:00:16. > :00:17.Hello and welcome to Politics Scotland.
:00:18. > :00:21.Coming up on the programme this afternoon: The fall-out
:00:22. > :00:26.The First Minister will update MSPs as she seeks to secure Scotland's
:00:27. > :00:36.Here at Westminster, the Prime Minister tells the SNP
:00:37. > :00:38.she won't be giving a "running commentary" on negotiations
:00:39. > :00:44.Thanks for joining us this afternoon.
:00:45. > :00:49.This afternoon, Nicola Sturgeon will explain more about her efforts
:00:50. > :00:52.to keep Scotland in the EU after a summer of shuttle diplomacy.
:00:53. > :00:55.But her opponents are criticising her for focussing,
:00:56. > :01:00.For more on this let's go live to Holyrood and to our political
:01:01. > :01:12.Good afternoon. What will be the burden of the First Minister's song
:01:13. > :01:16.this afternoon, Brian? Well, she is fulfilling a promise. She promised
:01:17. > :01:20.to up-to-date Parliament on the developments there have been. To
:01:21. > :01:25.frank there haven't been many developments. There has been process
:01:26. > :01:27.going on in the UK Government establishing the mechanism which
:01:28. > :01:31.which they will try and determine the UK position that they will put
:01:32. > :01:35.forward to negotiations. In Scotland we have the appointment of Mike
:01:36. > :01:38.Russell as the minister responsible for handling Scotland's Brexit
:01:39. > :01:43.negotiations. He is working on options for Scotland. He is also
:01:44. > :01:49.working on the impact that various elements of Brexit would have upon
:01:50. > :01:53.Scottish economies, Scottish farming, fishing, universities,
:01:54. > :01:57.etcetera. So she will try and bring Parliament up-to-date on that. She
:01:58. > :02:00.will announce the hope for a series of debates in Parliament on
:02:01. > :02:04.individual aspects of the Brexit decision, the Brexit outcome. It is
:02:05. > :02:10.likely, very likely indeed, that she will stress the point she made in an
:02:11. > :02:15.interview with me on Monday, on the BBC's Brexit Day Special, but the
:02:16. > :02:20.prime consideration remains full membership of the European single
:02:21. > :02:24.market. So it has been a summer of shuttle diplomacy. Her opponents are
:02:25. > :02:27.turning on her and criticising her for pushing independence as they see
:02:28. > :02:32.it? Yeah, they are. Two elements on that. Angus Robertson asked the
:02:33. > :02:38.Prime Minister about that topic. He asked her to confirm that her
:02:39. > :02:47.objective was full membership of the European single market. She
:02:48. > :02:52.side-stepped it not once, but twice. He tried again and she again said
:02:53. > :02:55.that was the position. That's something I'm sure that will be a
:02:56. > :02:58.setback to the SNP arguments, but you're right the counter point from
:02:59. > :03:02.opponents, both the Conservatives and Labour and others here in
:03:03. > :03:06.Holyrood is to say to the First Minister if Brexit is potentially
:03:07. > :03:10.confusing and chaotic and it is, they believe, then you only add to
:03:11. > :03:13.that by suggesting that there could be an independence referendum.
:03:14. > :03:18.Nicola Sturgeon is adamant that's down the line. She is right now at
:03:19. > :03:22.this point pursuing the advantages for scanned within the framework of
:03:23. > :03:23.the UK and within the framework of the UK negotiations. Brian, thank
:03:24. > :03:26.you very much for that. Now dealing with Brexit means
:03:27. > :03:29.all sorts of changes At Westminster, the House of Lords
:03:30. > :03:32.has been examining the future For more on this, let's
:03:33. > :03:36.cross to London and speak to our Westminster correspondent
:03:37. > :03:49.David Porter who has Andrew thank you very much. Yes, the
:03:50. > :03:54.House of Lords has begun its investigation into the impact of
:03:55. > :03:58.Brexit on the fishing industry and you won't be surprised when I tell
:03:59. > :04:03.you that's something that's being watched very closely in Scotland,
:04:04. > :04:16.the north-east Scotland. My guest, it is a man who is the Chief
:04:17. > :04:20.Executive of the Scottish fishermen's federation, Bertie
:04:21. > :04:25.Armstrong. You believe that the vote on 23rd June, it is a tre den dus
:04:26. > :04:30.opportunity for your industry, don't you? We have been characterising it
:04:31. > :04:33.as a sea of opportunity. Almost uniquely the opportunity for us, the
:04:34. > :04:37.prize for us, the potential prize for us if this is well handled is
:04:38. > :04:41.really very big. It is not an adjustment away from maybe to a
:04:42. > :04:46.slightly better circumstance, it is a sea change, the return of the best
:04:47. > :04:50.fishing grounds in the world to control of our country. That's
:04:51. > :04:55.really big if it is handled well. Are you confident that you will get
:04:56. > :05:00.the fishing grounds that you think you deserve in the negotiations
:05:01. > :05:04.because at the moment everything is up in the air, we don't really know
:05:05. > :05:08.what Brexit means? Yes, under international law, it is absolutely
:05:09. > :05:12.clear that we will have charge of the management and responsibilities
:05:13. > :05:19.for resource in our exclusive economic zone. This great, big patch
:05:20. > :05:25.200 miles. The crucial bit for us is how will that be managed? How will
:05:26. > :05:30.it be dealt with? There will be pressure from the other European
:05:31. > :05:34.nations who have been entitled to the common grazing in these grounds
:05:35. > :05:39.that. Will change and it is how that is handled. We are a small industry
:05:40. > :05:42.and that's why we have come out of the blocks charging to make sure
:05:43. > :05:45.that everyone who is making these decisions understands the size of
:05:46. > :05:49.the prize. You have been down here in London as well as appearing the
:05:50. > :05:54.House of Lords committee, you have been meeting Government ministers.
