THERESA May will have her first official meeting as Prime Minister with Scotland’s First Minister Nicola Sturgeon in Edinburgh this morning, with speculation growing the two will clash over a possible second independence referendum.
May’s new Chancellor Philip Hammond warned yesterday there was no way Scotland could remain in the EU and the UK at the same time.
Sturgeon accused Hammond of disrespecting Scots after he told the BBC Scotland’s interests were best served in a UK outside the European Union.
Hammond, who replaced George Osborne on Wednesday, said: “I think the best future for Scotland is inside the United Kingdom economy. Let’s make this United Kingdom economy work for all of us, and let’s negotiate with the European Union, from outside the European Union, a relationship which works for Britain and works for Europe, so we can have as close a relationship in trade and commerce as we possibly can while being outside the European Union, as the British people have determined we should be.
He continued, adding that Scotland had voted to remain in the EU as part of the UK, not as a separate country: “However we voted, we are part of the United Kingdom and we have democratic decisions made across the United Kingdom. We will now implement the decision that the people of the United Kingdom collectively have made to leave the European Union.
“But that does not mean turning our backs on Europe, it does not mean closing our doors to our neighbours and partners in Europe, it means working as closely as we can with them to maximise economic co-operation, trade and business opportunities without being a member of the political construct of the European Union.”
Sturgeon said she’d go over the head of Hammond and seek a more “constructive” conversation with May. She said: “I have been absolutely clear on this issue – the people of Scotland voted decisively to stay part of the European Union and their wishes must be respected.
“That includes respect from the UK Government, which is why Philip Hammond’s comments are deeply disappointing – I very much hope the new Prime Minister will be more open to constructive discussion.
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“The Scottish Government is pursuing every possible avenue to protect our place in Europe – which of course means protecting businesses’ freedom to trade, the ability of workers to be protected and our right to continue to influence EU decisions.”
Sturgeon said that there would be another referendum on Scottish independence “if it becomes clear that that is the best or only way of preserving our EU status”.
She added “I hope that the new PM, Mr Hammond and all of the UK Government will understand that we are absolutely serious when it comes to achieving our goal of protecting Scotland’s vital interests.”
Former First Minister Alex Salmond also warned May “not to mess with the people of Scotland” and predicted that a second independence referendum “was inevitable”.
Salmond, now the SNP’s foreign affairs spokesman, said another referendum would have to be held within two years of the commencement of the Article 50 talks for the UK’s withdrawal from the EU.
He likened May’s hard-line position against Scottish independence to Margaret Thatcher, who “wasn’t known as a friend of Scotland”.
He told the Australian Broadcasting Corporation’s Lateline programme: “I think independence for Scotland is inevitable. It may well be that the conclusion from Nicola Sturgeon’s talks and negotiations is that independence is the only way to protect Scotland’s position.”
Asked if the UK Government has to approve another referendum, he said: “The mechanism, really, is for the Scottish Parliament to decide to do it.
He added: “Let’s be quite clear about this. I had dealings with the previous prime minister David Cameron, and he said ‘no, you can’t have a referendum’, but as soon as we had a majority in the Scottish Parliament he backed down.
“If that came to pass, if that was the situation at the end of the negotiations, then exactly the same thing will happen with Theresa May.”
Earlier in the week, David Mundell, who May has retained as Secretary of State for Scotland, claimed there could be a separate deal between Edinburgh and Brussels.
Mundell said: “I’m open to Scotland having a slightly different deal if that’s doable. But we have to look at what’s doable.”
He added: “The Scottish Government is going to be part of this process so it’s for them to set out what their expectation is. We will set out what our expectation is.”
In Hammond’s interview with the BBC he also said there was no desire in the May administration to change the Barnett Formula.
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