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Sturgeon: Single market exit catastrophic May's Brexit speech: Sturgeon says second referendum 'undoubtedly' closer
(about 2 hours later)
Scotland's first minister has claimed that leaving the European single market would be "economically catastrophic". Nicola Sturgeon said that plans to take the UK out of the EU's single market brought a second Scottish independence referendum "undoubtedly" closer.
Nicola Sturgeon was speaking after Prime Minister Theresa May said the UK's Brexit plan "cannot mean membership of the single market". The first minister was speaking after Prime Minister Theresa May outlined her government's thinking on Brexit.
Ms Sturgeon said Scotland should be able to choose a "different future" to the one outlined by the prime minister. Ms Sturgeon, in a BBC interview, agreed that another vote on independence was "all but inevitable".
She went on to say that Mrs May's Brexit plan had made that choice "more likely". She believed that Scotland should be able to choose a "different future" to the one outlined by Mrs May.
But her official response to Mrs May's speech made no explicit mention of a second independence referendum.
The Scottish government has repeatedly raised the prospect of a vote on independence if Scotland's membership of the single market was threatened by a so-called hard Brexit.The Scottish government has repeatedly raised the prospect of a vote on independence if Scotland's membership of the single market was threatened by a so-called hard Brexit.
It has set out proposals aimed at keeping Scotland in the trade bloc even if the rest of the UK leaves.It has set out proposals aimed at keeping Scotland in the trade bloc even if the rest of the UK leaves.
Scottish voters backed remaining in the EU by 62% to 38% in last year's referendum, while the UK as a whole voted to leave.Scottish voters backed remaining in the EU by 62% to 38% in last year's referendum, while the UK as a whole voted to leave.
In a statement released after the prime minster's speech, Ms Sturgeon said it was clear the UK was now heading for a hard Brexit, which threatened to be "economically catastrophic". In an interview with BBC Scotland following the prime minister's statement, Ms Sturgeon said the move away from the single market "undoubtedly" brings an independence referendum closer.
And she said she had "not yet seen evidence that Scotland's voice is being listened to or our interests taken into account". And when asked by Political Editor Brian Taylor if a second vote was "all but inevitable", the first minister replied "I think that is very likely the case".
Analysis by Brian Taylor, BBC Scotland political editor 'Democratic principle'
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. The first minister said "there comes a point of democratic principle" where if there are to be "fundamental changes" then people should be offered a different choice.
If not that, then Scotland in the single market, and if not that then it would have to be an independence referendum. She added: "What I've heard today from the PM is an inability to engage in discussions that further compromise.
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. "I will continue to act in an orderly and reasonable fashion. I said I would exhaust all options, and that's what I will do. But we are going to have to see some give from the UK government.
It makes the prospect of a further, relatively early, referendum on independence more - rather than less - likely. "I am not prepared to allow Scotland's interests to be simply cast aside. I'm not prepared for Scotland to be taken down a path which I firmly believe to be damaging not just to our economy but to the very kind of society that we are."
The first minister added: "It seems the Westminster Tory government now think they can do anything to Scotland and get away with it. They must start to understand how wrong they are. The prime minister spoke to Ms Sturgeon ahead of her speech, which confirmed that the UK would leave the single market while seeking the "freest possible trade in goods and services" with the EU after Brexit.
"The UK government cannot be allowed to take us out of the EU and the single market, regardless of the impact on our economy, jobs, living standards and our reputation as an open, tolerant country, without Scotland having the ability to choose between that and a different future.
"With her comments today, the prime minister has only succeeded in making that choice more likely."
The prime minister spoke to Ms Sturgeon ahead of her speech, which confirmed that the UK would leave the single market while seeking the "freest possible trade in goods and services" with the EU after Brexit,
'Global Britain'
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.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.
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 tariff-free trade and "the freest possible trade in goods and services between Britain and the EU's member states".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 tariff-free trade and "the freest possible trade in goods and services between Britain and the EU's member states".
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".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. But she added: "What I am proposing cannot mean membership of the single market. Instead we seek the greatest possible access to it through a new comprehensive, bold and ambitious free trade agreement.
"That agreement may take in elements of current single-market arrangements in certain areas.""That agreement may take in elements of current single-market arrangements in certain areas."
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.
But he said such a move would "certainly focus the mind very substantially".
In her speech, the prime minister urged people across the UK to "face the future together, united by what makes us strong."
'Precious union''Precious union'
In her speech, the prime minister urged people across the UK to "face the future together, united by what makes us strong".
Mrs May said: "We will put the preservation of our precious union at the heart of everything we do.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.""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."
Mrs May also said she wanted to maintain the common travel area between the UK and Irish Republic, to continue the "practical" sharing of intelligence and policing information with Europe and to take control of the immigration rights for EU citizens in the UK.Mrs May also said she wanted to maintain the common travel area between the UK and Irish Republic, to continue the "practical" sharing of intelligence and policing information with Europe and to take control of the immigration rights for EU citizens in the UK.
And she promised that there would be vote on the final Brexit deal in both the House of Commons and House of Lords. And she promised that there would be a vote on the final Brexit deal in both the House of Commons and House of Lords.
The Scottish government is leading a Holyrood debate on Scotland's future relationship with Europe on Tuesday afternoon.The Scottish government is leading a Holyrood debate on Scotland's future relationship with Europe on Tuesday afternoon.
Speaking ahead of the debate, Scottish Greens MSP Ross Greer said Mrs May's speech had been "confused, contradictory and dangerous" and made a second independence referendum "look unavoidable".Speaking ahead of the debate, Scottish Greens MSP Ross Greer said Mrs May's speech had been "confused, contradictory and dangerous" and made a second independence referendum "look unavoidable".
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".
'Cold war''Cold war'
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.