FX.co ★ Britain faces hard Brexit

Theresa May is preparing for a final round of Brexit talks with the leaders of Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland, before the triggering of Article 50. The prime minister has warned her counterparts that they can have no veto over the process.

Previously, the first ministers of Scotland and Wales, Nicola Sturgeon and Carwyn Jones, said that they cannot accept a hard Brexit with no full access to the EU’s single market. May told them this would not happen.

“We will not agree on everything, but that doesn’t mean we will shy away from the necessary conversations and I hope we will have further constructive discussions,” May stressed.

According to the UK supreme court ruling, Theresa May needs to wait the vote of MPs on triggering Article 50. At the same time, the judge’s decision supposes that Wales and Scotland cannot veto the process.

Speaking at the Cardiff meeting, First Minister of Scotland Nicola Sturgeon said that May was ignoring Scotland’s wish to maintain access to the single market.

“It is becoming clearer with every day that passes that the UK government is determined to pursue a hard Brexit and I am determined to do all I can to protect Scotland from the devastating impact that would have,” Sturgeon said.