First Minister Nicola Sturgeon calls for common-sense Brexit deal

THE First Minister yesterday called on Britain to secure a common-sense Brexit.

Nicola Sturgeon said the Wesminster government was presenting a false choice between a bad deal or no deal when Britain leaves the EU.

Before a flagship speech in London tomorrow, Ms Sturgeon said: “The UK is scheduled to leave the European Union less than six months from now – but both a withdrawal agreement and a clear, detailed statement on the future relationship must be concluded much sooner.

“As things stand, we still have no guarantee of a transition agreement or a detailed proposition setting out the future trading relationship between the UK and EU.

“The UK Government seems intent on presenting a false choice between whatever bad, possibly blindfold, deal they manage to conclude and a no deal scenario.

“The Scottish Government will this week set out our common sense, workable alternative and make clear why we believe there is now an opportunity to seize an alternative path.”

The Scottish Government published a paper to coincide with the First Minister’s speech unveiling a series of “common sense” alternative proposals on how the UK should leave the EU.

The proposals are expected to be “far more detailed than any of the UK Government’s proposals so far.”

Ms Sturgeon said yesterday that it was “not too late” to consider an alternative plan for Brexit.

She said: “It is not too late for public duty and calm heads to prevail and for a no-deal or bad, possibly blindfold, deal to be averted.

“MPs and the wider public should not accept the false choice that is being presented – there is an alternative, and our proposals are the only way to truly protect our businesses, people and communities from the worst effects of Brexit.

“Scotland voted overwhelmingly to remain in the EU, and our duty as a government is to work as hard as we can to ensure that vote is respected and for Scotland’s key interests to be protected.

“That means staying in the customs union and single market, which is around eight times bigger than the UK market alone.

“With time running short the UK Government must take stock and listen to our proposals which have the interests of the people of Scotland and the rest of the UK at their heart.”

The SNP previously stated it would not agree to any plans which would see Scotland leave the single market and customs union.

It comes after a Scottish Government paper in January outlined Brexit’s impact on the economy, stating Scotland’s output could be reduced by 8.5%.

The publication will also argue that neither the UK Government’s suggestion of a “blindfold” Brexit – where key decisions are not made until after the UK exits the EU – mor a no-deal scenario should be accepted.

A senior SNP source said the paper argues for “the softest possible Brexit”, adding: “Now it’s the tail of the extreme Brexiteer wagging the dog of the UK Government. The more that Scotland’s voice is heard, the better.”