:05:55. > :06:00.Do they get what you would say is the opportunity? I hope they do. In
:06:01. > :06:03.fact, I believe they do, we met the Fisheries Minister yesterday and
:06:04. > :06:08.this morning, the Minister of State in the department for exit. And they
:06:09. > :06:13.understand what we're saying. Of course, it is very important we talk
:06:14. > :06:17.to them early, which we have done, in order that there is no dispute in
:06:18. > :06:21.their mind that no matter what decision making they take, the size
:06:22. > :06:24.of the prize is apparent to them. I think they understand that. We've
:06:25. > :06:33.written a detailed paper and we'll continue to do that. So we're at the
:06:34. > :06:37.start of the process rather than at the end. It raises a couple of
:06:38. > :06:41.questions if it is the opportunity you're talking of, A, will the
:06:42. > :06:47.industry be able to grab that opportunity? And are we in a few
:06:48. > :06:52.years time talking of the reanywayons, the rebirth of the
:06:53. > :06:58.Scottish fishing industry? To both of those a positive answer. We are
:06:59. > :07:02.most assuredly talking about the renaissance of the Scottish fishing
:07:03. > :07:08.industry. Remote bureaucratic distant management, under the CAP,
:07:09. > :07:12.not because we don't like laws, but that's unfit for purpose. That will
:07:13. > :07:15.lead to a rebirth and a renaissance in the Scottish fishing industry and
:07:16. > :07:19.we're very hopeful that that will be the case. Bertie Armstrong, thank
:07:20. > :07:23.you very much for joining us this afternoon. Somehow, I think, we will
:07:24. > :07:27.be discussing this topic a lot in the future and Andrew, it is fair to
:07:28. > :07:31.say that as with everything with Brexit, there is going to be a lot
:07:32. > :07:33.of hard talking and hard pounding ahead.
:07:34. > :07:36.David, thank you. Let s speak to the former
:07:37. > :07:38.political editor of the Sunday Post Campbell Gunn,
:07:39. > :07:48.who was until May, a special Good afternoon, Campbell. Let's pick
:07:49. > :07:55.up on what Bertie Armstrong was saying. There could be a renaissance
:07:56. > :08:01.of the Scottish fishing industry. It is interesting to hear from that
:08:02. > :08:06.industry just how they see Brexit as an opportunity? It will be
:08:07. > :08:10.interesting to see how important fishing ranks in the negotiations. I
:08:11. > :08:14.don't think in a UK sense that fishing will be very high up the
:08:15. > :08:19.priorities of Theresa May when she is doing the negotiations. It has to
:08:20. > :08:23.be said that the renaissance which is underway of the Scottish fishing
:08:24. > :08:27.industry is really due to EU rules which has put quotas on the amount
:08:28. > :08:33.that fishermen can catch in the past and that's resulted in a recovery of
:08:34. > :08:37.the stocks and a renaissance. The farming industry is maybe, not
:08:38. > :08:43.seeing it in that sense? Indeed, they are well supported by the EU
:08:44. > :08:49.and unlike the fishing industry, the farming industry are pro EU.
:08:50. > :08:52.We are going to hear from Nicola Sturgeon updating SNPs on Brexit.
:08:53. > :09:01.What are you expecting from her this afternoon? She will say nothing has
:09:02. > :09:11.changed since the day after the Brexit vote and on 24th June she
:09:12. > :09:16.said it was highly likely there would be legislation put in for
:09:17. > :09:21.this. She announced it yesterday. She will attack the other parties
:09:22. > :09:26.for their positions. We had David Davis having one position on the
:09:27. > :09:30.single market the other day and was slapped down by the First Minister's
:09:31. > :09:35.official spokesman who said that was not Government policy. So the other
:09:36. > :09:39.parties are in a bit of disarray over Brexit and she will highlight
:09:40. > :09:41.that. Campbell thank you very much for that.
:09:42. > :09:43.Let's cross to Holyrood now where the First Minister
:09:44. > :09:45.is updating MSPs on what she's calling her efforts to protect
:09:46. > :09:47.Scotland's relationship with the EU post-Brexit.
