British Prime Minister Theresa May has used her Glasgow trip
to issue more warnings to the Nicola Sturgeon regarding her push for second
independence referendum for Scotland, due to the PM’s resolve to forcefully
take the Scottish people out of the EU single market after they massively voted
to remain the union during the June 23 EU referendum.
During her speech, the PM stated urged the Scottish First
Minister to stop politicising Brexit, even as she blamed the Scottish National
Party (SNP) of "twisting the truth to further their obsession of
independence".
While speaking during at the Scottish Tory conference in
Glasgow, the Prime Minister stressed that "politics is not a game"
and also find guilty the Scottish National Party's record in government on
education.
Saying "A tunnel vision nationalism, which focuses only
on independence at any cost, sells Scotland short".
"People in Scotland deserve a first minister who is
focused on their priorities - raising standards in education, taking care of
the health service, reforming criminal justice, helping the economy prosper, and
improving people's lives."
However the first minister had already hit back, claiming
her attempts to reach a Brexit compromise had been met by a "brick wall of
Tory intransigence".
The latest clash between Mrs May and Ms Sturgeon comes as
the first minister is expected to proclaim plans for another independence
referendum when the PM triggers Article 50 for the UK to leave the EU later
this month.
Mrs May claims it is "very clear" that people in
Scotland do not want another vote on independence, but has so far not said
whether she will grant permission for it if the Scottish Parliament calls for
another referendum.
In her speech, she issued a strong defence of the Union:
"We are four nations, but at heart we are one people.
"That solidarity is the essence of our United Kingdom
and is the surest safeguard of its future."
Saying that the UK domestic market was worth four times more
to Scottish firms, with the EU coming in third after the rest of the UK and the
rest of the world as a market for Scottish goods.
She stressed saying "And yet the SNP propose Scottish
independence, which would wrench Scotland out of its biggest market."
According to Mrs May, she is resolute to attain a Brexit
deal which "works for all parts of the UK - England, Scotland, Wales and
Northern Ireland - and for the United Kingdom as a whole".
She said further that: "I am confident about the future
of our United Kingdom and optimistic about what we can achieve together as a
country.
"There is no economic case for breaking up the United
Kingdom, or of loosening the ties which bind us together."
On the other hand, Alex Salmond condemned the address as
"arrogant and high-handed" and accused Mrs May's government of being
"consumed with Brexit".
Saying that while Scotland had its full share of challenges
in public services, they were "performing much better" than those in
England.
He also warned that if Mrs May were to reject Mrs Sturgeon's
attempts to reach a Brexit compromise then a second Scottish independence
referendum "becomes odds-on", adding: "And the odds are
shortening by the day".
"The days of Scotland being lectured to by high-handed
prime ministers at Westminster, these days are over," he said.
"Theresa May better become accustomed to that new
reality very quickly or she'll be facing an independence referendum in
Scotland," he added.
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