Nicola Sturgeon says that Single Market membership is “the minimum” for Scotland
Scottish first minister Nicola Sturgeon has vowed to secure Scotland's membership in Europe's Single Market after last week declaring she would seek a referendum on independence.
Last Monday, Sturgeon announced she would call on MSPs to back a motion demanding a vote on remaining within the UK by Spring 2019.
Downing Street has already slapped down the idea, but this morning Sturgeon has pushed back and claimed she lobbied Prime Minister Theresa May to keep the UK in the Single Market.
Speaking on ITV's Peston on Sunday, Sturgeon called membership her "compromise position".
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"The reason I was prepared to compromise there is because I think that is the minimum for Scotland is to be in the Single Market," Sturgeon said. "It what I think makes sense for the UK as well if it 's out of the EU.
"But my preference is for an independent Scotland to be in the EU. I accept that because we're in different circumstances now, the UK is leaving. Then we have to set out before people in Scotland make a choice, the route, the process and the transition that we would make towards that."
Holyrood will consider Sturgeon's motion on Wednesday.