:09:48. > :09:55.She was on her feet there. The Presiding Officer is speaking. Just
:09:56. > :10:00.before our summer recess Parliament gave the Scottish Government a
:10:01. > :10:03.mandate to explore all options to protect Scotland's relationship with
:10:04. > :10:06.the European Union. Over the summer I've updated Parliament on two
:10:07. > :10:10.occasions in writing. Today, I will provide further information on our
:10:11. > :10:14.work on our priorities, and how we intend to involve Parliament as we
:10:15. > :10:18.move forward. Since the referendum, our first priority has been
:10:19. > :10:23.reassurance. That has included seeking to do everything we can to
:10:24. > :10:28.reassure non--UK EU citizens living here in Scotland. Let me say at the
:10:29. > :10:32.outseth I think it is a disgrace that the UK Government has not yet
:10:33. > :10:39.guaranteed the position of EU citizens and I call again today on
:10:40. > :10:41.the Prime Minister... APPLAUSE
:10:42. > :10:45.I call again today on the Prime Minister to do the right thing and
:10:46. > :10:49.stop using human beings as bargaining chips. We've taken
:10:50. > :10:54.targeted steps to support and promote economic stability. Last
:10:55. > :10:59.month I set out a ?100 million economic stimulus plan. Yesterday, I
:11:00. > :11:02.announced that a ?500 million Scottish growth scheme will form a
:11:03. > :11:08.central part of our programme for Government. In taking these steps we
:11:09. > :11:11.are acting on our obligation to mitigate the immediate effects of
:11:12. > :11:15.the referendum result and we will continue to do, but we have to be
:11:16. > :11:18.realistic about the long-term consequences of leaving the EU.
:11:19. > :11:23.Those who are complacently crowing that the sky hasn't fallen in on the
:11:24. > :11:29.economy would do well to remember that Brexit hasn't happened yet. It
:11:30. > :11:32.has not even started. The reality as every sensible economic commentator
:11:33. > :11:36.recognises is that leaving the EU will weaken the economy. The damage
:11:37. > :11:40.will be even deeper in, as all the signals suggest, the UK's heading
:11:41. > :11:47.for a hard Brexit outside the single market as well as outside the EU.
:11:48. > :11:51.Applying the Government's analysis to Scotland suggesting this could
:11:52. > :11:58.result in our GDP being more than ?10 billion lower than if we remain
:11:59. > :12:04.in the EU. The impact will be felt in jobs, and living standards. The
:12:05. > :12:10.G20 summit was a harsh reminder of the Brexit. The US made clear that
:12:11. > :12:14.there would be prerchal talks and the Japanese Government set out in
:12:15. > :12:18.detail the implications of leaving the single market. Turmoil in labour
:12:19. > :12:21.markets and damage to financial services and cuts to research and
:12:22. > :12:26.development investment. There is no doubt leaving the EU will be an
:12:27. > :12:30.extraordinary self inflicted blow to the UK's competitiveness and it will
:12:31. > :12:34.be compounded if the decision is to leave the single market as well.
:12:35. > :12:39.That is why it is so essential that we work to retain the benefits of
:12:40. > :12:44.our EU membership. Over the summer I set out the national interests that
:12:45. > :12:47.are at stake, our democratic and economic interests, our interests in
:12:48. > :12:51.social protection and solidarity and our interest in influencing the
:12:52. > :12:56.world we live in. As I said in the morning after the referendum, we are
:12:57. > :13:00.committed to pursuing all possible options to protect these interests.
:13:01. > :13:04.Of course, our ability to fully assess the different options will be
:13:05. > :13:07.constrained until we start to get some clarity about what the UK
:13:08. > :13:12.Government is seeking to achieve. And that's one of the many reasons
:13:13. > :13:17.why ten weeks on from the referendum it is so frustrating that the Tories
:13:18. > :13:22.are no further forward in setting out what Brexit actually means. What
:13:23. > :13:26.we have in place is a policy is a meaningless soundbite. Indeed the
:13:27. > :13:31.position of the UK Government became even more farcical this week when
:13:32. > :13:34.the only scrap of substantive detail that David Davis volunteered in a
:13:35. > :13:38.statement to the House of Commons was disallowed by the Prime
:13:39. > :13:41.Minister. A Prime Minister who then earlier today was unable or
:13:42. > :13:46.unwilling to answer the simple question, does she want to see the
:13:47. > :13:50.UK stay in the single market yes or no? However, Presiding Officer, as
:13:51. > :13:55.the position of the UK Government does take shape ahead of Article 50
:13:56. > :13:58.being triggered as surely it must, it is essential that Scotland's
:13:59. > :14:02.voice is heard. To that end we have been working hard over the summer in
:14:03. > :14:06.discussions with UK Government officials, and we continue to press
:14:07. > :14:09.for urgent clarification of how the UK will deliver on the Prime
:14:10. > :14:13.Minister's commitment to full involvement for Scotland. I hope to
:14:14. > :14:17.be able to confirm soon along with the UK and other devolved
:14:18. > :14:22.governments how this engagement will work in practise. The at the
:14:23. > :14:26.Parliament's approval of Mike ale Russell ensures we will have a
:14:27. > :14:31.dedicated minister leading for Scotland in this process and we are
:14:32. > :14:34.also working closely with the other devolved administrations, the Crown
:14:35. > :14:38.dependencies and the Government of grid bralter to make common cause
:14:39. > :14:42.where we can. Let be clear about this and it is a point that I have
:14:43. > :14:47.made directly to the UK Government. The Scottish Government will not be
:14:48. > :14:53.window-dressing in a talking shop to allow the UK Government to simply
:14:54. > :14:55.tick a box. We expect to have along with the other devolved
:14:56. > :15:00.administrations a role in decision making. We expect our engagement to
:15:01. > :15:03.be meanful. That was the commitment given by the Prime Minister and one
:15:04. > :15:13.that I'm sure this Parliament expects to see delivered in full.
