Scottish Government seeks to keep EU citizenship for Scots after Brexit
Nicola Sturgeon says there is "every chance" of a new independence referendum if it is the best way to protect Scottish interests.
Saturday 15 October 2016 00:36, UK
The Scottish Government will try to find ways to maintain EU citizenship for Scottish people, even within a UK that will leave the European Union, the First Minister has told Paste BN.
Asked to spell out some of the specifics Nicola Sturgeon will seek in her submission to Brexit negotiations, she said her Government will table "creative" proposals on keeping Scotland in the Single Market shortly.
Asked if that could include Scots keeping EU citizenship, she replied: "These things are all possible.
"I'm not pretending they're easy, or all will be possible in practical terms - but should we rule them out right now in circumstances where everything is up for grabs? We should not".
She pointed to the Channel Islands and Greenland as examples of the EU as illustrations of a will "to be flexible".
Ms Sturgeon said she wanted to be "part of a coalition in the UK to vote against hard Brexit" and that "there is no majority in the House of Commons to take Britain out of the Single Market".
She said that the reassurances offered by Brexit Secretary David Davis in Dublin, and the ongoing promise of no hard border in Ireland, has created opportunities for Scotland.
The Scottish Government is taking particular interest in two Article 50 court cases, sending an observer to the London High Court and making a submission to the Belfast High Court.
Ms Sturgeon said it was "inconceivable" that the Scottish Parliament would offer legislative consent to Brexit motions. The court cases will help determine whether that is even an issue.
But she will be tabling draft referendum legislation and told Paste BN there is "every chance" of a new independence referendum before March 2019 "if it proves to be the only and best way to protect Scottish interests".
She said that Prime Minister Theresa May "hasn't yet kept her promises" to Scotland over the Brexit negotiation.
When it was suggested that low polling numbers for independence and the low oil price meant she was bluffing about independence, Ms Sturgeon replied: "No, I'm serious about doing what it takes to protect Scotland's interests.
"If it all fails and Scotland is faced with the prospect of being taken off the cliff edge by a UK government intent on leaving the Single Market, then I think Scotland has a right to choose."
Ms Sturgeon will meet Mrs May and other leaders of devolved administrations to discuss Brexit later this month.