Nicola Sturgeon calls for all-Scotland coalition to unite against ‘hard Brexit’
Nicola Sturgeon is to urge politicians, businesses and universities to join to form an "all-Scotland" coalition to oppose a hard Brexit.
The first minister will say today that a hard Brexit will cost Scotland 80,000 jobs within a decade, and that expanding the economy and growing tax revenues are a priority for her government.
She wants to present a "unified" position on the issue to the UK government, after Scotland voted to remain in the EU referendum.
Addressing the National Economic Forum today in Edinburgh, Sturgeon will call for a coalition of organisations and parties in the UK to help keep the UK in the single market.
And in Scotland, regardless of the positions people take on the constitutional future of Scotland, on this central issue of single market membership there is widespread agreement. Rarely has there been such unity on an issue.
She said the SNP would work with all relevant parties to achieve the goal of "retaining our place in Europe and single market membership".
So today let’s resolve to present to the UK Government a unified Scottish position: an all-Scotland coalition of support for the single market. An all-Scotland coalition – of politicians, business, universities and others – to resist a hard Brexit.
Sturgeon's comments come days after what she described as a "deeply frustrating" meeting with Theresa May and other devolved leaders in Downing Street where she "learned nothing" of the prime minister's plans. She added:
I don't know anymore now about the UK Government's approach to the EU negotiations than before I went into the meeting and I can't speak for the other devolved administrations but I think there was a degree of frustration shared by all of us about that.
Sturgeon came to No 10 with proposals for a "flexible Brexit" which would keep Scotland in the single market, even if the rest of the UK were to leave it.
Read more: An independent Scotland inside the EU would be an economic powerhouse
The first minister has threatened to hold a second referendum on Scottish independence if her demands are not met, and if she felt it was in the best interests for Scotland to do so.
The government have so far refused to commit to single market membership in a Brexit deal, arguing instead that they will fight for the "closest possible access" to it.
May has said that she will not give the devolved leaders a vote on the Brexit deal, but will strike an arrangement that works for all parts of the UK. She has offered the leaders of Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland access to the Brexit negotiating team to provide input.