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You can find the current article at its original source at https://www.theguardian.com/politics/live/2016/jul/15/theresa-may-to-meet-nicola-sturgeon-for-union-talks-politics-live
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| Theresa May to meet Nicola Sturgeon for union talks - politics live | Theresa May to meet Nicola Sturgeon for union talks - politics live |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| 1.12pm BST | |
| 13:12 | |
| May meets with Sturgeon in Edinburgh | |
| Libby Brooks | |
| Theresa May is currently in her meeting with Nicola Sturgeon, after making in her first official visit to Edinburgh as prime minister. The meeting comes as May’s government promises to involve Scotland’s devolved administration in negotiations to withdraw Britain from the EU. | |
| The two women posed briefly for photographers outside the first minister’s official residence, Bute House, before beginning their meeting which is scheduled to last for around 45 minutes. This is only the third time that the pair have met, and their first formal one-to-one encounter. | |
| After the meeting, May is expected to attend a party event along with Ruth Davidson, leader of the Scottish Conservatives and a firm supporter of May for leader of the Westminster party. | |
| Updated | |
| at 1.28pm BST | |
| 1.05pm BST | |
| 13:05 | |
| Theresa May has arrived at Nicola Sturgeon’s official residence in Edinburgh for talks. | |
| She was greeted at Bute House by Sturgeon, and the two shook hands and stopped on the steps for photographers. | |
| May’s official spokeswoman said the meeting would look at Brexit issues, but the Prime Minister believed the issue of Scottish independence had now been settled. | |
| She said: “It will be an opportunity to discuss how they are going to work together. An opportunity for the Prime Minister to underline to the First Minister that she does want to make sure the UK Government fully engages with the Scottish Government on discussions around leaving the European Union. | |
| “And with regard to a second referendum, the Prime Minister’s view is that we have already had a referendum. It was legal, and fair, and the result was decisive.” | |
| Updated | |
| at 1.06pm BST | |
| 12.00pm BST | 12.00pm BST |
| 12:00 | 12:00 |
| Labour shadow minister Jon Ashworth has also responded to Leadsom’s comments. He said: “This is an extraordinarily offensive statement from the new Environment Secretary. Andrea Leadsom should apologise immediately and the Prime Minister should also distance herself from these comments.” | Labour shadow minister Jon Ashworth has also responded to Leadsom’s comments. He said: “This is an extraordinarily offensive statement from the new Environment Secretary. Andrea Leadsom should apologise immediately and the Prime Minister should also distance herself from these comments.” |
| 11.35am BST | 11.35am BST |
| 11:35 | 11:35 |
| Tim Farron has responded to Andrea Leadsom’s comments on male nannies, saying that she should “not be sat around the cabinet table”. | Tim Farron has responded to Andrea Leadsom’s comments on male nannies, saying that she should “not be sat around the cabinet table”. |
| Interesting to note Farron's suggestion that Leadsom is wearing multiple masks, that keep slipping off. pic.twitter.com/cEYQHlvjYc | Interesting to note Farron's suggestion that Leadsom is wearing multiple masks, that keep slipping off. pic.twitter.com/cEYQHlvjYc |
| 11.28am BST | 11.28am BST |
| 11:28 | 11:28 |
| Libby Brooks | Libby Brooks |
| The SNP have hit back at Scottish secretary David Mundell’s comment that Scotland is “in no mood” for a second independence referendum. | The SNP have hit back at Scottish secretary David Mundell’s comment that Scotland is “in no mood” for a second independence referendum. |
| Speaking ahead of first minister Nicola Sturgeon’s meeting with the new prime minister in Edinburgh later this morning, the SNP’s finance and constitution minister Derek Mackay said: | Speaking ahead of first minister Nicola Sturgeon’s meeting with the new prime minister in Edinburgh later this morning, the SNP’s finance and constitution minister Derek Mackay said: |
| “The Scottish Secretary has this morning claimed that Scotland is in no mood for an independence referendum – but what Scotland is actually in no mood for are any lectures from a Tory UK Government. | “The Scottish Secretary has this morning claimed that Scotland is in no mood for an independence referendum – but what Scotland is actually in no mood for are any lectures from a Tory UK Government. |
