As the scheduled date to trigger
Article draws closer, British Prime Minster Theresa May has finalised plans to
visit Scotland to issue caveat to Scotland First Minister Nicola Sturgeon not
to politicise Brexit, and blast the SNP of their poor record on education.
While making her speech at the Scottish
Tory conference in Glasgow, the Prime Minister will say "politics is not a
game" and blame the SNP of neglecting schools because of its preoccupation
with independence.
Nevertheless, in a swift reaction,
Nicola Sturgeon hit back, as she said several efforts being put by her
government to reach a Brexit compromise have 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 announce plans for a
second independence referendum when the Prime Minister triggers Article 50 for
the UK to leave the EU later this month.
According to Mrs May 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.
During her Glasgow speech, she
will expected to say that: "My first visit as Prime Minister was here to
Scotland. I wanted to make clear that strengthening and sustaining the bonds
that unite us is a personal priority for me.
"I am confident about the
future of our United Kingdom and optimistic about what we can achieve together
as a country."
On the other hand in an attack on
public services, she will say Scotland's schools are "outperformed in
every category" by those in England, Northern Ireland, Estonia and Poland.
"As Prime Minister of the
United Kingdom, I am just as concerned that young people in Dundee get a good
start in life and receive the education they need to reach their full potential
as I am about young people in Doncaster and Dartford," she will say.
"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."
"The SNP's neglect and
mismanagement of Scottish education has been a scandal," she will add.
In an interview ahead of her
speech, Mrs May said: "To me, politics isn't a game. Politics is about
people's lives, it's about delivering on the issues that really matter to them
on a day-to-day basis.
"I can't help but feel that
the SNP has a tunnel vision about independence. Actually I think what people
want is for the SNP government to get on with dealing with the issues they want
to see addressed on a day-to-day basis.
"Issues like the state of the
economy, reforming schools - education used to be such a great flagship for
Scotland, but sadly in recent years we have seen that deteriorating."
Also speaking ahead of the Prime
Minister's speech, Ms Sturgeon stated that: "The Scottish Government's
approach since the EU referendum has been to offer compromise and to seek consensus
at every turn. In return the UK Government's has so far been one of obstinacy
and intransigence.
"Where we have spoken the
language of consensus and co-operation, theirs has been the language of
Westminster diktat.
"Where we have been prepared
to offer a solution short of our ideal outcome, they have refused to seriously
engage.
"And where we have offered
compromise, we have been met by a brick wall of Tory intransigence.
"The Prime Minister spoke
last July of not triggering Article 50 until there was 'a UK approach and
objectives' - but has subsequently proceeded towards the triggering by
signalling a hard Brexit outside the single market without any agreement or
significant consultation with Scotland or the other devolved governments.
"Her government has no
mandate in Scotland, and no democratic basis to take us out of Europe and the
single market against our will."
In the meantime the Labour Part,
has published the amendment to the Government's Article 50 Bill that peers will
debate in the House of Lords next Tuesday, when Michael Heseltine has vowed to
lead a Tory rebellion.
It reads: "Insert the
following new clause - Parliamentary approval for the outcome of negotiations
with the European Union":
·
The Prime Minister may not conclude an agreement
with the European Union under Article 50 (2) of the Treaty on European Union on
the terms of the UK's withdrawal from the EU without the approval of both
Houses of Parliament.
·
Such approval shall be required before the
European Parliament debates and votes on that agreement.
·
The prior approval of both Houses of Parliament
shall also be required in relation to an agreement on the future relationship
of the UK with the EU.
·
The prior approval of both Houses of Parliament
shall also be required in relation to any decision by the Prime Minister that
the UK shall leave the EU without an agreement as to the applicable terms.
The new clause is expected to be
backed by the Lords, after another amendment on protecting EU citizens living
in the UK after Brexit was passed with a majority of 102 this week.
The stage is now set for
Parliamentary "ping pong" between the Commons and the Lords, but the
Government insists it will still meet its deadline of triggering Article 50 by
the end of March.
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