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bbc.com

Brexit: Holyrood to hold emergency

debate on EU - BBC News

Image copyright Katielee Arrowsmith

Nicola Sturgeon is to ask the Scottish Parliament to formally back
her efforts to protect Scotland's place in the EU.
In an emergency debate at Holyrood she will call on MSPs to
support talks with officials from the UK, EU and other member
states.
Labour, the Liberal Democrats and Scottish Greens have already
said they will fully back Ms Sturgeon's motion.

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But it is understood the Scottish Conservatives will attempt to

amend it.
Speaking ahead of the debate, Tory leader Ruth Davidson cautioned
the SNP against using any negotiations to further their aim of
independence.

'Economic shock'
She told BBC Scotland's Good Morning Scotland programme:
"Within three and a half hours of the vote being announced, Nicola
Sturgeon made a speech from Bute House where she said she had
already instructed government officials to start drafting legislation for
a second independence referendum.
"Now we think that was premature. We think there are lots of
unanswered questions. We absolutely support the Scottish
government being part of the UK negotiating team, being integral in
that team. I have spoken to the prime minister myself to make sure
that Scotland's voice is heard in that process.
"But if we're talking about protecting Scotland's right to market, if
we're talking about Scotland's economy, if you think you've seen an
economic shock in the last four-five days to Scotland's economy,
taking us out of the UK - which is a far bigger market than us, more
than four times as much - would be four times the shock to the
Scottish economy."
Ms Sturgeon has said it would be "democratically unacceptable" for
Scotland to face the prospect of being taken out of the European

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Union against the wishes of its people.

And she has said a second referendum on Scottish independence is
now "highly likely".
Scotland's Farming minister Fergus Ewing told the programme
earlier that a second independence vote could be the only way to
stop Scotland leaving the EU.
He said: "We are paving the way for it and we are paving the way so
that we are able to have that referendum within the period of the
negotiations - the 'terminus a quo' of the two years - we do not know,
but we are paving the way so that we can have that because that
could be the only mechanism that exists in order to prevent being
forced out of the EU against our will."

Analysis from Professor John Curtice, Strathclyde

University

Image copyright Thinkstock

Will those who voted No to independence in September 2014 agree
with the SNP that it is "undemocratic" for Scotland to be forced out

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of the EU as a result of votes cast in England and Wales?

Or will they take the view that, as an integral part of the UK, the
country should accept the UK-wide majority verdict?
Three polls published on Sunday and Monday give us an initial
answer to these questions. All three report that there is now a
majority in Scotland in favour of independence.
However, the majority may only be a narrow one, suggesting that
Nicola Sturgeon could be taking quite a gamble if she does opt to
hold a second ballot soon.
Read more from Prof Curtice here.

Scotland voted by 62% to 38% in favour of remaining in the EU in

last week's referendum, but the UK as a whole voted to leave.
The first minister described Tuesday afternoon's debate on the
result as being one of the most important in the history of the
Scottish Parliament.
She added: "I am determined to explore every avenue to retain
Scotland's EU status and today's parliamentary debate is a vital part
of that process.
"I am specifically asking parliament to strengthen my hand by giving
me a mandate to pursue discussions about protecting Scotland's
place in the EU with the UK government, other devolved
administrations, EU institutions and member states.

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"It is now crucial that our national parliament speaks with as strong
and united a voice as possible on this issue."
Scottish Labour leader Kezia Dugdale said: "Labour will support this
motion and we back the first minister's efforts to protect Scotland's
relationship with the European Union.
"The decision to leave the EU will cause untold damage to
Scotland's economy and standing in the world.
"Every possible avenue must be explored to not just mitigate the
impact of Brexit, but to strengthen our ties with our European
neighbours. The protection of jobs and workers' rights must be the
priority."
Scottish Liberal Democrat leader Willie Rennie said: "On Friday I
committed my party to supporting Nicola Sturgeon's special EU
negotiation process as there is a strong need for cross-party
support, therefore we will support the motion tomorrow."

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