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Nicola Sturgeon: second Scottish referendum likely in event of hard Brexit Sturgeon: second Scottish referendum is likely to be held in event of hard Brexit
(35 minutes later)
It is highly likely that Scotland will hold a second independence referendum by 2020 if the UK is taken out of the European Union’s single market, Nicola Sturgeon has said. It is highly probable that Scotland will hold a second independence referendum by 2020 if the UK is taken out of the EU single market, Nicola Sturgeon has said.
Scotland’s first minister said a new independence referendum a year after the UK formally exits the EU was “highly likely, given the situation we’re in” but she also wanted to explore the possibility of keeping Scotland in the single market even if the rest of the UK departed. Scotland’s first minister said an independence referendum a year after the UK formally exits the EU was “highly likely, given the situation we’re in”. But Sturgeon said she also wanted to explore the possibility of keeping Scotland in the single market even if the rest of the UK left.
There may be alternatives to a second referendum vote, Sturgeon said. “We have to see the prime minister be serious about listening to those other options, because if Scotland really is, as we’ve been told repeatedly, that we are an equal partner in the UK, Theresa May is serious about protecting the UK, then it’s time for her to turn those words into action and actually demonstrate that Scotland’s voice is heard and our interests can be protected within the UK. There may be alternatives to a second referendum vote, she said. “We have to see the prime minister be serious about listening to those other options, because if Scotland really is, as we’ve been told repeatedly, that we are an equal partner in the UK, Theresa May is serious about protecting the UK, then it’s time for her to turn those words into action and actually demonstrate that Scotland’s voice is heard and our interests can be protected within the UK.
“We’ve not seen much of that from the prime minister so far, so I hope we see more of it in the weeks to come.”“We’ve not seen much of that from the prime minister so far, so I hope we see more of it in the weeks to come.”
At the SNP conference this week, Sturgeon repeated her pledge to call a second independence referendum if the UK is pushed towards a so-called hard Brexit. More than 60% of Scottish voters backed remain. At the SNP conference this week, Sturgeon repeated her pledge to call a second independence referendum if the UK is pushed towards a so-called hard Brexit. More than 60% of Scottish voters backed remain in the June vote on whether to stay or leave the EU.
Speaking to ITV’s Robert Peston, Sturgeon said the SNP wanted to “work across the political divide with Labour, liberals, moderate Tories, to try to avert that kind of hard Brexit for the UK as a whole” in the first instance, rather than make an immediate push for a referendum.Speaking to ITV’s Robert Peston, Sturgeon said the SNP wanted to “work across the political divide with Labour, liberals, moderate Tories, to try to avert that kind of hard Brexit for the UK as a whole” in the first instance, rather than make an immediate push for a referendum.
She said: “If that doesn’t work, we will put forward anyway proposals that would enable Scotland to maintain its place in the single market, preserve aspects of our relationship with Europe even if the rest of the UK leaves.”She said: “If that doesn’t work, we will put forward anyway proposals that would enable Scotland to maintain its place in the single market, preserve aspects of our relationship with Europe even if the rest of the UK leaves.”
Sturgeon, who is due meet Theresa May along with the leaders of other devolved administrations next Monday, said she wanted to keep Scotland in the single market. Sturgeon, who is scheduled to meet May along with the leaders of other devolved administrations next Monday, said she wanted to keep Scotland in the single market.
“I’m not pretending any of this will be straightforward, there’s lots of challenges along the way, but we are in an unprecedented set of circumstances and I think there is an obligation on all of us to try to square the circle,” she said. “Scotland voted to stay in the EU, and I think we should try to honour that, and I think Theresa May has an obligation to try to honour that as well.” “I’m not pretending any of this will be straightforward, there’s lots of challenges along the way, but we are in an unprecedented set of circumstances and I think there is an obligation on all of us to try to square the circle. Scotland voted to stay in the EU, and I think we should try to honour that, and I think Theresa May has an obligation to try to honour that as well.”
The UK’s Scottish secretary, David Mundell, said on the BBC’s Sunday Politics that the UK government would have to agree to a new referendum if it was called by the Scottish government. The Scottish secretary, David Mundell, said on the BBC’s Sunday Politics programme that the UK government would have to agree to a second referendum if it was called by the Scottish government.
“Of course there could be another referendum, but we want to argue that there shouldn’t be another referendum,” he said. “We believe that the decision has been made and that it is now in Scotland’s best interests that the two governments work together in a team UK approach to get the best possible deal for Scotland in the EU.”“Of course there could be another referendum, but we want to argue that there shouldn’t be another referendum,” he said. “We believe that the decision has been made and that it is now in Scotland’s best interests that the two governments work together in a team UK approach to get the best possible deal for Scotland in the EU.”
Mundell said the UK government would look at any proposals the Scottish government brought forward about securing a special status for Scotland post-Brexit, but said none had yet been forthcoming.Mundell said the UK government would look at any proposals the Scottish government brought forward about securing a special status for Scotland post-Brexit, but said none had yet been forthcoming.
“We’ve had four months. There’s no specific proposals have come forward,” he said. “Nicola Sturgeon’s this morning talking about having proposals, but at this moment I see it impossible, for example, that Scotland could remain within the EU whilst the rest of the UK left.”“We’ve had four months. There’s no specific proposals have come forward,” he said. “Nicola Sturgeon’s this morning talking about having proposals, but at this moment I see it impossible, for example, that Scotland could remain within the EU whilst the rest of the UK left.”
Pressed on whether Scotland could staying the single market, Mundell said: “I think it would be difficult to see how that could be achieved.”Pressed on whether Scotland could staying the single market, Mundell said: “I think it would be difficult to see how that could be achieved.”
Greg Hands, minister of state for international trade, said the UK government was still working out its position on crucial details, including whether the UK would need to pay EU budget contributions in exchange for favourable trading conditions.
“It’s difficult, at this stage ... we’ve said we want to make sure that we know in advance before we trigger article 50 all of the pros and cons. The prime minister has been clear we need to get the best possible deal for the UK,” he told ITV’s Peston on Sunday. “We’ve got time to be able to get the right answers to those questions.”