The majority of voters in both Northern Ireland and Scotland voted to remain but the United Kingdom as a whole voted to leave.
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“That certainly appeared to be an interpretation that some put on the Prime Minister’s remarks and certainly from what was said at that meeting, it puts Scotland in a very strong position” when it comes to Brexit negotiations, adding it’s a position she will use “as well as I can”.
Sturgeon, who met several European Union leaders in Brussels days after the referendum, said she was pleased May was willing to consider the Scottish government’s options as part of the overall negotiations over the terms of Britain’s exit.
Asked about the possibility of a second referendum on Scottish independence, Mrs May said: “As far as I’m concerned, the Scottish people had their vote – they voted in 2014 – and a very clear message came through”.
“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”.
“That’s why I am also, in parallel to these discussions, making sure the Scottish Parliament is making preparations to have another independence referendum if we find ourselves in that position”, Ms Sturgeon told the BBC’s Sunday Politics Scotland.
She said that in Brussels she had encountered “a warmth, an openness a great sympathy to the position Scotland finds itself in”.
She told Express.co.uk: “The PM can not allow Nicola Sturgeon to either hold the rest of the Union to ransom or hide behind her as a reason for not instigating Brexit.
That’s because I believe in a union, not just between the nations of the United Kingdom, but between all of our citizens”.
However, Mrs May was clear that she does not believe there should be another Scottish independence referendum.
The PM was telling Scots she believed “with all my heart” in keeping the United Kingdom together after Ms Sturgeon warned that a backlash against Brexit made a second independence referendum “highly likely”.
Mrs May’s official spokeswoman said the meeting would look at Brexit issues, but the Prime Minister believed the issue of Scottish independence had now been settled.
Britain voted to leave European Union in June 23 referendum by 52 per cent to 48 per cent while Scotland voted to remain by 62 per cent to 38 per cent.
“One of the reasons why I think it’s important to stay in the European Union is around social and employment rights that the European Union has introduced and protected”.
The Prime Minister confirmed she had discussed the timescale for triggering Article 50 with Ms Sturgeon.
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He said: “Of course there could be another independence referendum but the big issue is should there be another independence referendum given that over two million people voted 18 months ago to remain in the United Kingdom”.
