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Rishi Sunak and Nicola Sturgeon to hold talks in Scotland Rishi Sunak and Nicola Sturgeon hold private talks in Scotland
(about 7 hours later)
Rishi Sunak and Nicola Sturgeon met in November at the British-Irish Council Rishi Sunak and Nicola Sturgeon met in private at an Inverness hotel
The prime minister is to meet Scotland's first minister on Thursday evening, the BBC understands. The prime minister and Scotland's first minister have held talks at a private meeting in Scotland.
The private talks between Rishi Sunak and Nicola Sturgeon will take place in the Scottish Highlands. 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.
The two leaders are to discuss a range of subjects including the NHS and the economy. They are understood to have discussed the economy, NHS and other subjects.
A joint announcement from the UK and Scottish governments on the creation of two green freeports in Scotland is also expected. A joint announcement from the UK and Scottish governments on the creation of two green freeports in Scotland is expected on Friday.
The Cromarty and Forth bids are thought to be the favourites to be named as the country's first green freeports, 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 as the country's first green freeports, which will see tax incentives being used in a bid to boost investment and economic growth in the two areas.
Downing Street has not yet officially confirmed details of the visit, which will be Mr Sunak's first trip to Scotland as prime minister.
Mr Sunak had a telephone conversation with Ms Sturgeon shortly after becoming PM, with the two political leaders meeting at the British-Irish Council in Blackpool in November.
The first minister described that meeting as "cordial and constructive" despite the pair having "profound political disagreements".
Sturgeon holds 'constructive' talks with SunakSturgeon holds 'constructive' talks with Sunak
Three key Scottish questions for Rishi SunakThree 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.
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.
"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"
The two political leaders met previously at the British-Irish Council in Blackpool in November.
The first minister described that meeting as "cordial and constructive" despite the pair having "profound political disagreements".
Mr Sunak visited a coastguard search and rescue team at Inverness Airport
The discussions included how best to tackle the cost of living crisis, the NHS and Ms Sturgeon's desire for a second Scottish independence referendum.The 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 tweeted at the time that it was "great to meet" Ms Sturgeon and Mark Drakeford, the first minister of Wales, adding: "Teamwork, absolute focus and collective effort will be required to deal with the shared challenges faced by people across the UK".Mr Sunak tweeted at the time that it was "great to meet" Ms Sturgeon and Mark Drakeford, the first minister of Wales, adding: "Teamwork, absolute focus and collective effort will be required to deal with the shared challenges faced by people across the UK".
His 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.His 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 legislationThe 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 prime minister's visit, Downing Street said the UK government had not yet decided whether to block the gender recognition legislation.Speaking ahead of the prime minister'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".
Asked whether Mr Sunak expected to raise the issue with Ms Sturgeon, the spokesman said they would not "pre-empt" any discussion, adding that there were "no plans to follow suit" in England.
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.
While that could come up in today's discussions, these are likely to major on tackling shared challenges like the cost of living crisis and the huge pressures on the NHS.While that could come up in today's discussions, these are likely to major on tackling shared challenges like the cost of living crisis and the huge pressures on the NHS.