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| Version 6 | Version 7 |
|---|---|
| Theresa May and Nicola Sturgeon meet for Brexit talks | Theresa May and Nicola Sturgeon meet for Brexit talks |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| Prime Minister Theresa May has held talks with First Minister Nicola Sturgeon in Edinburgh on the future of the EU and the union. | Prime Minister Theresa May has held talks with First Minister Nicola Sturgeon in Edinburgh on the future of the EU and the union. |
| Mrs May left the first minister's official residence, Bute House, after about 45 minutes, following a meeting she described as "positive". | Mrs May left the first minister's official residence, Bute House, after about 45 minutes, following a meeting she described as "positive". |
| She said she wanted the Scottish government should be "fully engaged" in Brexit talks. | |
| Ms Sturgeon said the discussion had been "constructive". | |
| The first minister believes Scottish interests have been put "at risk" by the result of the EU referendum. | |
| She has said she wants to explore all options - including independence - to maintain Scotland's relationship with the EU. | |
| Speaking after the meeting, the prime minister said: "I'm willing to listen to options and I've been very clear with the first minister today that I want the Scottish government to be fully engaged in our discussion. | Speaking after the meeting, the prime minister said: "I'm willing to listen to options and I've been very clear with the first minister today that I want the Scottish government to be fully engaged in our discussion. |
| "I have already said that I won't be triggering Article 50 until I think that we have a UK approach and objectives for negotiations - I think it is important that we establish that before we trigger Article 50." | "I have already said that I won't be triggering Article 50 until I think that we have a UK approach and objectives for negotiations - I think it is important that we establish that before we trigger Article 50." |
| Asked about the possibility of a second referendum on Scottish independence, Mrs May said Scottish people had sent a "very clear message" in 2014. | |
| "Both the United Kingdom government and the Scottish government said they would abide by that," she added. | |
| "We now have the challenge though as the United Kingdom, to ensure that we can get the best possible deal for the whole of the United Kingdom from the EU negotiations when the UK leaves the EU. | |
| "I'm very clear that the government I lead will be for all parts of the United Kingdom and for all people." | |
| Meanwhile Ms Sturgeon said: "I was very pleased that Theresa May said that she was absolutely willing to consider any options that the Scottish government now bring forward to secure Scotland's relationship with the European Union, that the process that now takes shape by the UK government will be open and flexible, and that the Scottish government will be fully involved in that. | |
| "I have been very clear that we have to make sure that Scotland's interests are protected and I want to examine every option of doing that." | |
| Speaking on BBC Scotland's Good Morning Scotland programme, Scottish Secretary David Mundell described the idea of Scotland remaining within the UK at the same time as remaining in the EU as "fanciful". | Speaking on BBC Scotland's Good Morning Scotland programme, Scottish Secretary David Mundell described the idea of Scotland remaining within the UK at the same time as remaining in the EU as "fanciful". |
| He told the programme: "I certainly don't think it's possible for Scotland to remain within the EU and the rest of the UK to be outwith the EU. I think that is fanciful." | He told the programme: "I certainly don't think it's possible for Scotland to remain within the EU and the rest of the UK to be outwith the EU. I think that is fanciful." |
| Mr Mundell said he believed both Nicola Sturgeon and Theresa May would have a "constructive" relationship and their collective aim would be to get the best deal for Scotland and the UK in the EU negotiations. | Mr Mundell said he believed both Nicola Sturgeon and Theresa May would have a "constructive" relationship and their collective aim would be to get the best deal for Scotland and the UK in the EU negotiations. |
| However, he warned: "Of course it's not going to be doable on a basis that satisfies Nicola Sturgeon's ultimate aim of making Scotland an independent country. | However, he warned: "Of course it's not going to be doable on a basis that satisfies Nicola Sturgeon's ultimate aim of making Scotland an independent country. |
| "Theresa May doesn't agree with Scotland being an independent country, I don't agree and two million people in Scotland who voted in our own referendum don't agree with that. So we're not going to be in agreement with that and we're not going to be in agreement with the idea that there should be another independence referendum." | "Theresa May doesn't agree with Scotland being an independent country, I don't agree and two million people in Scotland who voted in our own referendum don't agree with that. So we're not going to be in agreement with that and we're not going to be in agreement with the idea that there should be another independence referendum." |
| 'Political will' | |
| Also speaking on the programme, the SNP MP Stephen Gethins, who is the party's spokesman on Europe, said he would like to see an acknowledgement from Westminster that Scotland voted differently from the UK referendum result. | Also speaking on the programme, the SNP MP Stephen Gethins, who is the party's spokesman on Europe, said he would like to see an acknowledgement from Westminster that Scotland voted differently from the UK referendum result. |
| He said: "We can find innovative political solutions to this if only the Westminster government are willing to listen." | He said: "We can find innovative political solutions to this if only the Westminster government are willing to listen." |
| He added: "You can find a solution whereby Scotland remains in the European Union within the United Kingdom, there are ways you can do that. | He added: "You can find a solution whereby Scotland remains in the European Union within the United Kingdom, there are ways you can do that. |
| "Independence is also an option, but that's only one of a number of options that are being considered. But if you look at the way the European Union and the United Kingdom have found solutions over the past 40 years, I'd been very surprised if the political will is there, that they can't find a solution to this particular impasse at the moment." | "Independence is also an option, but that's only one of a number of options that are being considered. But if you look at the way the European Union and the United Kingdom have found solutions over the past 40 years, I'd been very surprised if the political will is there, that they can't find a solution to this particular impasse at the moment." |
| Speaking to Reporting Scotland on Thursday, Ms Sturgeon said she hoped she would encounter a prime minister who was "open-minded and constructive" about the options for Scotland. | Speaking to Reporting Scotland on Thursday, Ms Sturgeon said she hoped she would encounter a prime minister who was "open-minded and constructive" about the options for Scotland. |
| The first minister said she wanted to find ways to protect areas including trade, university research, the rights of workers and influence on global policy such as climate change. | The first minister said she wanted to find ways to protect areas including trade, university research, the rights of workers and influence on global policy such as climate change. |