24/06/2016 Reporting Scotland

in the spirit of the warm, humane and generous values that are the

best of Britain. Hello and good morning

from Scotland, which woke to the news that while voters

here said they wanted to stay in the European Union,

the UK as a whole voted to leave. 62% of Scots voted for Remain,

with 38% voting to leave. Nicola Sturgeon said that Scotland

delivered a strong vote to remain in the EU.

This is the scene Ne attribute House.

The UK wide vote was 48% for remaining and 52%

While we wait for that media conference from the First Minister,

let's remind ourselves of what the Prime Minister said

We must prepare for a negotiation with the European Union. This will

involve, the Scottish, Welsh, and the Northern Ireland governments to

ensure that the interests of all parts of the United Kingdom are

protected and advanced. But above all, this will require strong,

determined and committed leadership. Scottish labour's leader, Kezia

Dugdale has been speaking to Political Correspondents, Glen

Campbell. Here is her reaction. It is significant. A strong Remain

vote. Edinburgh, 75%. So we have a It is significant. A strong Remain

complex result. 1.6 million Scots voted to remain in the EU. 18 months

ago 2 million of them wanted to stay within the United Kingdom. So we

have to keep the heed, some calm time now, a chance to breathe.

Consider what this mean force the future of the United Kingdom and

indeed the jobs and the opportunities reflected upon that.

We are about to hear from the First Minister, Nicola Sturgeon as Bute

House. Our Political Correspondent, Andrew Kerr is there.

Nicola Sturgeon will be coming into the room shortly. This was the room

where Alex Salmond resigned, a very different political scenario. Today,

the First Minister here, very defiant after that vote, after that

result. She's been saying that the people of Scotland see their future

as part of the European Union. How might that work out? Well, the

former First Minister, Alex Salmond has been quick to suggest that the

manifesto commitments will be implemented and a second

independence referendum could be possible. We are to hear from the

First Minister shortly. We are seeing what she will be talking

about. Perhaps asking, asserting the right for Scotland to have new

powers, the powers under the so-called section 30 order for

Scotland to have that, those powers to hold another independence

referendum. Of course, Holyrood does not have institutional powers to

hold a referendum, those have to be granted from Westminster. We are

about to hear from the First Minister. She is walking into the

room just now. Let's hear from Nicola Sturgeon.

Good morning. Thank you all very much for joining me this morning

after a long night and a long few months for all of us.

Yesterday Scotland, like London and Northern Ireland, voted

overwhelmingly to remain in the European Union. We voted to protect

our place in the world's biggest single market and the jobs and

investment that depend on it. We voted to safeguard our freedom to

travel, live, work and study in other European countries, and we

voted to renew our reputation as an outward looking, open and inclusive

country. It is significant, in my view, that we did so after a

campaign that was positive about the EU, and about the benefits of

migration. Indeed, I want to take the opportunity this morning to

speak directly to citizens of other European countries living here in

Scotland - you remain welcome here, Scotland is your home and your

contribution is valued. Unfortunately, of course,

yesterday's result in Scotland was not echoed across the whole of the

United Kingdom. The UK-wide vote to leave the EU is

one that I deeply regret. It remains my passionate belief it is better

for all parts of the UK to be members of the European Union.

But the vote across England and Wales was a rejection of the EU, it

was a sign of die vergence between Scotland and large parts of the rest

of the UK and how we see our place in the world. But the vote was not

just about the EU but a clear expression of the disaffection with

the political system felt in too many communities. Communities taken

for granted by Labour for generations and punished with

austerity cuts by the Tories for a financial crisis they did not cause,

using this referendum to make their voice heard. The Westminster

establishment has some serious soul-searching to do, I hope very

much that it now does it. But as First Minister of Scotland, I

have a duty to respond, not just to But as First Minister of Scotland, I

the outcome across the UK but also and in particular to the democratic

decision take been I the people of Scotland. As things stand, Scotland

faces the prospect of being taken out of the EU against our will. I

regard that as democratically unacceptable.

Of course, we face that prospect less than two years after being told

it was our own referendum on independence that would end our

membership of the European Union, and that only a rejection of

independence could protect it. Indeed for many people, the supposed

guarantee of remaining in the EU was a driver in our decision to vote to

stay within the UK. So there is no doubt that

yesterday's result represents a significant and a material change of

the circumstances in which Scotland voted against independence in 2014.

