Theresa May has insisted she has chosen Scotland for the first visit of her premiership to show her personal commitment to the union.
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Theresa May made the trip to demonstrate her “commitment to preserving the special union” and to affirm her government’s commitment to fully engage with the Scotland in the forthcoming Brexit negotiations.
The United Kingdom as a whole voted 52 – 48 percent to leave the bloc, while 62 percent of Scottish voters opted to stay in the EU.
“I’ve already said that I won’t be triggering Article 50 until I think that we have a United Kingdom approach and objectives”.
Today’s visit by the PM shows that she understands that Nicola Sturgeon is entirely serious when she says that if Scotland can’t get some kind of special deal with the European Union then the option of a second referendum on Scottish independence is still very much on the table.
Also speaking ahead of the meeting, Ms Sturgeon told STV: “My position is that I respect how people in other parts of the United Kingdom voted, I hope the Prime Minister will respect how people in Scotland voted”.
In heading swiftly to Edinburgh, May intends to emphasise her strong support for the union and for keeping Sturgeon’s devolved administration involved in the Brexit negotiations, a Downing Street spokesman said.
However, the PM told the people of Scotland they have “had their vote” on independence and this option should not be on the table. We will pursue every option to protect Scotland’s position in Europe and, by extension, the interests of European Union citizens who live and work here.
Sources present said it had been agreed that the UK Government would be lobbied strongly to push for access to the single market and rights of free movement of people to be maintained following Brexit.
Speaking about the prospect of a second Scottish independence referendum, May said: “I think the question is: should there be another referendum?”
And I want to say something else to the people of Scotland too: the government I lead will always be on your side. “It may reach a conclusion that independence is the only way to protect those interests”.
“That’s a decision that Scotland would have to take if we get there, but I’m open to examining all options”.
Speaking in London, Mundell said even though there could be another independence referendum, there should be no other independence referendum.
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The referendum result sent shockwaves around the world and sparked fears of an economic downturn as Britain potentially faces exclusion from its biggest trading market – a key concern for Sturgeon.