:15:14. > :15:18.The approach we will take will be exactly as I set out on the morning
:15:19. > :15:22.after the referendum. We will pursue all options to protect Scotland's
:15:23. > :15:26.interests. Firstly, we will seek to use whatever influence we have to
:15:27. > :15:30.shape the best or more accurately the least bad outcome, not just for
:15:31. > :15:34.Scotland, but for the whole UK. In my view that does mean the UK
:15:35. > :15:38.continuing as a member of the single market. I accept that the Prime
:15:39. > :15:47.Minister has a mandate in England and Wales to leave the EU, but I do
:15:48. > :15:52.not accept she has a mandate to take any part of the UK out of the single
:15:53. > :15:56.market. Many leave campaigners said leaving the EU did not mean leaving
:15:57. > :16:00.the single market. I hope that all parties will back us as we make that
:16:01. > :16:05.case and I also hope that we can make common cause with others of
:16:06. > :16:10.like mind across the UK. Secondly, and regardless of the direction the
:16:11. > :16:14.UK Government decides it take, we will seek to find ways to protect
:16:15. > :16:18.Scotland's place in Europe and our vital national interests and embed
:16:19. > :16:23.them in the UK's negotiating strategy. Our council of experts met
:16:24. > :16:26.for the second time last week and is working on a spectrum of options to
:16:27. > :16:29.protect what matters. Most of Scotland and to consider the
:16:30. > :16:35.additional powers our Parliament would need to make them work. How
:16:36. > :16:41.can we protect the benefits to our businesses of the single market and
:16:42. > :16:45.free movement and how can we protect workers rights, the continued
:16:46. > :16:49.ability of our students to participate in the scheme and the
:16:50. > :16:51.enhanced security that comes from Europol and the European Arrest
:16:52. > :16:55.Warrant. As they are developed we will assess the options against the
:16:56. > :17:10.five key interests I set out in the summer.
:17:11. > :17:19.We intend to impose a series of parliamentary debates on issues like
:17:20. > :17:23.Brecht set, the economy, rural affairs and the environment. Giving
:17:24. > :17:27.all members the opportunity to have their say on the issues the Scottish
:17:28. > :17:30.Government should be prioritising as their discussions with the UK
:17:31. > :17:33.Government developed. We issued an open invitation to all party leaders
:17:34. > :17:37.on the options we should be proposing as part of this process.
:17:38. > :17:43.Russell and his officials will be happy to meet with them to discuss
:17:44. > :17:46.any decisions. We are determined to do everything, and examine every
:17:47. > :17:50.option to protect Scotland's interests. That must be the option
:17:51. > :17:55.to consider independence if it becomes clear our interests cannot
:17:56. > :18:01.be protected within the UK. To give up the right to even consider that
:18:02. > :18:05.option, to consider that we are at the mercy of Westminster decisions,
:18:06. > :18:10.no matter how damaging they are to our economy, the society and place
:18:11. > :18:13.in the world. That is not a position anyone with Scotland's best
:18:14. > :18:21.interests at heart should be able to accept. Presiding officer, our focus
:18:22. > :18:26.in the months ahead will be to positively focus the UK's
:18:27. > :18:31.negotiating decision after article 50 is triggered. We will continue to
:18:32. > :18:35.work for an awareness and understanding of Scotland's position
:18:36. > :18:40.across the EU and member states. I have had discussions with the
:18:41. > :18:44.presidents of the EU commission, and the parliament, the president of
:18:45. > :18:49.Malta, likely to hold the presidency when the article is triggered. The
:18:50. > :18:57.German Minister for Europe. I attended the extraordinary summit of
:18:58. > :19:01.the council. These discussions will continue in the weeks and months
:19:02. > :19:06.ahead. Citing officer, the circumstances we face are not of our
:19:07. > :19:13.making, and are not of the choosing of most of us in this chamber. The
:19:14. > :19:16.responsibility for uncertainty relies not with those seeking
:19:17. > :19:23.solutions, those who have most recklessly taking us to EU exit
:19:24. > :19:27.against our will. It is for all of us to seek to shape the response.