My job now is to act responsible, voted against independence in 2014.

and in the interests of ALL of Scotland, and that is what I intend

to do. The Cabinet are to meet tomorrow morning to discuss our next

steps in more detail but I want to set out now immediate priorities.

Firstly, we have a job to do to provide as much reassurance and

certainty as we can. I spoke a short while 50 to the governor of the Bank

of England to discuss plans to reissue the markets and restore

financial stability. Starting this afternoon, the ministers will be

engaged in discussions with key stake holders, especially in the

business community to emphasise that as of now we are still firmly in the

EU, trade and business continue as normal. We are determined that

Scotland will continue now and in the future to be an attractive and a

stable place to do business. Our resilience committee to meet this

afternoon to oversee the immediate actions.

Secondly, I want to make it absolutely clear today that I intend

to take all possible steps and explore all options to give effect

to how people in Scotland voted. In other words, to secure our

continuing place in the EU and in the single market in particular.

To that end I have made clear to the Prime Minister this morning that the

Scottish Government must be fully and directly involved in any and all

decisions about the next steps that the UK Government intends to take.

We also be seeking direct discussions with the EU institutions

and its Member States including the earliest possible meeting with the

President of the European Commission. I will be communicating

over this weekend with each EU member state to make clear that

Scotland has voted to stay in the EU. I intend to discuss all options

for doing so. I should say I have also spoken this

morning with Mayor Sadiq Khan, he is clear he shares the objective for

London, so there is a clear common cause between us. The discussions

that take place over the coming days and weeks will be led by government

but I seek the support and ensure the involvement of the Scottish

Parliament each step of the way and intend to speak to all-party leaders

today and to make a full statement to the chamber on Tuesday. Also to

make a further statement following the meeting of the Scottish Cabinet.

Lastly, let me address the issue of a second independence referendum -

the manifesto that the SNP was elected on last month said this: The

Scottish Parliament should have the right to hold another referendum. If

there is a significant and a material change in the circumstances

that prevailed in 2014, such as Scotland being taken out of the EU

against our will. Scotland does now face that prospect. It is a

significant and a material change in the circumstances and it is

therefore a statement of the obvious, that the option of a second

referendum must be on the table and it is on the table.

Clearly, though, there are many discussions to be had before a final

decision can be taken. It would not be right to rush to judgment ahead

of discussions on how Scotland's result will be responded to by the

EU. However, when the Article 50 process is triggered in three

months' time, the UK will be on a two-year path to the EU exit door.

If Parliament judges a second referendum is the best or the only

way to protect our place in Europe, it must have the option to hold one

within that timescale. That means we must act now to

protect that position. I can therefore confirm today that

in order to protect that position we will be begin to prepare the

legislation that would be required to enable a new independence

referendum to take place, if and when Parliament so decides.

To conclude this, this is not a situation that I wanted Scotland or

the UK to be in today. My responsibility in a climate of

uncertainty, is to seek to lead us forward with purpose. I know that

there is a lot of thinking and talking to be done in the period

that lies ahead and before final decisions are taken. The issues that

we face are complex. There are many people who voted against

independence in 2014, who are today reassessing their decision. Indeed,

a very large number of them have contacted me already.

However, I know that they will not want me to simply assume their

support or to hear me talk about the challenges that we face if they are

straightforward, they will want me be to straight and honest with them.

Now is the time for me as the First Minister to do everything I can to

bring people together in common cause, and to seek to lead our

country forward as one. The need to act decisively must be

tempered with the need to build consensus, it will be, that is my

duty as First Minister. After a campaign characterised in the rest

of the UK by fear and hate, my priority in the days, the weeks and

the months ahead are to act at all times in the best interests of

Scotland, in a way that unites, not to divide us. Let me be clear about

this, whatever apts as a result of this outcome, England, Wales and

Northern Ireland will be Scotland's closest neighbours and our best

friends, nothing will ever change that but I want to leave no-one in

any doubt about this - I ham proud of Scotland and how we voted

yesterday. We prove proved we are a modern, outward looking and open

country, we said clearly we do not want to leave the European Union. I

am determined that we will do what it takes to make sure that these

aspirations are realised. In closing, let me just say a word

or two about the Prime Minister, David Cameron and I have very many

political disagreements, not least over the conduct of this referendum.

But as I am learning, every single day, leadership is not easy. David

has been the Prime Minister of the UK for six years, it is a tough job.