| “We have been put in a position where our vital interests – businesses, jobs, universities, freedom to travel, workers’ rights and much else besides – are all at risk. It is a Conservative Government which has put us into this position, so the onus is now on them to prove that our interests can be protected within UK – because the fact is that the EU referendum has placed a very big question mark over that. | “We have been put in a position where our vital interests – businesses, jobs, universities, freedom to travel, workers’ rights and much else besides – are all at risk. It is a Conservative Government which has put us into this position, so the onus is now on them to prove that our interests can be protected within UK – because the fact is that the EU referendum has placed a very big question mark over that. |
| “Warm words about a ‘special Union’ are simply not enough – a Union that ignores our wishes and drags us out of EU against our democratic will would not be very special.” | “Warm words about a ‘special Union’ are simply not enough – a Union that ignores our wishes and drags us out of EU against our democratic will would not be very special.” |
| Updated | Updated |
| at 11.29am BST | at 11.29am BST |
| 11.26am BST | 11.26am BST |
| 11:26 | 11:26 |
| Ahead of Jo Cox’s funeral, hundreds of people have lined the streets of her Batley and Spen constituency to pay their respects. | Ahead of Jo Cox’s funeral, hundreds of people have lined the streets of her Batley and Spen constituency to pay their respects. |
| Cox’s funeral cortege slowed down in the town of Heckmondwike before continuing to Batley. Many threw flowers in the path of the cortege. | Cox’s funeral cortege slowed down in the town of Heckmondwike before continuing to Batley. Many threw flowers in the path of the cortege. |
| 11.09am BST | 11.09am BST |
| 11:09 | 11:09 |
| In last night’s council by-elections the Lib Dems gained four seats. The Tories narrowly beat Labour (by just 27 votes) at Selby Council. | In last night’s council by-elections the Lib Dems gained four seats. The Tories narrowly beat Labour (by just 27 votes) at Selby Council. |
| Last night's council by-elections: Lib Dems gain four seats; Tories take a Labour marginal: https://t.co/cLH7f7XkZe pic.twitter.com/F62AoMBgyo | Last night's council by-elections: Lib Dems gain four seats; Tories take a Labour marginal: https://t.co/cLH7f7XkZe pic.twitter.com/F62AoMBgyo |
| Amazing win in Astley by-election just outside N Norfolk constit Great, energetic candidate @PierreButikofer excellent campaign, Ed Maxfield | Amazing win in Astley by-election just outside N Norfolk constit Great, energetic candidate @PierreButikofer excellent campaign, Ed Maxfield |
| 11.06am BST | 11.06am BST |
| 11:06 | 11:06 |
| Theresa May has said Britain must redouble its efforts to defeat “brutal” terrorist “murderers” after the “horrifying” attack in Nice, and has called a meeting of senior officials in the government’s emergency Cobra committee, the Press Association reports. | Theresa May has said Britain must redouble its efforts to defeat “brutal” terrorist “murderers” after the “horrifying” attack in Nice, and has called a meeting of senior officials in the government’s emergency Cobra committee, the Press Association reports. |
| May said Britain stands “shoulder to shoulder” with France. | May said Britain stands “shoulder to shoulder” with France. |
| Updated | Updated |
| at 11.14am BST | at 11.14am BST |
| 10.51am BST | 10.51am BST |
| 10:51 | 10:51 |
| Libby Brooks | Libby Brooks |
| Ahead of Theresa May’s first official visit to Scotland, the sole remaining Liberal Democrat MP north of the border, Alistair Carmichael, has challenged the new prime minister on human rights. | Ahead of Theresa May’s first official visit to Scotland, the sole remaining Liberal Democrat MP north of the border, Alistair Carmichael, has challenged the new prime minister on human rights. |
| He said that May, who will meet first minister Nicola Sturgeon later this morning to discuss Brexit negotiations, had an opportunity “to show that her commitment to the Union goes beyond warm words by scrapping the idea of repealing the Human Rights Act which is hard wired into the devolution settlement and would involve a complete rewriting of the Scotland Act”. | He said that May, who will meet first minister Nicola Sturgeon later this morning to discuss Brexit negotiations, had an opportunity “to show that her commitment to the Union goes beyond warm words by scrapping the idea of repealing the Human Rights Act which is hard wired into the devolution settlement and would involve a complete rewriting of the Scotland Act”. |
