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Nicola Sturgeon to set out Scottish Brexit proposals Sturgeon: UK could stay in single market
(about 1 hour later)
The Scottish government is to publish its proposals for future relations with Europe after the UK leaves the EU. Nicola Sturgeon has argued it would be "democratically justifiable" for the whole of the UK to remain in the European single market after Brexit.
At Bute House, Nicola Sturgeon will set out her proposals for access to the single market and new devolved powers for the Scottish Parliament. But the Scottish first minister also said it would be possible for Scotland to remain in the free trade bloc even if the rest of the UK leaves.
There will also be an update for MSPs at Holyrood in the afternoon. She was speaking as she unveiled proposals for Scotland's future relations with Europe after the Brexit.
Ms Sturgeon spoke to Theresa May on Monday, with the prime minister pledging to look "very seriously" at the proposals put forward. The prime minister has pledged to look "very seriously" at the proposals.
Mrs May has repeatedly said she is willing to listen to the options put forward by the devolved administrations, although her Chancellor Philip Hammond has suggested that a special deal for Scotland is "not realistic". But the UK government has also warned that a special deal for Scotland is unrealistic.
Ms Sturgeon set up a "standing council" of experts on Europe in the immediate aftermath of the EU referendum in June, saying she wanted to examine "all options" open to her government - including the possibility of a second independence referendum. In June's EU referendum, 62% of voters in Scotland backed remain, with 38% for leave.
Her Brexit minister Mike Russell said the paper published on Tuesday would be chiefly concerned with "compromise" positions focused on Scotland's options as part of the UK, rather than the SNP's preferred scenario of an independent Scotland remaining a full EU member state. Ms Sturgeon set up a "standing council" of experts on Europe in the immediate aftermath of the vote. saying she wanted to examine all options open to her government - including the possibility of a second independence referendum.
He will update MSPs on the options paper in the afternoon. The Scottish government's have now been published in full in a paper called Scotland's Place in Europe.
'Potentially devastating' Unveiling the document at her official Bute House residence in Edinburgh, Ms Sturgeon said Brexit was a problem that was not of Scotland's making.
Ms Sturgeon said access to the European single market would be "vital for Scotland's future economic wellbeing". But she said the referendum result had been a vote on leaving the EU rather than a vote to leave the single market, and argued it would therefore be democratically justifiable for the whole of the UK to remain in the single market.
She said: "Losing our place in the Single Market would be potentially devastating to our long-term prosperity, to jobs, investment and people's livelihoods. She said the paper set out options for Scotland to remain in the single market even if the rest of the UK leaves, and without Scotland becoming independent - which she insisted could be done without a hard border between Scotland and England.
"It is not just the loss of existing jobs and investment that would be at stake. In addition, there is the prospect of lost investment and employment - money and jobs which our place in the single market would ensure but which would otherwise never materialise. Ms Sturgeon also called for a fundamental review of the UK's devolution settlement, and said the UK government's response to her proposals would "tell us much, perhaps everything" about political power across the UK.
"That is why the paper we publish today is centred on retaining our place in the single market - and why it is so important Scotland avoids the hard Brexit threatened by the right-wing Brexiteers in the Tory party." She also said powers over immigration were increasingly vital for the protection of Scotland's interests, and should be transferred to Holyrood as part of a substantial transfer of new powers after the country leaves the EU.
During a question session at Westminster on Monday, Mrs May was pressed on whether she would listen to the Scottish government's proposals and revealed that she had spoken to Ms Sturgeon earlier in the day. She also stressed that a second independence referendum should remain on the table if it is felt to be the best option for mitigating the Brexit "risk", which she said could cost Scotland 80,000 jobs if it has to leave the single market.
'Structure in place' 'Significant compromise'
Ms Sturgeon's Brexit minister, Michael Russell, will update MSPs on the options paper from about 15:00 on Tuesday.
Ms Sturgeon said her proposals for protecting Scotland's place in Europe were a "serious and genuine attempt" to "unify the country around a clear plan".
And she said the options outlined in the paper represented a "significant compromise" on the part of the Scottish government.
