Nicola Sturgeon slams Brexit "leap in the dark"

Theresa May and Nicola Sturgeon - credit: Andrew Milligan/PA Wire/PA Images

Nicola Sturgeon has slammed the UK Government’s “leap in the dark” over Brexit, with the First Minister accusing Theresa May of being incapable of providing basic answers to questions over what Brexit will mean for the economy and British society.

The UK’s Permanent Representative of the to the European Union, Sir Tim Barrow, today delivered a letter to European Council president Donald Tusk signalling the PM’s intention to trigger Article 50 and begin the two year process of leaving the European Union.

Speaking in the Commons, May told MPs her government was aware of the effects of Brexit. She said: “We understand that there will be consequences for the UK of leaving the EU. We know that we will lose influence over the rules that affect the European economy. We know that UK companies that trade with the EU will have to align with rules agreed by institutions of which we are no longer a part, just as we do in other overseas markets. We accept that.”

RELATED CONTENT

Theresa May signs off Brexit letter with a call for unity

Theresa May is right to call out failings by the SNP government, but her hypocrisy deserves some scrutiny

Parliamentary sketch: What's the plan for Brexit?

But the FM rejected May’s claims, describing Brexit as “a reckless gamble” and claiming “the final deal is almost certain to be worse economically than the existing arrangements”.

Receiving the letter from Downing Street, Tusk said there was “no reason to pretend this is a happy day”, before adding “There is nothing to win in this process and I am talking about both sides. In essence, this is about damage control.”

Meanwhile the PM also faced criticism from MPs after seemingly linking security cooperation to the outcome of trade negotiations.

The letter states: “We want to make sure that Europe remains strong and prosperous and is capable of projecting its values, leading in the world, and defending itself from security threats… We therefore believe it is necessary to agree the terms of our future partnership alongside those of our withdrawal from the European Union.”

May added: “In security terms a failure to reach agreement would mean our cooperation in the fight against crime and terrorism would be weakened.”

Sturgeon said: “Today’s triggering of Article 50 represents a leap in the dark by the Prime Minister.

“Fully nine months after the EU referendum, the UK Government still cannot answer basic questions about what Brexit will mean for businesses, for the economy generally and for the type of society we live in.

“I wish the Prime Minister well in the negotiations which lie ahead, because a good Brexit deal for the UK is in Scotland’s interests. But the UK Government’s hard-line approach to Brexit is a reckless gamble, and it is clear, even at these very early stages, that the final deal is almost certain to be worse economically than the existing arrangements – and potentially much worse.

“Scotland voted decisively to remain part of Europe, but the UK Government only formally responded with a dismissal of our compromise proposals to keep Scotland in the Single Market at the same time as the Article 50 letter was sent.

“The next two years are hugely important and will determine the kind of country Scotland will become. The Prime Minister has today confirmed her aim is to reach a Brexit agreement covering a future relationship within two years. So the people of Scotland must have the final say on their own future once the terms of Brexit are clear.”

May said: “This is an historic moment from which there can be no turning back. Britain is leaving the European Union. We are going to make our own decisions and our own laws. We are going to take control of the things that matter most to us. And we are going to take this opportunity to build a stronger, fairer Britain – a country that our children and grandchildren are proud to call home.”