:19:28. > :19:33.The Scottish Government will lead the process, and we welcome the
:19:34. > :19:37.support, contribution and challenge Parliament. As we consider the best
:19:38. > :19:41.way forward, our reassurances this, our guiding bootable continues to be
:19:42. > :19:45.the best interests of the people of Scotland. Nicola Sturgeon speaking
:19:46. > :19:56.in parliament. The First Minister critical of the
:19:57. > :20:04.UK Government once again. Saying independence is an option to
:20:05. > :20:10.consider. As Scotland is at the mercy of Westminster's decisions. No
:20:11. > :20:15.change from the day after the Brecht set vote. Definitely leaving
:20:16. > :20:21.independence on the table. One of the interesting things, very strong,
:20:22. > :20:27.I'm sure she would not want to be drawing red lines. Sounded very much
:20:28. > :20:32.like the membership of the single market may be a red line, if that
:20:33. > :20:36.did not come about as part of the negotiations, that could be the
:20:37. > :20:43.signal for a trigger. Does sound like a red line. She had her five
:20:44. > :20:50.key tests. How Scotland must proceed in future turns in its relationship
:20:51. > :20:56.with the EU. If we do not join or stay in the single market, that will
:20:57. > :21:01.be the trigger. I don't know whether that is the case. It sounded a bit
:21:02. > :21:03.like that. She was highlighting and there was disarray within the
:21:04. > :21:10.Conservative Party on the single market between David Davis and the
:21:11. > :21:14.First Minister. We will look at this later, the Prime Minister was asked
:21:15. > :21:19.by Angus Robertson about the single market. Interesting to see that
:21:20. > :21:25.develop. The single market seems to be a major issue. It will be a major
:21:26. > :21:31.debating point, when she tries to negotiate a way out of Europe. Of
:21:32. > :21:35.course we may not be in the single market, a completely new
:21:36. > :21:40.relationship in some way. This is the whole point. We just don't know
:21:41. > :21:45.the outcome of the negotiations. And the timing of the negotiations. The
:21:46. > :21:50.triggering of article 50. Such a fluid situation. Because it is so
:21:51. > :21:55.fluid, we don't know about the triggering of the independence
:21:56. > :22:00.referendum. The First Minister will have to watch, wait and see.
:22:01. > :22:04.Listening to her, some people supporting the union, they may say
:22:05. > :22:09.you are talking about losing contact with all these institutions, people
:22:10. > :22:15.who are Unionists, they would say that would've happened if Scotland
:22:16. > :22:25.had become independent. Her argument will be that Scotland will be a
:22:26. > :22:31.member of the EU. If article 50 is triggered, she would have to go for
:22:32. > :22:32.an independence referendum, so negotiations were in parallel with
:22:33. > :22:33.the UK coming out. Yesterday, Nicola Sturgeon set
:22:34. > :22:35.out her programme for government which contained 14 Bills
:22:36. > :22:37.with a fifteenth in the making. She told MSPs her "defining mission"
:22:38. > :22:40.was education and she spelled out ways the government would close
:22:41. > :22:42.the attainment gap. But she also announced plans
:22:43. > :22:44.to boost Scotland's economy including a new ?500 million
:22:45. > :22:46.scheme for businesses. Let's hear more about what she had
:22:47. > :23:06.to say to parliament yesterday. We intend to use the strength of our
:23:07. > :23:09.balance sheet to establish a new Scottish growth scheme, worth up to
:23:10. > :23:14.half ?1 billion over the next three years. The scheme will be targeted
:23:15. > :23:20.at those with significant growth for export potential, that find it hard
:23:21. > :23:25.to access finance and the necessary scale. Guarantees or where
:23:26. > :23:29.appropriate loans of up to ?5 million for eligible business. The
:23:30. > :23:34.guarantees will appear in the balance sheet as contingent
:23:35. > :23:37.liability, and will not come from public services. It will help us to
:23:38. > :23:41.remove the uncertainty and risk that these high potential businesses face
:23:42. > :23:49.when making big investment or export decisions. This policy marks a
:23:50. > :23:53.departure from Scottish policy. Exceptional response to an
:23:54. > :23:57.exceptional challenge. I visited a new high school, one of 29 schools
:23:58. > :24:02.that will open in this academic year, as part of our skills for the
:24:03. > :24:07.future programme. Presiding Officer, these 29 new schools will take the
:24:08. > :24:13.total number built or refurbished in this government to more than 630.
