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Holyrood to debate Brexit after Theresa May speech May confirms UK to leave EU single market
(about 3 hours later)
MSPs are to debate Scotland's future relationship with Europe as the prime minister prepares to deliver a highly-anticipated speech on Brexit. The prime minister has put herself on a collision course with the Scottish government after confirming that the UK will leave the European single market.
Theresa May is due to say that the UK will not retain "partial" membership of the EU once it leaves. Theresa May said she wanted the "freest possible trade in goods and services" between the UK and EU after Brexit.
Her speech is also expected to include further hints Britain could leave the EU single market. But she said that this "cannot mean membership of the single market".
That would put the prime minister on a collision course with Scotland's first minister, Nicola Sturgeon. The SNP's deputy leader, Angus Robertson, tweeted that ruling out single market membership was a "big problem".
The Scottish government has set out proposals aimed at continuing Scotland's membership of the single market even if the rest of the UK leaves. The Scottish government has repeatedly raised the prospect of an independence referendum if Scotland's membership of the single market is threatened.
Ms Sturgeon has repeatedly raised the prospect of a second referendum on independence if she believes it is needed to protect Scotland's interests. It has set out proposals aimed at keeping Scotland in the trade bloc even if the rest of the UK leaves.
Mrs May has indicated she will trigger Article 50 - which will start the formal process of leaving the EU - by the end of March, but has given few details of the kind of deal she will seek. 'Global Britain'
However, Downing Street said Mrs May would set out 12 negotiating objectives in her speech in London, which will start at about 11:45. Speaking in London as she outlined her 12 objectives for the Brexit negotiations, Mrs May said the Scottish government's proposals would be considered as part of the Brexit process.
She is also expected to set out how she believes the UK can be an "outward facing" nation after Brexit. And she made clear that she wanted a "customs agreement" with the other 27 member states of the EU as part of efforts to ensure Brexit leads to "the freest possible trade in goods and services between Britain and the EU's member states".
And she will call for people on both sides of the EU debate to end the "insults" and "division" and unite to build a "global Britain". The prime minister also said she wanted the UK to be able to negotiate trade deals with other countries around the world as part of plans to create a "truly global Britain".
But she added: "What I am proposing cannot mean membership of the single market. Instead we seek the greatest possible access to it though a new comprehensive, bold and ambitious free trade agreement.
"That agreement may take in elements of current single-market arrangements in certain areas."
Analysis by Brian Taylor, BBC Scotland political editorAnalysis by Brian Taylor, BBC Scotland political editor
I doubt there will be complete certainty today on what will happen in Brexit, for the simple reason of course that there is two years of negotiation to follow, but I think it will narrow down the options for the Scottish government.
Nicola Sturgeon said in the Scottish government paper published towards the end of last year that she wanted to stay in the EU, but in the absence of that she wanted the UK as a whole to stay in the single market.Nicola Sturgeon said in the Scottish government paper published towards the end of last year that she wanted to stay in the EU, but in the absence of that she wanted the UK as a whole to stay in the single market.
If not that, then Scotland in the single market, and if not that then it would have to be an independence referendum.If not that, then Scotland in the single market, and if not that then it would have to be an independence referendum.
Of those three, I think today's speech will remove stage one - there is no prospect from Theresa May's stance of the UK remaining a member of the single market.Of those three, I think today's speech will remove stage one - there is no prospect from Theresa May's stance of the UK remaining a member of the single market.
It makes the prospect of a further, relatively early, referendum on independence more - rather than less - likely.It makes the prospect of a further, relatively early, referendum on independence more - rather than less - likely.
EU leaders have said the UK cannot "cherry pick" access to the single market while restricting the free movement of people, and Mrs May has suggested curbing migration will be her top priority. The Scottish government's Brexit minister, Michael Russell, told BBC Scotland on Monday that a vote on independence would not be inevitable if Mrs May outlined a so-called hard Brexit in her speech.
Ms Sturgeon's Brexit minister, Michael Russell, told BBC Scotland on Monday that a vote on independence would not be inevitable if Mrs May outlined a hard Brexit in her speech.
But he said such a move would "certainly focus the mind very substantially".But he said such a move would "certainly focus the mind very substantially".
Mr Russell will lead a Scottish Parliament debate on Scotland's future relationship with Europe on Tuesday afternoon. In her speech, the prime minister urged people across the UK to "face the future together, united by what makes us strong."
'Precious union'
Mrs May said: "We will put the preservation of our precious union at the heart of everything we do.
"Because it is only by coming together as one great union of nations and people that we can make the most of the opportunities ahead."
She added: "Foreign affairs are, of course, the responsibility of the UK government, and in dealing with them we act in the interests of all parts of the United Kingdom.
"As prime minister I take that responsibility seriously. I have also been determined from the start that the devolved administrations should be fully engaged in this process."
The Scottish government will lead a Holyrood debate on Scotland's future relationship with Europe on Tuesday afternoon.
Speaking ahead of the debate, the pro-independence Scottish Greens said Mrs May "will trigger an independence referendum in Scotland" if she announces plans for a hard Brexit.Speaking ahead of the debate, the pro-independence Scottish Greens said Mrs May "will trigger an independence referendum in Scotland" if she announces plans for a hard Brexit.
They said the move would confirm that the UK government "couldn't care less" about Scotland, and predicted people in Scotland would not want to be part of the "angry, isolated Britain". They said the move would confirm that the UK government "couldn't care less" about Scotland, and predicted people in Scotland would not want to be part of an "angry, isolated Britain".
But the Scottish Conservatives called on the Scottish government to work with other parts of the UK to get the best possible deal, instead of "continually pitting themselves against the UK government".But the Scottish Conservatives called on the Scottish government to work with other parts of the UK to get the best possible deal, instead of "continually pitting themselves against the UK government".
The party's economy spokesman, Dean Lockhart, said: "Together, we represent the financial hubs of London, Edinburgh and Glasgow, a significant number of world-class universities and global leadership and expertise across many different sectors.The party's economy spokesman, Dean Lockhart, said: "Together, we represent the financial hubs of London, Edinburgh and Glasgow, a significant number of world-class universities and global leadership and expertise across many different sectors.
"With these strengths there can be no doubt that we'll be in a better position if we negotiate as one team.""With these strengths there can be no doubt that we'll be in a better position if we negotiate as one team."
Meanwhile, Scottish Labour leader Kezia Dugdale used a speech on Monday evening to claim the SNP and Conservatives were "more interested in re-opening constitutional divisions than seeking unity", which she said was "a recipe for a cold war in Scottish politics".Meanwhile, Scottish Labour leader Kezia Dugdale used a speech on Monday evening to claim the SNP and Conservatives were "more interested in re-opening constitutional divisions than seeking unity", which she said was "a recipe for a cold war in Scottish politics".
Ms Dugdale also said the Scottish government's position on a second independence referendum could leave Scotland "outside of the EU and outside of the UK".Ms Dugdale also said the Scottish government's position on a second independence referendum could leave Scotland "outside of the EU and outside of the UK".
And she outlined proposals for Scotland to be given greater powers over immigration - which has already been called for by the Scottish government and a cross-party group of MPs.And she outlined proposals for Scotland to be given greater powers over immigration - which has already been called for by the Scottish government and a cross-party group of MPs.