Nicola Sturgeon says Scotland could block UK’s exit from the EU

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Scottish First Minister Nicola Sturgeon has said Scotland could effectively veto the UK’s departure from the EU.

Speaking after Thursday’s referendum to leave the EU, which saw 52 percent of the UK overall vote to leave, and 48 percent vote to stay, Ms Sturgeon suggested that Holyrood could block the legislative process required to leave the EU.

Ms Sturgeon spoke on the Sunday Politics programme to say “of course” she wouldn’t hesitate to ask MSPs to refuse to give “legislative consent” to measures to leave the EU.

She was asked what the Scottish Parliament would do now.

“The issue you are talking about is would there have to be a legislative consent motion or motions for the legislation that extricates the UK from the European Union?

“Looking at it from a logical perspective, I find it hard to believe that there wouldn’t be that requirement – I suspect that the UK government will take a very different view on that and we’ll have to see where that discussion ends up.”

The SNP holds 63 seats out of 129 in Holyrood.

The Scottish leader said “of course” she would consider asking the Parliament not to give the “consent” to leave.

Ms Sturgeon added: “If the Scottish Parliament was judging this on the basis of what’s right for Scotland then the option of saying look we’re not to vote for something that’s against Scotland’s interest, of course that’s got to be on the table.”

Ms Sturgeon yesterday said her country will go into talks “immediately” with EU member states and EU agencies, with a view to maintaining EU membership.

Despite not mentioning a referendum on Scottish independence which she yesterday said was “highly likely”,Ms Sturgeon said she would have “immediate” discussions on Scotland’s continued membership of the EU.

A petition for the UK to hold a second referendum on EU membership has now passed three million signatures.

Before the referendum took place, Ms Sturgeon told PinkNews why she thought the UK should remain members of the EU.

“One of the reasons why I think it’s important to stay in the EU is around social and employment rights that the EU has introduced and protected.

“I think different countries will take their own decisions on things, we touched on some of that already, but, it’s important there is a sort of common understanding of rights across the European Union.

“I think that membership of the EU guarantees that.”

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