:24:14. > :24:16.Presiding Officer, let me turn to what I have described as the
:24:17. > :24:22.defining mission of this government. Education. Our work to close the
:24:23. > :24:27.attainment gap starts in the early years. By the end of this
:24:28. > :24:33.Parliament, we will have doubled the amount of free care available to
:24:34. > :24:39.three and four year olds. A truly transformational investment. Not
:24:40. > :24:41.only benefiting children and families, but providing employment
:24:42. > :24:45.opportunities for 20,000 early years workers. Over the next year the
:24:46. > :24:51.detail of the delivery of this policy will take shape. We will
:24:52. > :24:55.publish a policy blueprint, setting out clear milestones for delivery
:24:56. > :25:00.right through to 2020. From January we will highlight different models
:25:01. > :25:06.from this commission. We will work with local authorities to deliver on
:25:07. > :25:10.our promise that by 2018, every nursery will benefit from an
:25:11. > :25:15.additional qualified teacher or childcare graduate. I want to ensure
:25:16. > :25:21.children get the best start in their early years matched by our work to
:25:22. > :25:25.improve attainment our schools. In the next year, as part of the
:25:26. > :25:29.Scottish attainment fund, we will invest an additional ?150 million in
:25:30. > :25:35.our schools, targeted at overcoming the impact of deprivation. ?100
:25:36. > :25:39.million will come directly from our reforms to council tax. The
:25:40. > :25:43.regulations giving effect to these changes will be laid in parliament
:25:44. > :25:48.this week. In additional investment will be matched by reform.
:25:49. > :25:53.Implementation of the national improvement framework is under way,
:25:54. > :25:57.standardised assessments, not tests, that will inform teacher judgments
:25:58. > :26:01.will be piloted by the end of the year. And implemented across
:26:02. > :26:06.Scotland next year. We will publish the first school by school
:26:07. > :26:10.information on the number of children meeting the curriculum for
:26:11. > :26:14.excellence by December. Telling us more accurately what the extent of
:26:15. > :26:19.the attainment gap is, and let us set clear targets for closing. Our
:26:20. > :26:25.reforms involve empowering teachers to do what they do best, teach. Last
:26:26. > :26:30.week John Swinney setup measures to reduce the unnecessary workload
:26:31. > :26:35.faced by teachers. He will publish the governance review next week,
:26:36. > :26:38.looking at system changes required to empower schools, and
:26:39. > :26:42.decentralised management. We will introduce the educational bill in
:26:43. > :26:48.the second year the session to implement any legislation. In March
:26:49. > :26:51.we will consult on a new fair and transparent funding formula for
:26:52. > :26:56.schools, to ensure that how we fund school is supporting our ambition
:26:57. > :27:01.for excellence and equity. I have said that I want to be judged on our
:27:02. > :27:04.attempts to narrow and close the education gap. We must not tolerate
:27:05. > :27:10.a situation where children from deprived areas do less well than
:27:11. > :27:15.those from affluent areas. Our work to ensure quality in education must
:27:16. > :27:19.extend well beyond the gates of nurseries, schools and universities.
:27:20. > :27:23.The new child poverty Bill is arguably the most important piece of
:27:24. > :27:28.legislation we will introduce this year. This bill will establish
:27:29. > :27:32.Scotland as the only part of the UK with statutory income targets on
:27:33. > :27:39.child poverty. Presiding Officer, let me turn briefly to the issue of
:27:40. > :27:44.the EU. 62% of those who voted in Scotland voted to remain part of the
:27:45. > :27:47.EU, that is why I'm determined to pursue all options to retain our
:27:48. > :27:53.place in Europe. I will update Parliament more fully tomorrow. To
:27:54. > :27:57.ensure all options are open to us, this programme for government makes
:27:58. > :28:01.clear we will consult on a draft referendum Bill, ready for immediate
:28:02. > :28:02.introduction if we conclude independence is the best and only
:28:03. > :28:06.way to protect Scotland's interests. Let's pick up on today's top stories
:28:07. > :28:09.with a quintet of MSPs at Holyrood. I'm joined by Christina
:28:10. > :28:11.McKelvie from the SNP, the Conservative Murdo Fraser,
:28:12. > :28:13.Monica Lennon from Labour, the Scottish Green co-convener
:28:14. > :28:15.Patrick Harvie and Alex Cole-Hamilton of the
:28:16. > :28:28.Liberal Democrats. Good afternoon to all of you. Thanks
:28:29. > :28:32.very much for joining me. Christina, we are hearing from the First
:28:33. > :28:35.Minister live in the chamber of short while ago, rolling out her
:28:36. > :28:53.post brings it up today. -- do you think the UK remaining in the
:28:54. > :28:57.EU would be a red line for Nicola? There are many questions to be
:28:58. > :29:04.asked, whether we are in the single market or not. The question is
:29:05. > :29:09.whether the Prime Minister and David Davis want to be in the single
:29:10. > :29:17.market. We could not get those questions answered in PMQs. We want
:29:18. > :29:29.to protect people's writes in Scotland, if that is what do. That
:29:30. > :29:33.is what people are criticising a party for, saying it is a Sherrard,
:29:34. > :29:37.she has eyes focused on another independence referendum? ?100
:29:38. > :29:44.million stimulus, the growth fund, and all of the plans put in place,
:29:45. > :29:49.to negotiate our position, in or out of Europe, very important indeed.
