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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| Nicola Sturgeon: Scotland may seek separate EU trade deal | Nicola Sturgeon: Scotland may seek separate EU trade deal |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| First Minister Nicola Sturgeon has said she believes a deal could be reached which would allow Scotland to retain access to the European single market. | First Minister Nicola Sturgeon has said she believes a deal could be reached which would allow Scotland to retain access to the European single market. |
| Speaking on the Andrew Marr Show, she said the UK leaving the EU need not entail Scotland being excluded from a separate trade arrangement. | Speaking on the Andrew Marr Show, she said the UK leaving the EU need not entail Scotland being excluded from a separate trade arrangement. |
| "I think that is possible," she said. | "I think that is possible," she said. |
| Speaking later, Scottish Secretary David Mundell agreed to look at any specific proposals put forward by the Scottish government. | |
| The first minister said her government was looking at the detail of how a separate trade deal could work, adding: "We will publish proposals over the next few weeks." | |
| Ms Sturgeon told the programme her first approach would be to support an acceptable trade deal for the whole of the UK. | Ms Sturgeon told the programme her first approach would be to support an acceptable trade deal for the whole of the UK. |
| She said: "We are going to work with others across the political divide to avert a hard Brexit not just for Scotland but for the whole UK. | She said: "We are going to work with others across the political divide to avert a hard Brexit not just for Scotland but for the whole UK. |
| "I don't believe there is a mandate to take the UK out of the single market and I don't believe there is a majority in parliament." | "I don't believe there is a mandate to take the UK out of the single market and I don't believe there is a majority in parliament." |
| The first minister denied she was underestimating the difficulties of finding a solution which allowed Scotland to retain access to the single market if the UK as a whole chose to leave. | The first minister denied she was underestimating the difficulties of finding a solution which allowed Scotland to retain access to the single market if the UK as a whole chose to leave. |
| "I don't suggest for a second that would be straightforward or without challenges," she said. | "I don't suggest for a second that would be straightforward or without challenges," she said. |
| "But in the unprecedented circumstances we're in just now, I think there's an obligation on all of us to try to work out solutions that will allow the vote in Scotland to be respected, just as I understand that Theresa May wants the vote in other parts of the UK to be respected." | "But in the unprecedented circumstances we're in just now, I think there's an obligation on all of us to try to work out solutions that will allow the vote in Scotland to be respected, just as I understand that Theresa May wants the vote in other parts of the UK to be respected." |
| Scottish trade plan | Scottish trade plan |
| During Ms Sturgeon's speech to the SNP conference on Saturday, she set out a four-point plan to boost Scottish trade and exports. This would include: | During Ms Sturgeon's speech to the SNP conference on Saturday, she set out a four-point plan to boost Scottish trade and exports. This would include: |
| She told party members: "Let me be crystal clear about this - Scotland cannot trust the likes of Boris Johnson and Liam Fox to represent us. | She told party members: "Let me be crystal clear about this - Scotland cannot trust the likes of Boris Johnson and Liam Fox to represent us. |
| "They are retreating to the fringes of Europe. We intend to stay at its very heart where Scotland belongs. | "They are retreating to the fringes of Europe. We intend to stay at its very heart where Scotland belongs. |
| "We are in a completely new era. A new political era and a new battle of ideas. | "We are in a completely new era. A new political era and a new battle of ideas. |
| "A new era for our parliament, with new powers and responsibilities, and a new era for our relationship with Europe and the wider world." | "A new era for our parliament, with new powers and responsibilities, and a new era for our relationship with Europe and the wider world." |
| 'Difficult' deal | |
| Speaking on the Sunday Politics programme, Mr Mundell promised to look at any proposals put forward by the Scottish government - but questioned whether a separate trade deal with the EU would be possible. | |
| He said: "I think it would be difficult to see how that could be achieved. | |
| "But I've said before we'll listen to any proposals that the Scottish government bring forward in relation to advancing the best interests of Scotland." | |
| He added: "We've had four months [since the European referendum] but there's no specific proposals come forward." | |
| Mr Mundell declined to say whether he thought the UK government would block a request to hold a second Scottish independence referendum in future. | |
| He said: "I was one of the 62% who voted to remain in the EU but I didn't do so on the basis that, if I didn't get my own way, Scotland would be dragged out of the UK." |