with the business community to get a message out there across Scotland, the UK and Europe as a whole that Scotland remains open for business and we are a good place to do business."