Prime Minister to visit Scotland and underline commitment to ‘preserving this special union’

The new United Kingdom Prime Minister Theresa May met First Minister of Scotland Nicola Sturgeon on the 15 July 2016 in Edinburgh.

Less than 48 hours after becoming Prime Minister Mrs May emphasised her strong personal support for the Union. The Prime Minister also affirmed the government’s commitment to fully engaging with the Scottish Government in the forthcoming negotiations about the UK’s exit from the European Union.

After the meeting First Minister Nicola Sturgeon said 'I was very pleased that Theresa May said that she was absolutely willing to consider any options that the Scottish Government now brings forward to secure Scotland’s relationship with the European Union. The process that is now taken forward by the UK Government will be open and flexible and the Scottish Government will be fully involved in that'.

• Primary Source

ESO: Background information: The EU Referendum, 23 June 2016. The United Kingdom and the European Union. The results - Scotland - Reaction to EU referendum result http://www.europeansources.info/record/the-eu-referendum-23-june-2016-the-united-kingdom-and-the-european-union-the-results-scotland-reaction-to-eu-referendum-result/

ESO: In Focus: Brexit - The United Kingdom and the European Union http://www.europeansources.info/record/brexit-the-united-kingdom-and-the-european-union/

EUObserver, 15.07.16: Scottish MEP: 'Independence not our first option' https://euobserver.com/uk-referendum/134359

Scotland: Government: News, 15.07.16: First Minister meets the Prime Minister http://news.scotland.gov.uk/News/First-Minister-meets-the-Prime-Minister-2706.aspx

BBC News, 15.07.16: Brexit: PM is 'willing to listen to options' on Scotland http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-scotland-politics-36800536

The Guardian, 15.07.16: May tells Sturgeon Holyrood will be 'fully engaged' in EU talks https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2016/jul/15/theresa-may-nicola-sturgeon-holyrood-article-50-decision

Politico, 15.07.16: Theresa May delays Brexit until ‘UK approach’ agreed with Scotland http://www.politico.eu/article/theresa-may-delays-brexit-until-uk-approach-agreed-with-scotland-membership-of-eu/

EurActiv, 15.07.16: May suggests Article 50 will wait until full ‘UK approach’ agreed http://www.euractiv.com/section/uk-europe/news/may-suggests-article-50-will-wait-until-full-uk-approach-agreed/

Deutsche Welle, 15.07.16: In Scotland, May says only agreed 'UK approach' to trigger EU exit http://dw.com/p/1JPZ3

openDemocracy: Can Europe Make It?, 27.06.16: Scotland and the EU post-Brexit – independent Scotland in the EU or outside with the UK? https://www.opendemocracy.net/uk/kirsty-hughes/scotland-and-eu-post-brexit-independent-scotland-in-eu-or-outside-with-uk

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