Nicola Sturgeon warns of border controls to let Scotland keep valuable ties and communication with EU open
Scotland's First Minister says she will start preparatory work for a second independence referendum
Nicola Sturgeon conjured up the nightmare prospect of a border controls between England and Scotland yesterday, demanding Scotland maintain Freedom of Movement access to Europe.
The Scottish First Minister claimed it would be one of five red lines that could not be crossed to avoid another Scottish Indy referendum.
She claimed yesterday that the UK was seeking a “hard rather than a soft Brexit”, meaning we would have “limited access” to the single market and “significant restrictions” on immigration.
Speaking to a think-tank in Edinburgh, Mrs Sturgeon claimed that Scotland must be allowed to explore options “that would allow different parts of this multi-national UK to pursue different outcomes”.
“That means the nations that voted to leave can start figuring out what Brexit actually does mean – while others, like Scotland, can focus on how to retain ties and keep open channels we do not want to dismantle,” she added.
Were Scotland to attempt to stay in the single market, and England to leave, hard borders would have to be established to control the freedom of movement.
The warning came top of a list of demands Mrs Sturgeon says would be required to stop a breakup of the Union.
She challenged the UK Government to “find ways to demonstrate that Scotland’s voice can be heard, our wishes accommodated and our interests protected within the UK”.
However she warned that a second referendum was still “highly likely.”
“”I don’t underestimate the challenge of finding such a solution,” the SNP leader said.
“Even if we can agree a position at UK level, we would face the task of persuading the EU to agree it. The barriers are substantial.”
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Her latest dire warning came as Secretary of State for Trade Liam Fox has kicked off his post-Brexit trade tour with a visit to US tech giants SnapChat.
Flying to LA and Chicago, Fox will be one of many Cabinet Ministers to jet off around the world this week to promote post-EU Britain with US officials.
Business Secretary Greg Clark will also visit Japan to discuss nuclear deals and infrastructure, just days after the Chancellor Philip Hammond returned from visiting the Far East.
Last night No 10 said the trips underlined the government’s “commitment to make success of Brexit around the world.
Adding: “Ministers don’t need to be here for parliamentary duties, so it is a way of them getting on with the government’s priorities.”
Theresa May also met last night with Tory Members of the European Parliament at No 10.
Speaking after the meeting at Number 10, Tory MEPs’ leader Syed Kamall said “I think at the moment we need these months of preparation before Article 50 is invoked so we can start discussing what both sides’ red lines will be before we get in to meaningful negotiations.”
Last night hated European Commission boss Jean Claude Juncker repeated his warning that Britain could have “no access to the internal market if you do not accept rules — without exception or nuance — that make up the internal market system.”
After Ms Sturgeon set out her demands, Tory MSP Murdo Fraser said: “She is setting these up to fail to provide another flimsy excuse for a referendum re-run.”
“Scotland does not want to go through the division and upheaval of another independence vote.
“Instead, the Scottish Government should be working hard to make the best of this, not shoehorning its narrow agenda into almost anything it can.
“It’s pretty clear the SNP is going to amble through this process and reach the conclusion it always wanted.”