Whatever our disagreements, he deserves our thanks for his service.

I wish him and his family well for the future.

These comments now, I am happy to take questions.

What other options are available to you if not an independence

referendum? I think the independence referendum is highly likely but I

think it is important to take time to consider all the steps and to

have the discussions, not least to assess the response of the European

Union, to the vote that Scotland expressed yesterday.

I am absolutely determined in my responsibility to give effect to how

Scotland voted yesterday and it is important that I take all steps to

ensure we explore the options to do that.

If that independence referendum, that you say is highly likely, will

about go ahead with or without the consent of Westminster? I think in

the circumstances with the Scottish Parliament deciding -- if the

Scottish Parliament decides that is an option they want exercising, I

think it would be inconceivable that the UK Government would seek to

stand in its way. But these are some of the discussions we would be

seeking to have in some of the days and weeks ahead. Peter. Vote-macro

you so you want Scotland to remain in the EU, and that you are likely

to propose a referendum. The rest of the UK will be out of the EU; that

must mean a proper, real border between Scotland and England.

These are issues we have to consider calmly and rationally, that is why I

have said very, very clearly today that I am not going to stand here

and return to anybody that the issues we face are straightforward.

We face very complicated issues which is another reason why in

addition to being determined about giving effect to how Scotland voted,

I am going to take the time to make sure that all of Scotland considers

all these issues and has the chance to move forward as one. That is of

the art most -- utmost importance. Are you confident that in the

potential turmoil that could follow Brexit, those are circumstances that

Scotland will want to vote for independence? Can I say, I don't

want to see turmoil affecting any part of the United Kingdom. I

believe the decision taken yesterday across the UK was the wrong

decision, a mistake, but I hope very much that some of the that we had

about it or not realised because it would not be in the interests of

anybody in the UK they are. But I'm not sure that is not more in hope

than expectation. But it is exactly because of the uncertainty and

potential turmoil that we face that I think it is in my responsibility

to seek to bring Scotland together, to lead Scotland forward, into a

position that allows us to continue with the stability and certainty

that membership of the EU gives us. I'm not saying these issues are

straightforward, but I do think that is the responsibility and the

opportunity that lies before us. Presumably you don't want to risk

losing another referendum. You will call it when the polls tell you you

are almost certain to win it. What level of support do you need at the

are almost certain to win it. What polls? My guiding visible in every

decision I take over the -- over these next few weeks will be what I

consider to be in the best interests of Scotland. That is the

responsibility and that is how I will guide every decision I take.

You have just said that the vote shows Scotland is forward looking.

Our England and Wales backward looking? This was a decision taken

democratically after much consideration. It is a decision I

deeply disagreed with, but I said during the campaign that I believed

it was important to protect our position in the EU and in the wider

world as an outward looking, inclusive country, I think that's

what voted -- Scotland voted for yesterday. One more question.

Article 50, your predecessor said he thinks it is crucial that you stage

a second referendum within two to two and a half years, before the UK

leads the EU. Do you agree with him? Parliament would have to have the

opportunity to hold a referendum if Parliament decides to do that within

the timescale triggered by an article 50 process, that is why I

said today that we will begin the preparations to make sure that

position is protected, obviously from the Scottish Parliament we know

this from past experience, for the Scottish Parliament to have that

ability to hold a referendum, a legislative process has to be

undertaken, that takes time, and that is why that process to protect

their position as to begin now otherwise that option may close down

for the Scottish Parliament. Thank you very much for your attendance

this morning. That was the First Minister Nicola

Sturgeon, giving her reaction to the EU referendum vote.

Our business and economy editor Douglas Fraser is here.

We will be discussing some more of this in detail in just a minute.

Andrew care is in Bute House. -- Andrew Kerr. It -- Nicola

Sturgeon said it was highly likely a second referendum could take place,

and she was saying -- suggesting she was preparing legislation for it to

take place, saying that IndyRef to those on the table following that

vote last night. This was a significant and material change in

circumstances, it had been laid out in the SNP's manifesto, and in fact

Alex Salmond had said it was quite certain that it should take place

actually within two years of that Article 50 being put into place,

essentially when the UK begins those negotiations to leave in the autumn,

under a new Prime Minister, the UK has two years before it actually

leaves the European Union, an independence referendum would

probably have to take place within that time frame. Nicola Sturgeon was

saying it was the wrong decision, and she was saying she wanted to

play a role in uniting communities, and saying Europeans here in

Scotland are of course very welcome. and saying Europeans here in

Back to you in the studio. I'm joined now by Douglas Fraser.

