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STURGEON WARNED: Scotland will be at ‘BACK OF QUEUE’ for EU place if it quits UK

SCOTLAND will be left at the “back of the queue” for membership of the European Union if Nicola Sturgeon pushes ahead with her plans to break away from the UK, MEPs have warned.

The fledgling independent state would join the queue behind Montenegro, Serbia, Bosnia Herzegovina and Turkey.Esteban Gonzalez Pons, who leads Spain’s biggest MEPs group, dismissed the SNP’s position that Scotland would automatically remain in the EU if it quit the UK before .

Esteban Gonzalez Pons and Nicola SturgeonGETTY

Esteban Gonzalez Pons said an independent Scotland would be behind Turkey

And he repeated his previous warnings that Scotland would not be allowed to secure a stand-alone deal which would allow it to stay in the single market after as part of the UK.The leading MEP added: “The EU has to find solutions for all their member states, not finding partial solutions. If the UK leaves the single market, then Scotland will also be outside of the single market.

Esteban Gonzalez PonsGETTY

Esteban Gonzalez Pons said Scotland would not automatically remain in the EU

He added: “If once the UK leaves, and Scotland decides to leave the UK, then you can join the queue after Montenegro, Serbia, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Turkey to join the EU.“Rules are the rules. We cannot change the rules. We have to stick to the rules.”

Mr Gonzalez Pons added Brussels could only have dialogue with the UK Government and the European Parliament cannot interfere in Britain’s internal affairs.

SNP Fiona HylsopGETTY

SNP’s Fiona Hylsop begged for “solidarity” with Scotland

Although he does not speak on behalf of the Spanish government, he has previously said his view mirrored that of Spain’s ruling People’s Party (PP), which is headed by Spanish Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy.But Fiona Hyslop claimed “flexibility” on border controls in Northern Ireland was proof there is “no good reason” for Scotland not to get a similar agreement.

Addressing the European Parliament in Brussels on Monday, the Scottish parliament’s External Affairs Secretary appealed for “solidarity” with European leaders.

If the UK leaves the single market, then Scotland will also be outside of the single market.

Spanish MEP Esteban Gonzalez Pons

She said: “In the turbulent and unpredictable months ahead, I ask you, respectfully, members of the European Parliament, as the elected body representing all EU citizens, please do not turn your back on Scotland.“Now is the time to demonstrate your solidarity with a nation which voted overwhelmingly to remain within the European Union.”

According to a poll published on Monday, more than half of Scottish people do not want another vote on independence to be held within the next few years.

Nicola Sturgeon clutching her brexit planGETTY

Nicola Sturgeon has pledged to hold a second independence referendum

The Panelbase survey of 1,020 voters for the Sunday Times found 51 per cent are not supportive of a second referendum within the next two years.But Ms Sturgeon has said another vote is highly likely after the UK voted to leave the despite a majority vote to remain north of the border.

However the poll found support for a second independence referendum had plumetted – falling from 43 per cent following the vote last June to just 27 per cent.

http://www.express.co.uk/news/uk/761302/Brexit-independent-Scotland-back-of-queue-European-Union-membership-SNP
Posted on 31st January 2017 by . This entry was posted in Brexit. Bookmark the permalink.

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