Nicola Sturgeon wants Scotland to stay in European single market even if rest of UK leaves
First Minister has accused Theresa May of not honouring her promise of involving and listening to Scotland about Brexit
NICOLA Sturgeon has accused Theresa May of “not honouring” promises to Scotland and believes the country could stay in the European single market even if other parts of the UK leave.
She said it would be “challenging” but "possible" and that detailed proposals would be published within weeks.
Speaking on the BBC's Andrew Marr show, Ms Sturgeon said: "We are going to put forward proposals, that we would hope that the UK Government would be prepared to listen to, that would allow Scotland to preserve its place in the single market and preserve aspects of its relationship with the EU."
She went on to accuse Theresa May of "not fully honouring" promises to listen to Scotland on Brexit made on a visit to Edinburgh days after becoming Prime Minister.
Ms Sturgeon said: "Theresa May came to Edinburgh just a couple of days after she became Prime Minister, gave a commitment to me and to Scotland that we'd be fully involved and that she would listen to options we put forward.
"I think it's fair to say that promise hasn't been fully honoured and I hope we'll see it honoured in the days to come."
Ms Sturgeon said the situation was "frustrating" and added: "What I'm trying to do is to explore options whereby Scotland doesn't have to leave the European Union or the single market, because we voted to stay in.
RELATED STORIES
"There's a fundamental principle here about, does Scotland's voice matter? Does what we say, how we vote, how we think, count for anything?"
The First Minister, who is due meet the Prime Minister along with the leaders of other devolved administrations next Monday, called on Mrs May to demonstrate that Scotland's voice does matter and that Scotland's interests can be protected during Brexit negotiations.
Ms Sturgeon’s comments come after Theresa May ruled out a Scottish independence referendum “for a generation” in a withering slapdown to Nicola Sturgeon.
But in Ms Sturgeon’s keynote speech at the SNP conference she declared Scotland was open for business and set out plans to despatch trade envoys to snatch business from Europe.
The SNP leader revealed permanent Scottish trade reps would be posted to Berlin.
And the Nats will double the number of Scottish trade and investment staff working across Europe.
She said: “More than ever, we need to tell our European friends that Scotland is open for business.
“We will create permanent trade representation for Scotland with a Scottish Innovation and Investment Hub in Berlin.
“Let me be crystal clear about this – Scotland cannot trust the likes of Boris Johnson and Liam Fox to represent us.
“They are retreating to the fringes of Europe, we intend to stay at its very heart where Scotland belongs."