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Nicola Sturgeon: UK faces Brexit 'lost decade' Nicola Sturgeon: UK faces Brexit 'lost decade'
(35 minutes later)
Nicola Sturgeon has said there was a real risk the UK could be facing a "lost decade" after leaving the EU.Nicola Sturgeon has said there was a real risk the UK could be facing a "lost decade" after leaving the EU.
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 remained "profoundly concerned" about the implications of Brexit, with the early signs "not encouraging".She told MSPs on the committee that she remained "profoundly concerned" about the implications of Brexit, with the early signs "not encouraging".
And she said the "least worst option" of remaining in the single market should be a key objective. And she said the "least worst option" of remaining in the single market should be the key objective.
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."
She said she had become increasingly frustrated at the delay in setting out Scotland's role in negotiations between the UK and EU. She said she had also become increasingly frustrated at the delay in setting out Scotland's role in negotiations between the UK and EU
Ms Sturgeon said there was a "real risk the UK is facing a lost decade or more", adding: "The damage that will then do to our economy and other areas of our society and life will be deep and severe." Ms Sturgeon predicted the process of leaving the EU would be long and complicated, with a "real risk the UK is facing a lost decade or more".
She added: "The damage that will then do to our economy and other areas of our society and life will be deep and severe."
'Not optimistic''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.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".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".
If that happened, she said Holyrood could also have to give its backing for this, with MSPs potentially voting on a legislative consent motion (LCM) If that happened, she said Holyrood could also have to give its backing for this, with MSPs potentially voting on a legislative consent motion (LCM).
The first minister went on to tell MSPs that the Scottish government "is keeping a very close eye" on court actions that have been brought in England and Northern Ireland. Michael Russell, the minister charged with making the Scottish case in Brexit negotiations, used a debate in the Holyrood chamber later on Wednesday to call on the UK government to clarify whether it wants to remain in the single market.
The "heart of these actions" centres around whether the UK government can trigger Article 50 itself or would require an act of parliament to do so.
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 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.
"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, is using a debate in the Holyrood chamber to call on the UK government to clarify whether it wants to remain in the single market.
Mr Russell said: "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 said: "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."
Strategic objectives
Scottish Conservative MP Jackson Carlaw said the result of the EU referendum was a vote to leave, and that was what must now be delivered.
Mr Carlaw said an EU ambassador had told him that the "the shutters will come down" if the atmosphere was soured between the UK and Scotland.
He accused the first minister of being obsessed with independence, and said Brexit was a process and not an event,
Labour MSP Lewis Macdonald said it was of the utmost important that membership of the single market continued, but said Prime Minister Theresa May had left people to speculate what her position is.
He urged Scottish ministers to work in good faith with their UK counterparts, who he said would in turn need to reveal what their strategic objectives actually were
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 correspondentAnalysis - 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.