With Scottish Government officials now drafting the legislation for a second independence referendum, the First Minister said MSPs would have an “important role” in scrutinising this process.
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David Mundell, the Scottish Secretary, said on Wednesday that new Prime Minister Theresa May planned to have “very early engagement” with Ms Sturgeon and said he was in favour of Scotland having a different Brexit deal from the rest of the United Kingdom if it was “doable”.
She continued: “The result of the European Union referendum means that work to implement these new powers will take place alongside another constitutional debate – but one very different to that in the last session”.
A second Scottish independence referendum would be “toxic and divisive”, the Scottish secretary has warned.
“That’s because I believe in a union, not just between the nations of the United Kingdom, but between all of our citizens.
I hope the Prime Minister will respect how people in Scotland voted”, she was quoted as saying in the Glasgow newspaper the Herald.
The meeting in Edinburgh is expected to focus on Brexit negotiations and Scotland’s place in the European Union after 62% of voters in Scotland backed a remain vote in last month’s referendum.
“The uncertainty that the British economy now faces is severe and the impact of the referendum vote on the British economy is likely to be severe”, Sturgeon said.
With Scotland voting 62% to 38% to remain in the European Union at the Brexit referendum, Ms Sturgeon has warned it would be against the country’s national interest to be forced out of the bloc by pro-withdrawal majorities in England and Wales.
She added: “We have got to be able also to say we want your brains, we want your culture, we want your passion, we want you in our country, making our country better, and giving these people security”. Like Scotland, Northern Ireland voted “Remain”.
Asked if the UK Government has to approve another referendum, he said: “The mechanism, really, is for the Scottish Parliament to decide to do it”.
It was confirmed earlier today that David Mundell, the Conservatives only Scottish MP, would continue in his role as Scottish Secretary.
“However we voted, we are part of the United Kingdom and we have democratic decisions made across the United Kingdom”.
But Labour said the promotion of a string of right-wingers contradicted the new premier’s “warm words” on her entry into Downing Street about seeking to govern “not for a privileged few but for every one of us”.
Anton Muscatelli, the Glasgow University principal and chair of the group paid tribute to the expertise of members and said that in coming months they would “endeavour to offer clear and meaningful guidance to the Scottish Government as it seeks to ensure Scotland’s continuing relationship with Europe”.
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“In these circumstances it is incumbent on Scottish government to navigate a path that protects Scotland’s interests and place in the EU”.
