nn Theresa May has met Scotland's first minister as she prepares to formally trigger Article 50.
The prime minister has met Scotland's first
minister in a Glasgow hotel as she prepares to
formally trigger Article 50.
Theresa May and Nicola Sturgeon held talks for
about an hour during the prime minister's trip to
Scotland.
Ms Sturgeon said the talks were cordial but she
was "frustrated by a process that appears not to
be listening".
The prime minister had earlier repeated her
opposition to an independence referendum during
the Brexit process.
The Scottish Parliament is expected to back Ms
Sturgeon's call for a referendum on Tuesday.
All you need to know about Brexit
The first minister says a fresh vote is needed
ahead of Brexit to allow the people of Scotland to
choose which path to follow.
Mrs May has repeatedly said that "now is not the
time" for an independence referendum, but has
not ruled out one being held after the Brexit
process is complete.
Ahead of the meeting, the prime minister said
leaving the European Union would be an
opportunity to strengthen the ties between the
nations of the United Kingdom.
Ms Sturgeon later told BBC Scotland that she had
wished the prime minister well for the
forthcoming negotiations with the EU, which she
said the Scottish government wanted to play a
constructive part in.
But she said she had been frustrated that Mrs
May had not made any concessions over the first
minister's demands for a distinctive Brexit deal
for Scotland.
ANALYSIS
Brian Taylor, BBC Scotland political editor
The prime and first ministers do not see eye to
eye. Not out of badness but because they
disagree fundamentally and deeply about the
future of Scotland.
Such differences cannot be elided by a relatively
short chat in a Glasgow hotel.
There was symbolism surrounding all of the
prime minister's visit. Theresa May was out to
demonstrate that Scotland was a key part of her
thinking ahead of the triggering of Article 50 on
Wednesday, beginning the process of removing
Britain from the EU.
Read more from Brian here.
The first minister also said Mrs May had told her
that she expects the terms of the UK's future
relationship with the EU to become clear within
the next 18 to 24 months - within Ms Sturgeon's
timetable for an independence referendum.
Ms Sturgeon said: "I have said that I want people
in Scotland to have an informed choice when the
terms of Brexit are clear.
"She has confirmed to me today that that will be
in a period from autumn next year to the spring
of 2019. That would underline my view that is the
right timescale".
Mrs May, who will trigger Article 50 on
Wednesday, earlier told staff at the Department
for International Development (DFID) in East
Kilbride that she wanted Brexit to lead to a "more
united nation".
She pledged that leaving the EU would not mean
the UK "stepping back from the world", and
insisted she was aiming to build "a new
partnership with Europe" while taking the
opportunity to build "a more global Britain".
The prime minister added: "As Britain leaves the
European Union, and we forge a new role for
ourselves in the world, the strength and stability
of our Union will become even more important.
In an impassioned plea for the preservation of the
UK, she said the nations of the United Kingdom
were an "unstoppable force" when they acted
together.
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Mrs May - who did not take questions following
her 10-minute speech, which focused largely on
DFID's international aid work - also said the UK
was "a force for good, helping to build a better
future for everyone".
She added: "As we look to that future and as we
face this great national moment together, I hope
you will continue to play your part in the great
national effort we need to build the stronger
Britain, the fairer Britain, the more outward-
looking Britain and the more united Britain that I
am determined we should be once we emerge
from this period of national change."
Mrs May insists that there have been
"considerable discussions" with the Scottish
government and the UK's other devolved
administrations as she seeks to get the best
Brexit deal for the whole of the UK.
Six tests
And she has said that there are areas where the
UK and Scottish governments are in agreement,
such as workers' rights.
Mrs May was speaking as Labour outlined "six
tests" that will need to be met in order for it to
support any Brexit deal negotiated by the
government.
Downing Street had said that the talks between
Mrs May and Ms Sturgeon were for issues
surrounding the triggering of Article 50 - and not
the possibility of a second independence
referendum.
But Scottish government sources said ahead of
the meeting that the talks could not just focus on
Brexit.
Triggering Article 50 begins a two-year
negotiation process to attempt to reach a deal
before Britain officially leaves the EU in March
2019.
The government is also due to publish its Great
Repeal Bill, giving powers to amend some EU
laws, on Thursday.
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