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| Rishi Sunak and Nicola Sturgeon hold private talks in Scotland | Rishi Sunak and Nicola Sturgeon hold private talks in Scotland |
| (1 day later) | |
| Rishi Sunak and Nicola Sturgeon met in private at an Inverness hotel | Rishi Sunak and Nicola Sturgeon met in private at an Inverness hotel |
| The prime minister and Scotland's first minister have held "cordial" talks at a private meeting in Scotland. | The prime minister and Scotland's first minister have held "cordial" talks at a private meeting in Scotland. |
| Rishi Sunak and Nicola Sturgeon met at a hotel in Inverness on Thursday night, following a series of engagements by the PM north of the border. | Rishi Sunak and Nicola Sturgeon met at a hotel in Inverness on Thursday night, following a series of engagements by the PM north of the border. |
| They are understood to have discussed the NHS, the economy and legislation passed in Scotland last month to make it easier to change gender. | They are understood to have discussed the NHS, the economy and legislation passed in Scotland last month to make it easier to change gender. |
| There was said to have been a "robust" exchange on Scottish independence. | There was said to have been a "robust" exchange on Scottish independence. |
| The creation of two green freeports in Scotland was also discussed. A joint announcement from the UK and Scottish governments is expected on Friday. | The creation of two green freeports in Scotland was also discussed. A joint announcement from the UK and Scottish governments is expected on Friday. |
| The Cromarty and Forth bids are thought to be the favourites to be named, which will see tax incentives being used in a bid to boost investment and economic growth in the two areas. | The Cromarty and Forth bids are thought to be the favourites to be named, which will see tax incentives being used in a bid to boost investment and economic growth in the two areas. |
| Sturgeon holds 'constructive' talks with Sunak | Sturgeon holds 'constructive' talks with Sunak |
| Three key Scottish questions for Rishi Sunak | Three key Scottish questions for Rishi Sunak |
| What will Rishi Sunak as PM mean for Scotland? | What will Rishi Sunak as PM mean for Scotland? |
| It is Mr Sunak's first trip to Scotland as prime minister. | It is Mr Sunak's first trip to Scotland as prime minister. |
| Ahead of the meeting, he visited a Sea scouts community group in Muirtown near Inverness, and a Coastguard search and rescue team at Inverness Airport. | Ahead of the meeting, he visited a Sea scouts community group in Muirtown near Inverness, and a Coastguard search and rescue team at Inverness Airport. |
| Mr Sunak tweeted: "It was great to be in Inverness today meeting rescue services and hearing more about the life-saving work they do every day. | Mr Sunak tweeted: "It was great to be in Inverness today meeting rescue services and hearing more about the life-saving work they do every day. |
| "I also sat down with First Minister Nicola Sturgeon to discuss the challenges we jointly face and how best to deliver for communities across the UK" | "I also sat down with First Minister Nicola Sturgeon to discuss the challenges we jointly face and how best to deliver for communities across the UK" |
| Following the talks, which lasted more than an hour, Ms Sturgeon told the BBC they had been "perfectly constructive and cordial". | Following the talks, which lasted more than an hour, Ms Sturgeon told the BBC they had been "perfectly constructive and cordial". |
| "Clearly Rishi Sunak and I disagree on lots, but we were able to talk about some of the areas where the Scottish and UK governments can work together," she added. | "Clearly Rishi Sunak and I disagree on lots, but we were able to talk about some of the areas where the Scottish and UK governments can work together," she added. |
| The First Minister said there was also talk about how they could work together to realise Scotland's "vast" renewable energy potential. | The First Minister said there was also talk about how they could work together to realise Scotland's "vast" renewable energy potential. |
| Mr Sunak visited a coastguard search and rescue team at Inverness Airport | Mr Sunak visited a coastguard search and rescue team at Inverness Airport |
| The two political leaders met previously at the British-Irish Council in Blackpool in November. | The two political leaders met previously at the British-Irish Council in Blackpool in November. |
| These discussions included how best to tackle the cost of living crisis, the NHS and Ms Sturgeon's desire for a second Scottish independence referendum. | These discussions included how best to tackle the cost of living crisis, the NHS and Ms Sturgeon's desire for a second Scottish independence referendum. |