| “By abandoning this dangerous and pointless manifesto commitment, she could set a constructive and productive tone to her working relationship with the Scottish Government,” he said. | “By abandoning this dangerous and pointless manifesto commitment, she could set a constructive and productive tone to her working relationship with the Scottish Government,” he said. |
| 10.23am BST | 10.23am BST |
| 10:23 | 10:23 |
| Cardiff Central MP Jo Stevens, one of Jeremy Corbyn’s most loyal backers, has switched allegiance and called on party members to back rival leadership candidate Owen Smith. | Cardiff Central MP Jo Stevens, one of Jeremy Corbyn’s most loyal backers, has switched allegiance and called on party members to back rival leadership candidate Owen Smith. |
| In an email to Labour members, Stevens wrote: “During the past two weeks it has become painfully obvious that we have been unable to fulfil the very basic day to day operation as the official opposition in Parliament. We cannot present ourselves as a government in waiting without leadership and a leadership team that commands the respect and support of not only members....but Labour voters and potential Labour voters.” | In an email to Labour members, Stevens wrote: “During the past two weeks it has become painfully obvious that we have been unable to fulfil the very basic day to day operation as the official opposition in Parliament. We cannot present ourselves as a government in waiting without leadership and a leadership team that commands the respect and support of not only members....but Labour voters and potential Labour voters.” |
| She added: “I want to let you know I will be supporting Owen Smith.” | She added: “I want to let you know I will be supporting Owen Smith.” |
| 10.18am BST | 10.18am BST |
| 10:18 | 10:18 |
| David Davis has said Britain will be in a position to trigger Article 50 “before or by the start of next year”. | David Davis has said Britain will be in a position to trigger Article 50 “before or by the start of next year”. |
| Davis said the government’s “first order of business” will be to begin negotiations with the aim of striking trade deals with non-EU countries such as the United States and China within two years. This would give Britain a free trade area “almost twice the size of the EU” before the negotiation with the European bloc is complete, he said. | Davis said the government’s “first order of business” will be to begin negotiations with the aim of striking trade deals with non-EU countries such as the United States and China within two years. This would give Britain a free trade area “almost twice the size of the EU” before the negotiation with the European bloc is complete, he said. |
| Davis insisted Britain would be able to put in place new trade agreements to come into force at the point of exit from the EU having been fully negotiated beforehand. | Davis insisted Britain would be able to put in place new trade agreements to come into force at the point of exit from the EU having been fully negotiated beforehand. |
| Writing in The Sun, he said: | Writing in The Sun, he said: |
| I expect the new Prime Minister to trigger a round of global trade deals with all our most favoured partners - and the negotiation of most within between 12 and 24 months. | I expect the new Prime Minister to trigger a round of global trade deals with all our most favoured partners - and the negotiation of most within between 12 and 24 months. |
| Within two years, before the negotiation with the EU is likely to be complete, we can negotiate a free trade area massively larger than the EU. | Within two years, before the negotiation with the EU is likely to be complete, we can negotiate a free trade area massively larger than the EU. |
| Deals with the US and China alone will give us a trade area almost twice the size of the EU - and of course, we will also be seeking deals with many others. | Deals with the US and China alone will give us a trade area almost twice the size of the EU - and of course, we will also be seeking deals with many others. |
| This will provide massive markets for our exports and cut costs for our manufacturing industries. | This will provide massive markets for our exports and cut costs for our manufacturing industries. |
