THERESA May has demanded Nicola Sturgeon get behind her troubled Chequers plan.
The First Minister said that was unlikely, not least because the UK Government’s proposal for a post-Brexit relationship with Europe will probably never happen.
WATCH: Hundreds of Scots heckle Theresa May as she leaves talks with First Minister
The two leaders met briefly in Scotland’s capital yesterday, ahead of signing the Edinburgh and South East Scotland City Deal.
Speaking to journalists afterwards, Sturgeon said her fears about the increasing likelihood of a no-deal Brexit were not allayed by May.
Sturgeon said: “We discussed, obviously, the position around the Chequers agreement. The Prime Minister’s position continues to be that she thinks Chequers is the basis of an agreement on the future relationship [with the EU] , notwithstanding that everybody else thinks that it’s not.
“Probably my most fundamental concern was seeing just how much distance there still appears to be between the UK and the EU on the Northern Irish backstop, which is, of course, an essential component of a withdrawal agreement and without a withdrawal agreement in October then we are facing no deal.”
Asked about the possibility of announcing plans for a second referendum on Scottish independence in the autumn, the First Minister said it all depended on what detail the UK Government was able to offer about post-Brexit Britain in October. May told journalists she wanted Sturgeon and her SNP ministers to start supporting the same proposals that have already been knocked back by Brussels and many in her own party.
She said: “What I want to see is the Scottish Government also putting forward their support for proposals that we’ve put forward to the European Union that would deliver on the vote, but that will also deliver for Scotland and deliver for the rest of the UK.”
May spent the afternoon in Edinburgh, and took in the Soweto Gospel Choir at the Fringe.
As she arrived at the university’s informatics building to meet Sturgeon, a small crowd who had gathered, intrigued by the sight of so many police officers, gently booed. The comedian Janey Godley, on her way to her Fringe show, stopped and shouted, “Haw Tereeza, is your shoes nice? We’ve got nice food banks.”
By the time May left, about two hours later, word had clearly got round, and the crowd had swelled to around 200.
There were deafening boos for the Prime Minister, although one hardy supporter clapped enthusiastically.
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