Nicola Sturgeon: Scotland is in a ‘very strong position’ to block Brexit
Nicola Sturgeon has renewed a suggestion that Scotland could veto Britain’s exit from the EU.
The Scottish First Minister has said Scotland is in a “strong position” to block Britain’s departure from the European Union.
This comes after British citizens voted narrowly to leave the EU in a referendum last month, with 48 percent voting to remain and 52 percent voting to leave.
In a meeting with Prime Minister Theresa May earlier this week, Mrs May said Article 50, which initiates the UK’s departure from the EU, would not be invoked without a “UK-wide approach” being agreed.
Speaking to Andrew Marr this morning, Ms Sturgeon suggested that Mrs May’s comments had effectively given Scotland a veto over Brexit.
She said: “I think we’re in a very strong position and that is a position I’m going to use as well as I can. I heard Andrea Eagle say at the start of your programme say that Scotland has to accept the UK wide vote in the same way that London or Liverpool accept it – can I point out gently to Angela Eagle that there is a difference between Scotland and Liverpool and London – Scotland is not a region of the UK, Scotland is a nation.”
Adding: “That certainly appeared to be an interpretation that some put on the Prime Minister’s remarks after the meeting…and certainly from what she said after the meeting, I think that puts Scotland in now in a very, very strong position.
“That’s a position I am going to use as well as I can.”
Watch the full interview on Andrew Marr here:
This is not the first time Ms Sturgeon pledged to attempt to block the UK’s exit from the EU.
Sturgeon has previously said Scotland could effectively veto the UK’s departure from the EU.
Shortly after the EU referendum, Ms Sturgeon said her country will go into talks “immediately” with EU member states and EU agencies, with a view to maintaining EU membership.
Despite not mentioning a referendum on Scottish independence which said was “highly likely”, Ms Sturgeon said she would have “immediate” discussions on Scotland’s continued membership of the EU.
Before the referendum took place, Ms Sturgeon told PinkNews why she thought the UK should remain a member of the EU.
“One of the reasons why I think it’s important to stay in the EU is around social and employment rights that the EU has introduced and protected.
“I think different countries will take their own decisions on things, we touched on some of that already, but, it’s important there is a sort of common understanding of rights across the European Union.
“I think that membership of the EU guarantees that.”