Douglas, a second independence referendum must be and is on the

table? Yes, we are back again, it was said in September 2014

Everything has changed utterly, well, it has changed utterly again.

And partly, in Scotland -- in terms of Scotland, it is the momentum that

came out of having lost the referendum that the pro-independence

movement has kept the pressure on, it thinks it may have lost that

battle but there is a war still to be one. And these are precisely the

circumstances that have been talked about for quite some time, of

Scotland decisively voting to stay within the EU, the rest of the UK,

well, England and Wales and particularly, voting decisively it

seems to get out, creating a great deal of uncertainty, a lot of things

do not change, a lot of volatility in the market spot an awful lot is

not changing straightaway. People are worried about the position for

their travel abroad, people who are foreign nationals working in the UK,

things don't change straightaway. But something to add here, a

statement that's come through from the three institutions in Brussels

which are the key institutions, the Commission, the Council of ministers

and the parliament, regretting the decision. They want talks with the

UK Government to start swiftly, however painful they might be. Any

delay would unnecessarily prolonged uncertainty. Meanwhile, the UK

remains a member of the EU, and they UK will always be a close partner,

they add. But the pressure is coming from Brussels to say "Get on with

this, we don't want to delay this because it creates uncertainty for

us." And indeed there has been discussions and comment already from

the Parliament in Berlin, about Scotland's position. The

parliamentary leader either of the social Democrats saying that

Scotland could not simply replace the UK position within the EU, but

it would be warmly welcomed if it were independent. So all of this is

no influx. And there are additional convocations, because the notion of

risk which we've talked about ahead of the referendum in September 2014

has changed significantly. -- additional convocations. There is

now a risk to the economy for the UK, given that it is now negotiating

this very significant constitutional change. There is an expectation that

growth will fall very rapidly, we may be into recession, because

investment confidence is likely to fall fairly fast, consumer

confidence likewise. And they recession's not a good time to have

a referendum, that's good -- got to be a thing in the mind of the

Scottish Cabinet when it meets tomorrow. And the border, the Tweed

and achieve Yates, if Scotland were to become independent, that becomes

a border in the EU. -- Cheviots. So many repercussions, but many calls

today for calm. Angela Merkel's just spoken of the need for calm,

although she also said she regretted the vote. Nicola Sturgeon mentioned

it as well, the need for business in particular in Scotland to carry on

as normal. Yes, business was very clearly in favour of remain. Some

voices were relieved, but the majority of opinion, particularly

international trading business was in favour of remain, and they will

be very unhappy. But they are almost all saying, well, we deal with

change, we will have to address this. We can work our way through

this, and we look to the governments, the institutions in

Brussels, the Bank of England, to ensure that there is financial,

monetary stability. And to give us the time to adapt. I mean,

everybody's making the point that there is time, things do not have to

be rushed, whatever pressure there is from Brussels to get on with

this. What happens now, the dreaded question? Nicola Sturgeon has spoken

of the -- of wanting to negotiate herself with Europe. Yes, and David

Cameron said the devolved administrations in Edinburgh,

Cardiff and Belfast will all play a significant part in the talks. Which

was probably a wise thing to do in terms of placating the rest of the

UK, and also leaving his successor a complication that David Cameron

might himself not have been that happy with. But yes, they will enter

into talks. It becomes an enormously complex negotiation between these

different administrations, including London we are hearing of course, the

new mayor wants to get involved as well, and 27 members of the EU and

the institutions within Brussels, doing something that is

do this before, with the added copy do this before, with the added copy

-- convocation that Nicola Sturgeon sounds pretty determined to

recognise the majority of Scots wanting to stay in the EU. -- the

added complication. That creates a hairy -- a whole new debate to be

had, she needs to create a new policy of what independence would

now mean. She will need to draw up some kind of replacement for the

White Paper, Scotland's people, that there was in 2014.

There's continuing coverage of the referendum throughout the day.

I'll be back with Reporting Scotland at the later time of 1.45.

Until then from everyone on the team here in the studio in Glasgow

and at the outside broadcast in Edinburgh, have

MPs. He would stand a chance of making the short list. If he

delivered 70 million votes for Leave, he