Looks like the UK will not invoke Article 50 of the Lisbon Treaty which would trigger the formal process for leaving the EU just yet. According to newly inaugurated Prime Minister Theresa May, Article 50 will not be put in place until there is an agreed “UK approach and objective ” by all the devolved nations in the country agreed, especially with regard to Scotland. Officially triggering Article 50 starts a two-year countdown to the UK exit from the European Union.
The need for keeping the union with Scotland in tact was important enough for May to travel to Edinburgh to meet with First Minister Nicola Sturgeon. The two women discussed Brexit and how to keep Scotland inside the EU despite Britain’s decision to leave.
The new Prime Minister told reporters after the meeting at Bute House that the get-together with Sturgeon had been “very constructive and positive” and she made it clear that she wanted the Scottish government to be fully engaged in the discussions. May said she was willing to listen to different options brought forward by the Scottish government which has made it clear it intends to secure Scotland’s continued place in the EU after it voted overwhelmingly to remain in the 28-country bloc.
No New Options Proposed
Neither May nor Sturgeon spelt out specifically how the Scottish government would be involved in the process but it is known that SNP leader Ms Sturgeon has already begun preparatory work on a second independence referendum while studying various ways to prevent Scotland from leaving the EU.
The PM is adamant, however, that a re-run of the 2014 vote was not on the agenda saying “The Scottish people had their vote, they voted in 2014 and a very clear message came through. Both the United Kingdom and the Scottish Government said they would abide by that.”
Ms. Sturgeon responded by warning that the British government would not be able to block a referendum if it was demanded by the Scottish people.
Even before assuming her new position, May had vowed not to invoke Article 50 before the end of the year, vexing European leaders who want a quick exit to prevent destabilizing the rest of the EU and pro-Brexit voters who question her commitment to leave the international group. In fact, by proposing a common approach across England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland, May might just be increasing the possibility that formal Brexit negotiations will be delayed even further into the future than previously anticipated.
According to Laura Cram, professor of European politics at Edinburgh University, because of the “distinct” differences between the four UK countries, “if you are waiting for that to come together you may be waiting a long time.”