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Sturgeon:
Hard Brexit plans push Scots toward independence
Scotland’s
first minister said the country should not be taken out of the single
market against its will.
By JAMES
RANDERSON 1/17/17, 5:38 PM CET Updated 1/17/17, 10:33 PM CET
U.K. Prime Minister
Theresa May’s plan to take Britain out of the European single
market has made Scottish independence “more likely,” Scotland’s
First Minister Nicola Sturgeon said Tuesday.
Responding to May’s
much-anticipated speech on her priorities for the Brexit
negotiations, Sturgeon argued that exiting the single market was not
in Scotland’s interest and would provoke a reaction north of the
border.
“The UK government
cannot be allowed to take us out of the EU and the single market,
regardless of the impact on our economy, jobs, living standards and
our reputation as an open, tolerant country, without Scotland having
the ability to choose between that and a different future,” she
said in a statement. “With her comments today, the Prime Minister
has only succeeded in making that choice more likely.”
The statement did
not include the words “independence” or “second referendum”
but Sturgeon has said she is “not bluffing” over the possibility
of calling a second vote on breaking from the United Kingdom. The
message from the pro-independence Scottish National Party leader was:
take Scotland’s interests into account — or else.
In a paper published
before Christmas, the Scottish government argued a compromise
arrangement whereby, if the U.K. leaves the single market, Scotland
could remain a member as part of the European Economic Area (the
so-called Norway option.) In the Brexit referendum, Scotland voted to
remain in the EU.
Sturgeon’s
external affairs minister Fiona Hyslop said Monday that the offer of
a trade deal from President-elect Donald Trump did nothing to change
her government’s view that continued single market membership was
in Scotland’s best interests.
Authors:
James Randerson
|
Sturgeon: Hard Brexit plans push Scots toward independence
Scotland’s
first minister said the country should not be taken out of the single
market against its will.
By JAMES
RANDERSON 1/17/17, 5:38 PM CET Updated 1/17/17, 10:33 PM CET
U.K. Prime Minister
Theresa May’s plan to take Britain out of the European single
market has made Scottish independence “more likely,” Scotland’s
First Minister Nicola Sturgeon said Tuesday.
Responding to May’s
much-anticipated speech on her priorities for the Brexit
negotiations, Sturgeon argued that exiting the single market was not
in Scotland’s interest and would provoke a reaction north of the
border.
“The UK government
cannot be allowed to take us out of the EU and the single market,
regardless of the impact on our economy, jobs, living standards and
our reputation as an open, tolerant country, without Scotland having
the ability to choose between that and a different future,” she
said in a statement. “With her comments today, the Prime Minister
has only succeeded in making that choice more likely.”
The statement did
not include the words “independence” or “second referendum”
but Sturgeon has said she is “not bluffing” over the possibility
of calling a second vote on breaking from the United Kingdom. The
message from the pro-independence Scottish National Party leader was:
take Scotland’s interests into account — or else.
In a paper published
before Christmas, the Scottish government argued a compromise
arrangement whereby, if the U.K. leaves the single market, Scotland
could remain a member as part of the European Economic Area (the
so-called Norway option.) In the Brexit referendum, Scotland voted to
remain in the EU.
Sturgeon’s
external affairs minister Fiona Hyslop said Monday that the offer of
a trade deal from President-elect Donald Trump did nothing to change
her government’s view that continued single market membership was
in Scotland’s best interests.
Authors:
James Randerson
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