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Brexit: Nicola Sturgeon's 'relief' at new 31 October deadline Brexit: Sturgeon urges May to 're-set' government approach
(about 4 hours later)
Scotland's first minister has said the UK must not waste time now a flexible extension to Brexit has been agreed until 31 October. Scotland's first minister has urged the government to "re-set" its approach to Brexit after the latest delay to the UK's departure from the EU.
In a tweet, Nicola Sturgeon said it was "a relief" that the UK would not be "crashing out" of the EU on Friday. A "flexible" extension of the Brexit deadline until 31 October was agreed at an EU summit on Wednesday night.
She added that allowing people to decide if they still wanted to leave was now imperative, and that Scotland's interests must be protected. Nicola Sturgeon wrote to Theresa May to urge the prime minister to "drop your red lines" and seek "genuine consensus" with opposition parties.
Holyrood will not be recalled now that the extension has been agreed.Holyrood will not be recalled now that the extension has been agreed.
Scottish Parliament Presiding Officer Ken Macintosh had warned MSPs they would be recalled from 13:00 on Thursday if the UK was due to leave the EU without a deal on Friday. Scottish Parliament Presiding Officer Ken Macintosh had warned MSPs they would be required from 13:00 on Thursday if the UK was due to leave the EU without a deal on Friday.
However, following the announcement of the extension, Mr Macintosh said a recall was no longer necessary.However, following the announcement of the extension, Mr Macintosh said a recall was no longer necessary.
European Council president Donald Tusk said the UK could still ratify the withdrawal agreement or choose to "cancel Brexit altogether". The six-month extension was agreed after late-night talks in Brussels, and averts the prospect of the UK leaving the EU without a deal on Friday.
He added: "Let me finish with a message to our British friends: This extension is as flexible as I expected, and a little bit shorter than I expected, but it's still enough to find the best possible solution. Please do not waste this time." MPs remain deadlocked on what to do, having repeatedly rejected Mrs May's plan and a range of other alternative suggestions. Ministers are now holding talks with the Labour opposition to see if a compromise can be found.
Prime Minister Theresa May, who had wanted a shorter delay, said the UK would still aim to leave the EU as soon as possible. European Council president Donald Tusk said the UK could still sign off the government's negotiated deal, or choose to "cancel Brexit altogether".
Speaking on BBC radio's Good Morning Scotland programme, Scottish Secretary David Mundell said Theresa May was determined to leave the EU by 30 June. He added: "This extension is as flexible as I expected, and a little bit shorter than I expected, but it's still enough to find the best possible solution. Please do not waste this time."
He said: "We're not leaving the EU tomorrow on the basis of no deal. I think everyone, certainly in Scotland, is in agreement that leaving the EU on Friday would not have been a good outcome. Mrs May, who had wanted a shorter delay, said the UK would still aim to leave the EU as soon as possible.
In a letter to the prime minister, Ms Sturgeon welcomed the outcome of the summit, and said it was "essential that this time is used constructively and not wasted".
She said: "We now have the gift of more time from the EU, and that must be used constructively to re-set the UK government approach. Your ongoing talks with the leader of the opposition should now broaden to include other parties, the devolved administrations, business and civic society, and open up the range of options on the table in an effort to reach a genuine consensus.
"Fundamentally, the Scottish government considers that any deal agreed by the UK parliament should be put to another referendum, with the alternative proposition on the ballot paper being to remain in the EU.
"The extension to 31 October provides enough time to do this, and it is essential that no time is lost in making the necessary preparations."
'Persuade parliament''Persuade parliament'
Speaking on BBC radio's Good Morning Scotland programme, Scottish Secretary David Mundell said Mrs May was determined to leave the EU by 30 June.
He said: "We're not leaving the EU tomorrow on the basis of no deal. I think everyone, certainly in Scotland, is in agreement that leaving the EU on Friday would not have been a good outcome."
Mr Mundell added: "She [Theresa May] wants to deliver Brexit by 22 May so that we don't have to have the European elections and there is still an opportunity to do that.Mr Mundell added: "She [Theresa May] wants to deliver Brexit by 22 May so that we don't have to have the European elections and there is still an opportunity to do that.
"If we can, as I would hope - because these talks seem to be serious - get some form of agreement with the Labour Party, then it would be possible to ratify the withdrawal agreement by 22 May and leave by then, and it would still be possible also to leave by 30 June.""If we can, as I would hope - because these talks seem to be serious - get some form of agreement with the Labour Party, then it would be possible to ratify the withdrawal agreement by 22 May and leave by then, and it would still be possible also to leave by 30 June."
The UK is bound to hold European elections in May, or leave on 1 June without a deal.
The prime minister had earlier told leaders she wanted to move the UK's exit date from Friday of this week to 30 June, with the option of leaving earlier if her withdrawal agreement was ratified by parliament.The prime minister had earlier told leaders she wanted to move the UK's exit date from Friday of this week to 30 June, with the option of leaving earlier if her withdrawal agreement was ratified by parliament.
Following the extension announcement, she said that although the delay extends until 31 October, the UK can leave before then if MPs pass her withdrawal deal.Following the extension announcement, she said that although the delay extends until 31 October, the UK can leave before then if MPs pass her withdrawal deal.
"I know that there is huge frustration from many people that I had to request this extension," she said."I know that there is huge frustration from many people that I had to request this extension," she said.
"The UK should have left the EU by now and I sincerely regret the fact that I have not yet been able to persuade parliament to approve a deal.""The UK should have left the EU by now and I sincerely regret the fact that I have not yet been able to persuade parliament to approve a deal."
Mrs May added: "I do not pretend the next few weeks will be easy, or there is a simple way to break the deadlock in parliament. But we have a duty as politicians to find a way to fulfil the democratic decision of the referendum, deliver Brexit and move our country forward.Mrs May added: "I do not pretend the next few weeks will be easy, or there is a simple way to break the deadlock in parliament. But we have a duty as politicians to find a way to fulfil the democratic decision of the referendum, deliver Brexit and move our country forward.
"Nothing is more pressing or more vital.""Nothing is more pressing or more vital."
The PM said that the UK "will continue to hold full membership rights and obligations [of the EU]" during the delay.The PM said that the UK "will continue to hold full membership rights and obligations [of the EU]" during the delay.
What was agreed?What was agreed?
Read the EU's conclusions here.Read the EU's conclusions here.