| Davis said Article 50 should not be triggered immediately in case EU countries act “irrationally” and refuse tariff-free access to the European single market because the UK will not compromise on ending free movement so it can control immigration. | Davis said Article 50 should not be triggered immediately in case EU countries act “irrationally” and refuse tariff-free access to the European single market because the UK will not compromise on ending free movement so it can control immigration. |
| Updated | Updated |
| at 10.23am BST | at 10.23am BST |
| 10.09am BST | 10.09am BST |
| 10:09 | 10:09 |
| Sadiq Khan backs second runway at Gatwick | Sadiq Khan backs second runway at Gatwick |
| Sadiq Khan, the mayor of London, has urged Theresa May to back a second runway at Gatwick. He said the airport was “the only show in town” and would bring substantial economic benefits to the capital. | Sadiq Khan, the mayor of London, has urged Theresa May to back a second runway at Gatwick. He said the airport was “the only show in town” and would bring substantial economic benefits to the capital. |
| Khan warned that pressing ahead with a third runway at Heathrow would mean years of legal challenges, splits in the Conservative party and political turmoil in London, the Evening Standard reports. | Khan warned that pressing ahead with a third runway at Heathrow would mean years of legal challenges, splits in the Conservative party and political turmoil in London, the Evening Standard reports. |
| Khan told the paper: | Khan told the paper: |
| If you want an increase in flight capacity sooner rather than later Gatwick is the only show in town. | If you want an increase in flight capacity sooner rather than later Gatwick is the only show in town. |
| There are no legal obstacles, it’s cheaper, they’re ready to go, there would be jobs and growth in that part of the city as a consequence and nowhere near the same problems with noise and air as Heathrow. | There are no legal obstacles, it’s cheaper, they’re ready to go, there would be jobs and growth in that part of the city as a consequence and nowhere near the same problems with noise and air as Heathrow. |
| But also Gatwick with a new runway means that Heathrow has got to raise its game. If she was to go ahead with Heathrow it would mean years of legal challenges, splits in the Tory party, and it doesn’t lead to the increase in airports capacity that we need. | But also Gatwick with a new runway means that Heathrow has got to raise its game. If she was to go ahead with Heathrow it would mean years of legal challenges, splits in the Tory party, and it doesn’t lead to the increase in airports capacity that we need. |
| The new prime minister has a very important decision to make regarding new airport capacity, and I urge her to rule as swiftly as possible in favour of a second runway at Gatwick. | The new prime minister has a very important decision to make regarding new airport capacity, and I urge her to rule as swiftly as possible in favour of a second runway at Gatwick. |
| It would bring substantial economic benefits and very clearly demonstrate to the rest of the world that London is open. | It would bring substantial economic benefits and very clearly demonstrate to the rest of the world that London is open. |
| 10.02am BST | 10.02am BST |
| 10:02 | 10:02 |
| The UK has sought advice from Canada on how to cut a trade agreement with the European Union following the Brexit vote, the Guardian’s Sarah Butler reports. | The UK has sought advice from Canada on how to cut a trade agreement with the European Union following the Brexit vote, the Guardian’s Sarah Butler reports. |
| Chrystia Freeland, Canada’s trade minister who is scheduled to meet Liam Fox, the UK’s new secretary of state for international trade, on Friday afternoon, told BBC Radio 4’s Today programme her team had been having “technical exchanges” with the UK about its recently finalised deal with the EU. | Chrystia Freeland, Canada’s trade minister who is scheduled to meet Liam Fox, the UK’s new secretary of state for international trade, on Friday afternoon, told BBC Radio 4’s Today programme her team had been having “technical exchanges” with the UK about its recently finalised deal with the EU. |
| This comes as David Davis said yesterday that his preferred model for the UK’s ongoing relationship with the EU is Canada’s comprehensive and economic trade agreement, known as Ceta. | This comes as David Davis said yesterday that his preferred model for the UK’s ongoing relationship with the EU is Canada’s comprehensive and economic trade agreement, known as Ceta. |