Nicola Sturgeon’s pursuit of a separate Brexit deal for Scotland is doomed to failure, according to the Welsh First Minister.
Carwyn Jones, who hosted a summit for British Isles leaders yesterday, said he couldn’t envisage how Scotland might stay in the EU if the rest of the UK left, without creating a hard border with England.
Ms Sturgeon is looking at options to protect Scotland’s EU status, including securing special European single market access for Scotland, convincing the UK to pursue a “soft” Brexit from Brussels or a Scottish breakaway from the UK.
Speaking after the British-Irish Council meeting, the SNP leader argued retaining single market access was the “least worst outcome” after the Brexit vote.
Ms Sturgeon said she shared a similar position to Mr Jones, who wants the UK to continue to have “full and unfettered access”.
Earlier, Mr Jones told the BBC that he could not see how a unique Brexit deal for Scotland would work.
He maintained there was “no other way” to deal with different market access arrangements between Scotland and the rest of the UK other than with customs posts at the border.
Wales voted alongside England to Leave the EU, while Scotland and Northern Ireland backed the Remain case.
Ms Sturgeon said after the summit: “Both Scotland and Wales have spoken loud and clear. Single market status is simply the only way to protect the economy, not only of Scotland and Wales respectively, but the UK as a whole.
“Anything else risks us falling off a hard-Brexit cliff edge, and we are united in our call to ensure the UK Government does all it can to ensure that happens.”
The meeting, which was held near Cardiff, focused on Brexit and was attended by Irish Taoiseach Enda Kenny and the leaders of devolved administrations.
But Theresa May faced criticism from Ms Sturgeon and Northern Ireland’s Deputy First Minister Martin McGuinness for her no-show.
When asked if the Prime Minister should have been there, UK government Northern Ireland Secretary James Brokenshire said: “The Prime Minister strongly supports the British Irish Council, that’s why you had two Cabinet ministers and two other ministers here today strongly representing the UK government’s perspective.”
Mr Brokenshire added his government would look at all options for a UK-wide Brexit deal.