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May holds Brexit talks with devolved nations Sturgeon tells may she's 'not bluffing' over referendum
(35 minutes later)
The prime minister has offered the leaders of the three devolved governments a "direct line" to Brexit Secretary David Davis ahead of the UK's negotiations to leave the EU. First Minister Nicola Sturgeon has warned Theresa May she is not "bluffing" over her promise to hold an independence referendum if Scotland's vote against Brexit is "not respected".
Theresa May held talks with the first ministers at Downing Street. After talks in Downing Street, she said she was not prepared to see "Scotland driven off a hard Brexit cliff-edge".
The Scottish and Welsh leaders want the devolved legislatures and Parliament all to vote on Mr Davis's approach. She and the first ministers of Wales and Northern Ireland demanded to be fully consulted on EU negotiations.
Mrs May says she is "ready to listen" to their ideas but the final position must work for the whole of the UK. But Downing Street said it was vital not to "undermine" the UK's position.
The issue was discussed as the joint ministerial committee - bringing together Mrs May, Scottish First Minister Nicola Sturgeon, Welsh First Minister Carwyn Jones and Northern Ireland First Minister Alene Foster - met for the first time since 2014. The Scottish and Welsh leaders want the devolved legislatures and Parliament all to vote on the UK's approach when formal talks with the European Union about Brexit begin.
Downing Street said leaders of the devolved administrations must not "undermine" Brexit negotiations. The issue was discussed as the joint ministerial committee - bringing together the prime minister, Ms Sturgeon, Welsh First Minister Carwyn Jones and Northern Ireland's First Minister Arlene Foster and Deputy First Minister Martin McGuinness - met for the first time since 2014.
Asked about calls for different parts of the UK to be able to opt in or out of the single market, the prime minister's official spokeswoman said a united UK negotiating position was "vital to protect the UK's interest as a whole".Asked about calls for different parts of the UK to be able to opt in or out of the single market, the prime minister's official spokeswoman said a united UK negotiating position was "vital to protect the UK's interest as a whole".
After the meeting, Ms Sturgeon said she had received "no more information or detail" about the UK negotiating position, hearing only "warm words" from the UK government.
She added: "I'm not going to stand by and watch Scotland driven off a hard Brexit cliff-edge. Scotland's vote to stay has to be respected."
Ms Sturgeon also said: "There's not a bit of what I'm doing just now that's bluffing or game-playing. This is not a game of chicken. It's not a game at all."
She told reporters: "If all we get from the negotiations is a door slammed in our face, Scotland should be able to chose a better option."
In 2014, Scottish voters decided by 55.3% to 44.7% against independence from the UK.
Ms Foster, also speaking in Downing Street after the meeting, said: "It's important that we are involved in the heart of [the Brexit negotiation] process."
BBC assistant political editor Norman Smith said Mrs May had "delivered a fairly bold 'Non'" to demands for devolved legislatures to have a greater say in Brexit. She did not want "separate deals in separate parts of the UK" because this risked "confusing" issues and "undermining her negotiating strategy", he added.BBC assistant political editor Norman Smith said Mrs May had "delivered a fairly bold 'Non'" to demands for devolved legislatures to have a greater say in Brexit. She did not want "separate deals in separate parts of the UK" because this risked "confusing" issues and "undermining her negotiating strategy", he added.
But Northern Ireland First Minister Arlene Foster, speaking in Downing Street after the meeting, said: "It's important that we are involved in the heart of that process." But, following Ms Sturgeon's call for a second referendum, Mrs May realised what an "awfully big" situation the UK faced, Norman Smith said, adding: "If she gets it wrong, she risks being the prime minister who took Britain out of the EU but also risks breaking up the United Kingdom."
Scotland and Northern Ireland voted to remain in the EU in the referendum last June, while Wales, like England, voted to leave. Downing Street is proposing that Brexit Secretary David Davis chair a new forum bringing together representatives from the devolved nations before the prime minister triggers Article 50 of the Lisbon Treaty, formally starting the two-year Brexit process, by the end of March next year.
With Scottish First Minister Nicola Sturgeon issuing calls for a second referendum on Scottish independence, Mrs May realised what an "awfully big" situation the UK faced, Norman Smith said, adding: "If she gets it wrong, she risks being the prime minister who took Britain out of the EU but also risks breaking up the United Kingdom."
Before the meeting Michael Russell, Scotland's Brexit minister, said Scotland had an "importantly distinctive position" that needed to be respected, he said. "We didn't ask to be in this position," he told BBC Radio's Good Morning Scotland. "It's extremely important we say what we think the position is and it's extremely important that's listened to."
He said there was a lot of flexibility in how the EU made arrangements with other countries in Europe and said comparable flexibility needed to be shown from the UK government.
Downing Street is proposing that Mr Davis chair a new forum bringing together representatives from the devolved nations before the prime minister triggers Article 50 of the Lisbon Treaty, formally starting the two-year Brexit process, by the end of March next year.
Mrs May said: "The new forum I am offering will be the chance for them all to put forward their proposals on how to seize the opportunities presented by Brexit and deliver the democratic decision expressed by the people of the UK."Mrs May said: "The new forum I am offering will be the chance for them all to put forward their proposals on how to seize the opportunities presented by Brexit and deliver the democratic decision expressed by the people of the UK."
But Mr Jones and Ms Sturgeon have both called for votes on the Brexit strategy, saying Article 50 should not be triggered until there is an agreed approach. But Mr Jones and Ms Sturgeon have both said Article 50 should not be triggered until there is an agreed approach to Brexit.
Ms Sturgeon has also said she wants to be able to call a second referendum on independence if the UK government does not protect Scotland's links with the EU.
The two leaders have stressed their desire to see continued participation in the EU single market - a situation that could be at risk if the UK pursued a so-called "hard" approach to Brexit.The two leaders have stressed their desire to see continued participation in the EU single market - a situation that could be at risk if the UK pursued a so-called "hard" approach to Brexit.
However, Downing Street says the prime minister is expected to tell the leaders that, contrary to some speculation, no final decisions have been taken on her approach "and that how the UK leaves the EU will not boil down to a binary choice". However, Downing Street said before the meeting the prime minister would tell the leaders that, contrary to some speculation, no final decisions have been taken on her approach "and that how the UK leaves the EU will not boil down to a binary choice".
The talks come as a leading think tank warns the UK faces a "full-blown constitutional crisis" unless all nations of the UK agree on "core planks" of the government's approach to Brexit. The talks came as a leading think tank warned the UK faces a "full-blown constitutional crisis" unless all nations of the UK agree on "core planks" of the government's approach to Brexit.
The Institute for Government warned imposing a settlement on Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland may be legally possible but "if it proves impossible to find consensus... the result may be a serious breakdown in relations between the four governments (and nations) of the UK".The Institute for Government warned imposing a settlement on Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland may be legally possible but "if it proves impossible to find consensus... the result may be a serious breakdown in relations between the four governments (and nations) of the UK".