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PM Theresa May to meet Scotland's FM Nicola Sturgeon on Friday | PM Theresa May to meet Scotland's FM Nicola Sturgeon on Friday |
(35 minutes later) | |
Scotland's First Minister Nicola Sturgeon will meet new Prime Minister Theresa May on Friday morning in Edinburgh. | Scotland's First Minister Nicola Sturgeon will meet new Prime Minister Theresa May on Friday morning in Edinburgh. |
The pair are expected to discuss June's referendum in which the UK voted to leave the EU but Scotland did not. | The pair are expected to discuss June's referendum in which the UK voted to leave the EU but Scotland did not. |
The first minister told the BBC the onus was on unionists to prove Scotland's interests can be protected as part of the UK after Brexit. | |
Ms Sturgeon said she hopes for a constructive relationship with Mrs May. | |
Theresa May took over from David Cameron on Wednesday evening. | Theresa May took over from David Cameron on Wednesday evening. |
Speaking to Reporting Scotland, Ms Sturgeon said she would first congratulate the new prime minister on her appointment. | |
However, she said: "Everyone knows we have deep political differences but we both have a duty to the people we serve. | |
"That's the approach I will take into the meeting and I hope it is reciprocated." | |
'Onus of responsibility' | |
She added: "I am determined to protect Scotland's interests - many of our interests are now at risk because of the Brexit vote. | |
"The question is can I do that through the UK processes. | |
"It may reach a conclusion that independence is the only way to protect those interests. | |
"For those who advance the UK there is an onus of responsibility in light of the referendum to demonstrate that the UK is capable of protecting Scotland's interests. | |
"I'm determined to find options within the UK context and process to do that. | |
"I've been open that it may be the best or only option to consider if we want to be an independent country and that's a decision Scotland would have to take if we get there." | |
'Precious, precious union' | 'Precious, precious union' |
Earlier on Thursday, new UK Chancellor Philip Hammond dismissed the idea that Scotland could arrange a separate EU deal. | Earlier on Thursday, new UK Chancellor Philip Hammond dismissed the idea that Scotland could arrange a separate EU deal. |
Speaking to BBC Scotland's Good Morning Scotland programme, the Conservative MP said the best place for Scotland was within the UK economy outside the European Union. | Speaking to BBC Scotland's Good Morning Scotland programme, the Conservative MP said the best place for Scotland was within the UK economy outside the European Union. |
He added: "Let's make this United Kingdom economy work for all of us and let's negotiate with the European Union from outside the European Union a relationship which works for Britain and works for Europe so that we can have as close a relationship in trade and commerce as we possibly can, while being outside the European Union as the British people determined we should be." | He added: "Let's make this United Kingdom economy work for all of us and let's negotiate with the European Union from outside the European Union a relationship which works for Britain and works for Europe so that we can have as close a relationship in trade and commerce as we possibly can, while being outside the European Union as the British people determined we should be." |
At her first address outside 10 Downing Street on Wednesday, Mrs May said that the "union of the nations of the United Kingdom" was very important to her. | At her first address outside 10 Downing Street on Wednesday, Mrs May said that the "union of the nations of the United Kingdom" was very important to her. |
She added: "Not everybody knows this, but the full title of my party is the Conservative and Unionist Party and that word unionist is very important to me. | She added: "Not everybody knows this, but the full title of my party is the Conservative and Unionist Party and that word unionist is very important to me. |
"It means we believe in the union, the precious, precious bond between England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland. | "It means we believe in the union, the precious, precious bond between England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland. |
"But it means something else just as important, it means we believe in a union not just between the nations of the United Kingdom, but between all our citizens, everyone of us, whoever we are and wherever we're from." | "But it means something else just as important, it means we believe in a union not just between the nations of the United Kingdom, but between all our citizens, everyone of us, whoever we are and wherever we're from." |