| Mr Sunak's predecessor, Liz Truss, did not have any formal talks with Ms Sturgeon during her brief spell in Downing Street, although they briefly met at a service following the death of the Queen. | Mr Sunak's predecessor, Liz Truss, did not have any formal talks with Ms Sturgeon during her brief spell in Downing Street, although they briefly met at a service following the death of the Queen. |
| Ms Truss had previously described the first minister as an "attention seeker" who was best ignored, during a Tory leadership hustings. | Ms Truss had previously described the first minister as an "attention seeker" who was best ignored, during a Tory leadership hustings. |
| But Mr Sunak has spoken of wanting to "reset" the often fractious relationship between the two governments. | But Mr Sunak has spoken of wanting to "reset" the often fractious relationship between the two governments. |
| However, there could be a major clash coming between the Scottish and UK governments over Holyrood's gender recognition reform legislation. | However, there could be a major clash coming between the Scottish and UK governments over Holyrood's gender recognition reform legislation. |
| The UK government has concerns about the wider implications of Scotland's new gender recognition legislation | The UK government has concerns about the wider implications of Scotland's new gender recognition legislation |
| Scotland recently became the first part of the UK to approve a self-identification system for people who want to change their legal gender. | Scotland recently became the first part of the UK to approve a self-identification system for people who want to change their legal gender. |
| The new rules lower the age that people can apply for a gender recognition certificate (GRC) to 16, and removes the need for a medical diagnosis of gender dysphoria. | The new rules lower the age that people can apply for a gender recognition certificate (GRC) to 16, and removes the need for a medical diagnosis of gender dysphoria. |
| But the UK government has concerns about the impact of the new law on the rest of the UK and is considering blocking it. | But the UK government has concerns about the impact of the new law on the rest of the UK and is considering blocking it. |
| The deadline for an intervention is the middle of next week. | The deadline for an intervention is the middle of next week. |
| Speaking ahead of the PM's visit, Downing Street said the UK government had not yet decided whether to block the gender recognition legislation. | Speaking ahead of the PM's visit, Downing Street said the UK government had not yet decided whether to block the gender recognition legislation. |
| Asked whether the Mr Sunak has decided whether to use section 35 of the Scotland Act, which would prevent the new laws coming into force, his official spokesman told reporters: "No, there's no decision made on that. | Asked whether the Mr Sunak has decided whether to use section 35 of the Scotland Act, which would prevent the new laws coming into force, his official spokesman told reporters: "No, there's no decision made on that. |
| "There is a process to consider it and then he will be given advice to make a decision. That is still taking place". | "There is a process to consider it and then he will be given advice to make a decision. That is still taking place". |
| There is plenty they disagree about but Nicola Sturgeon seems to get on with Rishi Sunak far better than with his two immediate predecessors. | There is plenty they disagree about but Nicola Sturgeon seems to get on with Rishi Sunak far better than with his two immediate predecessors. |
| She had next to no relationship with Liz Truss and made no secret of her belief that Boris Johnson was unfit for office. | She had next to no relationship with Liz Truss and made no secret of her belief that Boris Johnson was unfit for office. |
| There is potential for this PM and FM to do some business like their joint announcement on Scottish freeports. | There is potential for this PM and FM to do some business like their joint announcement on Scottish freeports. |
| They are much further apart on a range of other things such as energy policy, UK legislation to limit strike action and Scottish government calls for another independence referendum. | They are much further apart on a range of other things such as energy policy, UK legislation to limit strike action and Scottish government calls for another independence referendum. |
| Relations could sour significantly if the UK government blocks Scottish reform of the process for legally switching gender. | Relations could sour significantly if the UK government blocks Scottish reform of the process for legally switching gender. |
| That came up in their discussions, but these majored on shared challenges like the huge pressures on the NHS. | That came up in their discussions, but these majored on shared challenges like the huge pressures on the NHS. |
| Related Topics | Related Topics |
| Nicola Sturgeon | Nicola Sturgeon |
| Rishi Sunak | Rishi Sunak |