The first minister added: "I hope and expect that the UK government in considering these proposals will demonstrate the same flexibility and willingness to compromise."
During a question session at Westminster on Monday, Prime Minister Theresa May was pressed on whether she would listen to the Scottish government's proposals and revealed that she had spoken to Ms Sturgeon earlier in the day.
She said: "I took a call from the first minister this morning where I assured her we will look very seriously at the proposals the Scottish government is taking forward.She said: "I took a call from the first minister this morning where I assured her we will look very seriously at the proposals the Scottish government is taking forward.
"I welcome the fact they have been looking at their priorities, we have been encouraging all the devolved administrations to look at their priorities so they can be taken into account in the UK negotiations on leaving the European Union."I welcome the fact they have been looking at their priorities, we have been encouraging all the devolved administrations to look at their priorities so they can be taken into account in the UK negotiations on leaving the European Union.
"There is already a structure in place which allows us to discuss these with the devolved authorities, the joint ministerial council, and we will be meeting in early January. "There is already a structure in place which allows us to discuss these with the devolved authorities, the joint ministerial council, and we will be meeting in early January."
"We are increasing the number of meetings precisely so we can engage with the devolved administrations on these issues." Earlier this month her Chancellor, Philip Hammond, appeared to rule out a special Brexit deal for Scotland during a visit to Edinburgh, saying it was "not realistic".
Earlier in the month, Mr Hammond appeared to rule out a special Brexit deal for Scotland during a visit to Edinburgh, saying it was "not realistic". 'Heart of the process'
He told reporters that it was "clear that we can't have a different deal or different outcomes for different parts of the UK", and added that it would be a "disadvantage" for Scotland to be outside whatever new relationship the UK negotiated with the EU.He told reporters that it was "clear that we can't have a different deal or different outcomes for different parts of the UK", and added that it would be a "disadvantage" for Scotland to be outside whatever new relationship the UK negotiated with the EU.
This echoed earlier comments from Scottish Secretary David Mundell, who told MSPs that while Scotland's concerns would be "right at the heart of the process", there would be no "special deal".This echoed earlier comments from Scottish Secretary David Mundell, who told MSPs that while Scotland's concerns would be "right at the heart of the process", there would be no "special deal".
'Complete denial' Meanwhile, the Scottish Conservatives have claimed that any separate deal on the single market would "inevitably mean a hard border" between Scotland and England, which the party said would cost "thousands of Scottish jobs".
The Scottish Conservatives said Ms Sturgeon was "in denial" over its Brexit plans. And Scottish Labour has said it will oppose any attempts by the SNP to use Brexit as an excuse to "force another independence referendum on the people of Scotland".
The party's constitution spokesman Adam Tomkins told the BBC's Good Morning Scotland programme: "The Scottish Conservatives want as full an access to, as full a participation in, the European single market as is possible - and as is consistent with the result of the 23rd of June. The Scottish Greens called for guarantees over free movement, workers' rights and membership of the single market.
"The fact is that we voted as one United Kingdom to leave the European Union and that means that the whole of the United Kingdom will be leaving." And the Liberal Democrats called on the SNP to "heal the division in the country" by keeping the issue of independence out of the paper, while calling for a referendum on the terms of the Brexit deal.
Mr Tomkins said any separate deal on the single market would "inevitably mean a hard border" between Scotland and England, claiming it would cost "thousands of Scottish jobs".
Scottish Labour's Europe spokesman Lewis Macdonald said his party would scrutinise the proposals and hold the SNP to account on whether they could actually be delivered.
He said: "The SNP's Brexit paper should accept that remaining in the UK is even more important to Scotland than being part of the European Union.
"Labour will oppose any attempts by the SNP to use Brexit as an excuse to force another independence referendum on the people of Scotland."
The Scottish Greens called for guarantees over free movement, workers' rights and membership of the single market, with Europe spokesman Ross Greer saying he was "deeply concerned by the lack of credible options for keeping our place in the European Union".
Lib Dem leader Willie Rennie called on the SNP to "heal the division in the country" by keeping the issue of independence out of the paper, while calling for a referendum on the terms of the Brexit deal.