Scotland’s First Minister Nicola Sturgeon said she had a “hugely frustrating” meeting with UK Prime Minister Theresa May on the implications of the Brexit vote for Scotland.
Sturgeon said she now knew no more about the UK Government’s approach to negotiations on leaving the EU than she did before the meeting.
The First Minster said it was clear from the discussions that the Scottish Government should continue to “pursue alternative options, including bringing forward proposals to protect Scotland’s place in the single market even if the rest of the UK leaves, and continuing to prepare for the option of a referendum on independence …”
After a meeting of the Joint Ministerial Committee (JMC) to discuss the implications of the referendum, Sturgeon said: “This was a long overdue meeting but unfortunately it was, in large parts, hugely frustrating.
“I set out Scotland’s key interests in protecting our place in the single market, securing continued freedom of movement and ensuring social and employment rights are protected.
“However, despite a full and frank exchange of views around the table, we know no more about the UK Government’s approach to the EU negotiations now than we did when we went into the meeting.
“Four months on from the referendum we finally have agreement on a sub-committee of the JMC for the devolved administrations and the UK Government to discuss the issues raised by Brexit, but there is a significant amount of work to do to make sure that the engagement we have is meaningful.”
Scotland voted in favour of remaining in the EU by 62% to 38% — but the UK as a whole voted to leave the EU by 51.9% to 48.1%.
May said in a statement she told the devolved administrations of the UK she would strike a bespoke Brexit deal that works for the whole of the UK.
The Prime Minister told the leaders from Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland that how the UK leaves the EU should not be seen as a series of binary choices.
The Prime Minister said a new cross-nations forum on Brexit talks will be set up, to be chaired by the UK’s Brexit secretary David Davis.
She said it was agreed that by the time of its first meeting in November, a work programme would be established for this Joint Ministerial Committee on EU Negotiations “to integrate it with the wider process of exiting the EU.”
May said: “Working together, the nations of the United Kingdom will make a success of leaving the European Union – and we will further strengthen our own unique and enduring union as we do so.
“The great Union between us has been the cornerstone of our prosperity in the past – and it is absolutely vital to our success in the future.
“The country is facing a negotiation of tremendous importance and it is imperative that the devolved administrations play their part in making it work.”
Sturgeon added: “The Scottish Government is fully committed to engaging with the UK Government and we will seek to use our influence to ensure that the UK does not pursue a hard Brexit.
“However it is clear from today’s discussions that we must also continue to pursue alternative options, including bringing forward proposals to protect Scotland’s place in the single market even if the rest of the UK leaves, and continuing to prepare for the option of a referendum on independence if that is what is necessary to prevent the UK taking Scotland over a hard Brexit cliff edge.”