:29:50. > :29:53.That is where her focus is now. If that negotiation and focus does not
:29:54. > :29:58.give the best opportunities in outcomes for Scotland, we have to
:29:59. > :30:01.look at other opportunities. Many people in Scotland may say the SNP
:30:02. > :30:07.are right to look at other opportunities. You as the guarantors
:30:08. > :30:12.of the union have caused so much uncertainty in your party by having
:30:13. > :30:16.the EU referendum vote? I worry that every time I blow my nose Nicola
:30:17. > :30:21.Sturgeon will trigger another independence referendum. This is not
:30:22. > :30:25.a the interests of Scottish business, or the Scottish economy.
:30:26. > :30:30.It is about trying to engineer things so we can try and hold
:30:31. > :30:36.another independence referendum. Interesting how the First Minister
:30:37. > :30:40.has shifted on this. In the immediate aftermath of the Brexit
:30:41. > :30:44.vote, all about how we protect Scotland's place in the EU. Is there
:30:45. > :30:50.a special deal, reverse Greenland deal? That ground has been
:30:51. > :30:54.abandoned. Everybody has told her that is pie in the sky. She has
:30:55. > :30:59.shifted onto the idea of single market membership. I want to see
:31:00. > :31:03.Scottish businesses having the maximum opportunity to trade in
:31:04. > :31:10.Europe, exactly what the UK Government is trying to achieve at
:31:11. > :31:12.the moment. We don't have these negotiations by Nicola Sturgeon
:31:13. > :31:16.sniping from the sidelines as she is giving doing. You talk about
:31:17. > :31:21.shifting positions. Your premise that does not even have a position?
:31:22. > :31:25.Theresa May has made clear, she will not provide a running commentary on
:31:26. > :31:31.the negotiations with other EU nations. Of course there is not a
:31:32. > :31:33.commentary anyone professionally involved in negotiations, the last
:31:34. > :31:39.thing you do is declare your position, telling the world what
:31:40. > :31:43.cards you hold. That is easy for Nicola Sturgeon to stand on the
:31:44. > :31:48.sidelines, sniping and maiming. As she's so good at doing. Does not
:31:49. > :31:50.help get the best deal for British and Scottish businesses and
:31:51. > :31:56.consumers, what the Conservative government is able to do. Monaco,
:31:57. > :31:59.from Labour, a situation many in Labour did not want to see, looks
:32:00. > :32:04.like the Scottish Government are trying to boost the economy. The
:32:05. > :32:08.announcement of half ?1 billion of loans and guarantees available to
:32:09. > :32:11.small and medium Scottish businesses if they wanted. Surely you must pray
:32:12. > :32:17.the Scottish Government in that respect?
:32:18. > :32:25.First of all, I'm hoping that mower dock won't blow his nose in the next
:32:26. > :32:27.couple of minutes! Scottish Labour has been very supportive of Nicola
:32:28. > :32:31.Sturgeon and the Scottish Government's position on this and it
:32:32. > :32:34.is very important that Nicola does speak to governments across the
:32:35. > :32:37.world and we support that, but at the same time we are a little
:32:38. > :32:43.concerned at some of the language has been toned down over recent
:32:44. > :32:47.weeks. So we would like to know if the Scottish Government does have
:32:48. > :32:51.any legal advice and whether they will share that with us? We want to
:32:52. > :32:55.see Scotland retain its position within the EU, but the language has
:32:56. > :33:01.been watered down somewhat Would you agree about this single market issue
:33:02. > :33:06.being a red line? Would Labour want to see the UK reduce in the single
:33:07. > :33:10.market and would you perhaps go for, would your party, no one knows where
:33:11. > :33:15.your party is standing for at the moment, would your party go for an
:33:16. > :33:23.independence referendum? We're clear, we want to remain part of the
:33:24. > :33:29.UK and part of Europe, but we just have to keep this under a watching
:33:30. > :33:33.brief. In the meantime, we want to do more to retain confidence and
:33:34. > :33:36.show that Scotland is very much still open for business. That's why
:33:37. > :33:39.we would go further in terms of bringing forward investment so we
:33:40. > :33:43.can build 60,000 affordable homes over the next five years, these are
:33:44. > :33:48.our priorities in the next few weeks. Patrick hervey from the Green
:33:49. > :33:52.Party, your party was quiet on Friday when Nicola Sturgeon launched
:33:53. > :33:55.near new conversation on independence. Where are you standing
:33:56. > :33:58.on this? Of course, you wanted to stay in the European Union, how far
:33:59. > :34:02.would you welcome another independence referendum? Well, of
:34:03. > :34:08.course, the SNP launching their own party's plans is not something that
:34:09. > :34:12.other political parties would participate in. It is a data
:34:13. > :34:18.gathering exercise. It is about supporting their party machinery,
:34:19. > :34:25.not the cause of independence. Look, the reality is the majority, much as
:34:26. > :34:29.I disagreed vote no, but the majority also voted to remain and
:34:30. > :34:34.even if they hadn't been lied to in 2014 by those in the Better cap
:34:35. > :34:39.together campaign who said voting no was a way to secure our position in
:34:40. > :34:45.Europe. The people of Scotland voted no and then they voted remain and I
:34:46. > :34:48.regret the fact that those who voted for both unions or against both
:34:49. > :34:52.unions maybe forced to choose which is most important to them.
