Nicola Sturgeon demands PM's 'clarity' on Brexit transition
The First Minister is using a letter to Theresa May to call for "absolute clarity" over plans for an interim exit arrangement.
Friday 27 October 2017 16:45, UK
Nicola Sturgeon has written to Theresa May to demand the Prime Minister urgently offers "clear assurances" over a Brexit transition period.
The Scottish First Minister told Mrs May that her aim of agreeing an interim arrangement as Britain leaves the EU has been "seriously undermined".
Ms Sturgeon highlighted the Prime Minister's comments to the House of Commons this week, in which Mrs May appeared to suggest a transition deal could only be agreed once the terms of Britain's future relationship are known.
In her letter, the SNP leader called for "absolute clarity" that the Government is "urgently seeking" a transition arrangement of "at least" two years and that ministers are aiming to strike a deal on an interim period by the end of the year.
Ms Sturgeon also wants Mrs May to declare such a deal will be based on current EU rules as a "steady state transition" and an interim arrangement will not be conditional on a final agreement on Britain's future relationship with the EU.
The First Minister added she is "increasingly concerned" Brexit negotiations may end with no agreement between the UK and EU.
Ms Sturgeon told the Prime Minister: "No Brexit would be preferable to no deal - or indeed a bad deal."
In a no deal scenario, Ms Sturgeon demanded the Scottish Parliament must have its own say.
Brexit Secretary David Davis offered a clarification of Mrs May's remarks later this week, .
The Government has been warned businesses need certainty over an interim Brexit deal by the end of March next year - 12 months before Britain's scheduled departure from the EU - otherwise they could begin to put in place contingency plans and possibly move jobs abroad.
Downing Street confirmed Ms Sturgeon's letter had been received and would be replied to "thoroughly" in due course.
Meanwhile, Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn voiced his opposition to a second referendum on Britain's EU membership once the shape of a Brexit deal is known, claiming the issue should be dealt with by MPs.
Speaking to London Mayor Sadiq Khan on LBC Radio, Mr Corbyn said: "The idea of a second referendum is something that many people want but many are very concerned about because they don't think it would actually solve the issue.
"I think that the issue has to be dealt with by negotiation and by a meaningful vote in Parliament on what it is.
"We are in the middle of an Article 50 process, therefore we have declared we are leaving the EU."
Mr Khan has previously suggested a second EU vote could be held if Parliament rejects the final Brexit deal, as that possibility would open up "a whole host of questions".