Scotland's Sturgeon Slams May's Statement On No-Deal Brexit Preparations As 'Dreadful'

MOSCOW (UrduPoint News / Sputnik - 21st September, 2018) First Minister of Scotland Nicola Sturgeon on Friday blasted UK Prime Minister Theresa May's announcement on London continuing preparations for a no-deal Brexit and noted that "the only remotely workable way" is for the United Kingdom to stay in the Single Market and the Customs Union.

Earlier in the day, May said that no-deal in the divorce between London and Brussels is highly likely as the European Union's rejection of the Chequers Brexit plan has led the sides into an "impasse." The prime minister noted that Brussels' options for the United Kingdom - either staying in the European Economic Area and the Customs Union or a basic free trade agreement with Northern Ireland remaining in the Customs Union - are completely unacceptable for London.

"PM [May's] statement was dreadful. The EU view was bluntly expressed yesterday but not new - she just hasn't been listening.

If her tactic now is to double down on the Chequers dead duck, and then blame EU for a no deal, she will do huge damage to all those she is supposed to serve," Sturgeon wrote on Twitter.

There is no other option for London in Brexit than to stay both in the Single Market and the Customs Union, the Scottish minister underlined.

"If PM not prepared to do that, Brexit shouldn't happen. 'No deal' or 'no detail' Brexit simply not acceptable - especially for Scotland, where we did not vote for this," Sturgeon stressed.

According to the Chequers plan, adopted by the UK cabinet in July, London and Brussels could create a free trade area for goods and maintain a "common rulebook" for all goods. The European Union, however, rejected the proposal as undermining the single market.