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Nicola Sturgeon calls for Brexit process 'pause' Nicola Sturgeon says hard Brexit 'dead in the water'
(about 1 hour later)
Nicola Sturgeon has called for a "short pause" in the Brexit process to allow a UK-wide position to be worked out. Nicola Sturgeon has claimed any plans for a so-called hard Brexit are "dead in the water" following the election result.
Scotland's first minister wants the country's devolved governments and major political parties to be involved in the process. Scotland's first minister was speaking as she called for a "short pause" in the Brexit process so consensus can be built on the best way forward.
Formal talks between the UK and EU are due to begin on 19 June. She wants membership of the European single market and the customs union to be "at the heart" of the process.
But Ms Sturgeon argued that the instability caused by last week's election result meant the UK's approach to the negotiations had to change. But Prime Minister Theresa May has insisted the UK will be leaving both.
She wants membership of the European single market and the customs union to be "at the heart" of a new way forward despite Theresa May insisting the country will leave both.
The UK government has also previously rejected Ms Sturgeon's calls for the Scottish government to be involved in the Brexit talks, and for Scotland to keep its single market membership even if the rest of the UK leaves.The UK government has also previously rejected Ms Sturgeon's calls for the Scottish government to be involved in the Brexit talks, and for Scotland to keep its single market membership even if the rest of the UK leaves.
Speaking as she met her party's MPs at Westminster, Ms Sturgeon said the approach Prime Minister Theresa May was taking to Brexit "simply cannot stand" after the Conservatives lost their Commons majority in the election. Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn confirmed on Sunday that his party - like Mrs May - was also committed to leaving the EU and pulling out of the single market, while seeking a "jobs-first Brexit".
She added: "I think the process should be opened up to more voices, a cross-party four-nation approach, and that approach must be centred on maintaining our position in the single market. But some senior Conservatives - including Chancellor Philip Hammond and the party's Scottish leader, Ruth Davidson - have called for the economy to be prioritised over immigration control.
"So as the third-biggest party in the House of Commons, these are the priorities that these MPs are now going to get to work on". Ms Davidson, who met Mrs May in Downing Street on Monday, has called for a new approach that would build cross-party support for an "open Brexit".
Ms Sturgeon also claimed that Mrs May's plans for a so-called "hard Brexit" were now "dead in the water", and questioned whether the prime minister could form a functioning government. Formal talks between the UK and EU are due to begin on 19 June - although there have been suggestions they could be delayed by a few days.
Mrs May is currently attempting to secure a deal which would see the Democratic Unionist Party support her minority government, which has confirmed that next week's Queen's Speech will be delayed by a few days. Ms Sturgeon argued that the instability caused by last week's election result meant the UK's approach to the negotiations had to change.
Speaking as she met her party's MPs at Westminster, Ms Sturgeon said the approach Ms May was taking to Brexit "simply cannot stand" after the Conservatives lost their Commons majority in the election.
She added: "I'm calling today for a process that is opened up to include more voices, all parties and all four nations of the UK and an approach that has continued membership of the single market at its heart.
"The prime minister has got to recognise that she asked for a strengthened mandate for a hard Brexit, and voters across the UK refused to give her that, and she cannot simply carry one as if nothing has changed.
"The Tory cabal kicking up a hard Brexit approach is dead in the water."
Ms Sturgeon also questioned whether the prime minister could form a functioning government.
Acting leader
Mrs May is currently attempting to secure a deal that would see the Democratic Unionist Party support her minority government, which has confirmed that next week's Queen's Speech will be delayed by a few days.
Ms Sturgeon's proposals for Brexit include the involvement of the UK's devolved governments in the negotiations, and the re-establishment of the Joint Ministerial Committee (JMC) on EU Negotiations.Ms Sturgeon's proposals for Brexit include the involvement of the UK's devolved governments in the negotiations, and the re-establishment of the Joint Ministerial Committee (JMC) on EU Negotiations.
She also wants a cross-party advisory group to be set up, including representatives from the devolved administrations, to agree a new position for the UK and oversee the Brexit negotiations.She also wants a cross-party advisory group to be set up, including representatives from the devolved administrations, to agree a new position for the UK and oversee the Brexit negotiations.
The SNP won 35 seats in the general election, down 21 on the 56 MPs it returned in 2015 but still enough to give the party a majority of the seats in Scotland.The SNP won 35 seats in the general election, down 21 on the 56 MPs it returned in 2015 but still enough to give the party a majority of the seats in Scotland.
Among the SNP MPs to lose their seat was the party's Westminster leader Angus Robertson. Stewart Hosie has been confirmed as its acting leader in the Commons until a permanent leader is chosen.Among the SNP MPs to lose their seat was the party's Westminster leader Angus Robertson. Stewart Hosie has been confirmed as its acting leader in the Commons until a permanent leader is chosen.
The UK government's rejection of a special Brexit deal for Scotland prompted Ms Sturgeon to demand a second independence referendum when the Brexit process was formally triggered in March.The UK government's rejection of a special Brexit deal for Scotland prompted Ms Sturgeon to demand a second independence referendum when the Brexit process was formally triggered in March.
The first minister has since admitted the issue of another referendum was a factor in last Thursday's vote, and stated the party would reflect on its plans amid calls for it to be taken off the table.The first minister has since admitted the issue of another referendum was a factor in last Thursday's vote, and stated the party would reflect on its plans amid calls for it to be taken off the table.
She has turned her focus to the UK's Brexit approach as other political leaders, including Scottish Conservative leader Ruth Davidson and Scottish Secretary David Mundell, called for more consensus on Brexit. She has turned her focus to the UK's Brexit approach as other political leaders, including Ms Davidson and Scottish Secretary David Mundell, called for more consensus on Brexit.
Speaking on Saturday, Ms Davidson said: 'I want to ensure that we can look again at issues like Brexit, which we know we are now going to have to get cross-party support for, and move to a consensus within the country about what it means and what we seek to achieve as we leave."Speaking on Saturday, Ms Davidson said: 'I want to ensure that we can look again at issues like Brexit, which we know we are now going to have to get cross-party support for, and move to a consensus within the country about what it means and what we seek to achieve as we leave."
She has previously said she wants the UK to have the "largest amount of access" to the single market after Brexit.She has previously said she wants the UK to have the "largest amount of access" to the single market after Brexit.
And there have been suggestions she will use the influence of her party's new Scottish MPs to push for what she describes as an "open Brexit" that prioritises the economy over curbing immigration.And there have been suggestions she will use the influence of her party's new Scottish MPs to push for what she describes as an "open Brexit" that prioritises the economy over curbing immigration.
Mr Mundell told BBC Scotland that he had always believed it would be possible to build a consensus, particularly in Scotland, for what the Brexit negotiations should achieve.Mr Mundell told BBC Scotland that he had always believed it would be possible to build a consensus, particularly in Scotland, for what the Brexit negotiations should achieve.