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| Nicola Sturgeon: Brexit signs 'not encouraging' | |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| Nicola Sturgeon has said she remains "profoundly concerned" about the implications of Brexit, with the early signs "not encouraging". | Nicola Sturgeon has said she remains "profoundly concerned" about the implications of Brexit, with the early signs "not encouraging". |
| The first minister was speaking at a meeting of the Scottish Parliament's European Committee. | The first minister was speaking at a meeting of the Scottish Parliament's European Committee. |
| She told MSPs on the committee that she would seek to embed the Scottish government in the UK negotiations with the EU. | She told MSPs on the committee that she would seek to embed the Scottish government in the UK negotiations with the EU. |
| And she said remaining in the single market was the "least worst option". | |
| Ms Sturgeon also criticised the UK government's failure to deliver answers on what will happen in relation to country's departure from the European Union. | Ms Sturgeon also criticised the UK government's failure to deliver answers on what will happen in relation to country's departure from the European Union. |
| She said: "I think the lack of answers to any basic questions about what the UK government is actually seeking to achieve three months on from the referendum is just unacceptable, and becomes more unacceptable with every day that passes. | She said: "I think the lack of answers to any basic questions about what the UK government is actually seeking to achieve three months on from the referendum is just unacceptable, and becomes more unacceptable with every day that passes. |
| "And also this idea that there can be a cloak of secrecy over the position of the UK government as it develops, I just think is untenable." | "And also this idea that there can be a cloak of secrecy over the position of the UK government as it develops, I just think is untenable." |
| Ms Sturgeon said there was a "real risk the UK is facing a lost decade or more", and that she did not believe any positives from Brexit would come close to offsetting the damage that was done. | |
| 'Not optimistic' | |
| She said she was not optimistic that the rights of EU citizens living in the UK would be protected, and that it was possible UK citizens would need to apply for visas to visit EU countries after Brexit. | |
| And she argued that the argument for the House of Commons to be involved in the process of triggering Article 50 - which would start the two-year negotiation process - was "compelling". | |
| Speaking earlier on the the BBC's Good Morning Scotland programme, Conservative MEP Ian Duncan said he anticipated that the UK government would begin lodging Article 50 - the process to signal withdrawal from the EU - in the spring. | Speaking earlier on the the BBC's Good Morning Scotland programme, Conservative MEP Ian Duncan said he anticipated that the UK government would begin lodging Article 50 - the process to signal withdrawal from the EU - in the spring. |
| He accused Ms Sturgeon of "gallivanting" across Europe rather than focusing on negotiations in the UK. | He accused Ms Sturgeon of "gallivanting" across Europe rather than focusing on negotiations in the UK. |
| He said: "To my mind, Scotland will be absolutely integral to a resolution that is good for Scotland and the United Kingdom. | He said: "To my mind, Scotland will be absolutely integral to a resolution that is good for Scotland and the United Kingdom. |
| "Now I would much have preferred Nicola Sturgeon to have spent more time in London, talking with people down there, rather than gallivanting across Europe trying to find pals who can help out. | "Now I would much have preferred Nicola Sturgeon to have spent more time in London, talking with people down there, rather than gallivanting across Europe trying to find pals who can help out. |
| "To my mind, the deal will be done - the best deal possible for Scotland - through the negotiations working with colleagues in London, drawn from Wales, from Northern Ireland, from Scotland and so forth." | "To my mind, the deal will be done - the best deal possible for Scotland - through the negotiations working with colleagues in London, drawn from Wales, from Northern Ireland, from Scotland and so forth." |
| 'Continued fairness' | |
| Michael Russell, the minister charged with making the Scottish case in Brexit negotiations, will later call on the UK government to clarify whether it wants to remain in the single market. | Michael Russell, the minister charged with making the Scottish case in Brexit negotiations, will later call on the UK government to clarify whether it wants to remain in the single market. |
| Mr Russell will say in the Holyrood chamber: "We have no idea whether or not the UK wishes to remain within the single market, almost three months on from the referendum. That is not good enough. | Mr Russell will say in the Holyrood chamber: "We have no idea whether or not the UK wishes to remain within the single market, almost three months on from the referendum. That is not good enough. |
| "I am today inviting this parliament to add their voice to ours in holding the UK government to the prime minister's commitment and reiterating their support for our principled and values-driven approach to protecting Scotland's interests, fundamental to which is to remain inside the single market. | "I am today inviting this parliament to add their voice to ours in holding the UK government to the prime minister's commitment and reiterating their support for our principled and values-driven approach to protecting Scotland's interests, fundamental to which is to remain inside the single market. |
| "For continued fairness and opportunity for Scotland's workers as well as for long-term prosperity for Scotland as a whole, we must not be dragged by the hardline Brexiteers out of the single market. | "For continued fairness and opportunity for Scotland's workers as well as for long-term prosperity for Scotland as a whole, we must not be dragged by the hardline Brexiteers out of the single market. |
| "That is the case we must make loudly and clearly. In so doing we will find many others across these islands who believe the same and who can join us in the fight to preserve our future in Europe." | "That is the case we must make loudly and clearly. In so doing we will find many others across these islands who believe the same and who can join us in the fight to preserve our future in Europe." |
| Across the UK, 52% of people voted to leave the EU, while in Scotland 62% voted to remain. | Across the UK, 52% of people voted to leave the EU, while in Scotland 62% voted to remain. |
| Analysis - By Nick Eardley, BBC Scotland political correspondent | Analysis - By Nick Eardley, BBC Scotland political correspondent |
| The UK and Scottish parliaments have been back for just over a week and we're still waiting for real detail on what Brexit will mean. But there are some key arguments emerging. | The UK and Scottish parliaments have been back for just over a week and we're still waiting for real detail on what Brexit will mean. But there are some key arguments emerging. |
| The Scottish government and the SNP group at Westminster are making clear they think single market access is key in Brexit negotiations. First Minister Nicola Sturgeon says she wants membership of the market. | The Scottish government and the SNP group at Westminster are making clear they think single market access is key in Brexit negotiations. First Minister Nicola Sturgeon says she wants membership of the market. |
| But key figures in Europe, setting out their negotiating strategy, are saying that can only happen with free movement. The European Parliament chief negotiator said on Tuesday that the "freedoms are inseparable". In Brussels, European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker said there would be no "a la carte access" to the EU for the UK. | But key figures in Europe, setting out their negotiating strategy, are saying that can only happen with free movement. The European Parliament chief negotiator said on Tuesday that the "freedoms are inseparable". In Brussels, European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker said there would be no "a la carte access" to the EU for the UK. |
| That creates a problem for the UK government. Ministers in London have made clear they intend to limit immigration from Europe. Immigration levels are seen by many as a key reason for the leave vote in England and Wales. Ministers in London want access to the single market too, but are they prepared to compromise on free movement? | That creates a problem for the UK government. Ministers in London have made clear they intend to limit immigration from Europe. Immigration levels are seen by many as a key reason for the leave vote in England and Wales. Ministers in London want access to the single market too, but are they prepared to compromise on free movement? |
| It's early days and official talks won't start for months, but the different demands here are a sign of how tough they will be. | It's early days and official talks won't start for months, but the different demands here are a sign of how tough they will be. |