Theresa May to tell Nicola Sturgeon she will accept her input on Brexit – but she can’t halt Britain leaving the EU
The Prime Minister will face pressure today from the other leaders of the devolved assemblies to have a greater say in Brexit talks
THERESA May will tell the Scottish First Minister Nicola Sturgeon today that she WON'T get to have a veto on Britain leaving the EU.
The Prime Minister will face pressure today from the other leaders of the devolved assemblies to have a greater say in Brexit talks.
The heads of the Scottish and Welsh Governments have put forward plans to keep full access to the Single Market after we leave the EU - but they insist the PM isn't listening to them.
Mrs May will attend the Joint Ministerial Committee in Cardiff today to discuss their role in Brexit - but the Supreme Court ruled last week that triggering Article 50 was a matter for the UK Government alone.
That means Ms Sturgeon won't need to give her permission before starting Brexit talks - Mrs May has said she will trigger Article 50 by the end of March.
Ms Sturgeon said that there was "no sign whatsoever that the UK government is taking Scotland's position remotely seriously". Her party has already said they will table FIFTY amendments to this week's Bill to officially trigger Article 50.
Sinn Fein leader Michelle O'Neill will also attend the talks - and will argue for a special deal for Northern Ireland who voted to Remain in the EU.
She said: "We need all of those opposed to Brexit to stand together... I will lay out the reasonable and achievable objective of the north being designated special status within the EU."
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Mrs May, along with David Davis, the Brexit Secretary, and Liam Fox, the International Trade Secretary, will discuss how businesses can be supported during the withdrawal process.
The PM admitted today that politicians would "not agree on everything" but that "doesn't mean we will shy away from the necessary conversations".
She said: "The United Kingdom voted to leave the EU, and the UK government has a responsibility to deliver on that mandate and secure the right deal for the whole of the UK.
"We all have a part to play in providing certainty and leadership so that together we can make a success of the opportunities ahead."
The Prime Minister will continue onto Dublin later for talks with the Irish PM, Enda Kenny.
He has called for the maintenance of the "seamless border" between Ireland and Northern Ireland after the UK leaves the EU.
There are fears that Brexit could see the border reinstated, with controls on movement and trade.
The meeting comes as Ms Sturgeon's Scottish National Party is preparing to ditch its pledge to keep full membership of the EU.
reported that senior party figures are considering adopting a Norway-style model under which an independent Scotland would stay in the Single Market after Britain leaves the EU.
This means they would still have to pay money into the EU budget, and accept freedom of movement - but would have no say on the rules of the bloc.
SNP chiefs hope the shift in stance will help to build support for independence - a poll yesterday showed that a third of people who voted for independence in 2014 wanted Scotland to stay outside the EU.