:34:53. > :34:55.Ultimately, no one can say that isn't the right of the Scottish
:34:56. > :35:00.people to make that choice on their own terms. I think it is entirely
:35:01. > :35:03.appropriate for us to try and achieve the strongest possible
:35:04. > :35:08.relationship that we can with the European Union and to me, a single
:35:09. > :35:12.market isn't just about trading in goods from companies, it is also
:35:13. > :35:16.about all of the social workplace and environmental protections that
:35:17. > :35:19.come with being truly part of a single market. If you are not free
:35:20. > :35:22.to decide where you want to sell your labour which is the most
:35:23. > :35:26.valuable thing that people have to trade in that market then that
:35:27. > :35:32.doesn't qualify as a single market. So there is a really serious job of
:35:33. > :35:34.work to be done of advocating for that, the strongest possible
:35:35. > :35:39.relationship we have. It is unclear what the Tories want and to Murdoch
:35:40. > :35:42.Frazer, it is not a case of trying to get people to put their cards on
:35:43. > :35:47.the table. We want the UK Government to tell the people of this country,
:35:48. > :35:50.what winning the game looks like. They won't tell us what they want to
:35:51. > :35:54.achieve in the negotiations, not necessarily what the other cards in
:35:55. > :35:57.their hand are. You hold the balance of power in that Parliament. I
:35:58. > :36:01.suppose Parliament has to have the position from the UK Government to
:36:02. > :36:06.hold another referendum, but that Referendum Bill that's been
:36:07. > :36:09.consulted on at the moment, I mean if you the SNP or the Scottish
:36:10. > :36:14.Government want that passed, it is down to the Greens to help them do
:36:15. > :36:16.it, when would you see the right point to have another independence
:36:17. > :36:20.referendum? I think everybody would regard it as too soon to say when
:36:21. > :36:24.that legislation might be introduced. It is right that it is
:36:25. > :36:28.being prepared because we don't want the window of opportunity to close.
:36:29. > :36:32.If we reach the point where Article 50 had been triggered, a year of
:36:33. > :36:36.negotiations then failed to deliver what's in Scotland's best interests,
:36:37. > :36:40.it would be too late at that point to start drafting legislation. So
:36:41. > :36:44.the groundwork needs to happen and our party conference we will be
:36:45. > :36:48.making decision where our members are in charge of our position on
:36:49. > :36:52.preparing the ground for a new independence referendum should that
:36:53. > :36:56.come. The Scottish Liberal Democrats, are you happy to hear a
:36:57. > :37:01.new draft Referendum Bill is being prepared? I'm certainly not. It is
:37:02. > :37:05.at times like these that the general public look to political classes for
:37:06. > :37:09.certainty and for clarity. We have had a profound absence of that both
:37:10. > :37:12.from the UK Government as to what Brexit means and to the Scottish
:37:13. > :37:16.Government. If you remember just two short years ago, we were promised
:37:17. > :37:19.that the referendum represented a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to
:37:20. > :37:22.separate from the rest of the UK, but here we are again, and with it
:37:23. > :37:26.comes all the uncertainty in the markets, in the economy, and for
:37:27. > :37:29.people who just live here and want to get on and see a Government
:37:30. > :37:32.delivering on public services which we are frankly not doing right now.
:37:33. > :37:36.Now, I think it is fair to say that most of the parties represented here
:37:37. > :37:39.support what Nicola Sturgeon has been saying in terms of clarity for
:37:40. > :37:45.EU citizens living in this country already. They deserve the support of
:37:46. > :37:48.the political classes to say their position is absolutely 100%
:37:49. > :37:52.guaranteed here, but over the summer, we have seen that cross
:37:53. > :37:57.party consensus eroded by Nicola Sturgeon who has been using Brexit
:37:58. > :38:00.as something of a Trojan horse for a second independence referendum in as
:38:01. > :38:03.far as the Lib Dems are concerned, we are absolutely stronger as part
:38:04. > :38:07.of the UK and as part of Europe and we're going to keep fighting for
:38:08. > :38:11.both those things. Actually, those who support the SNP would say hang
:38:12. > :38:14.on, there is a national consensus on the issue of a second independence
:38:15. > :38:18.referendum because it is a material change, they made it quite clear in
:38:19. > :38:23.their manifesto and Nicola Sturgeon, it looks like, is merely carrying
:38:24. > :38:29.out what the voters instructed her to do? Well, the voters didn't
:38:30. > :38:32.instruct her to do that because she didn't want a majority of the
:38:33. > :38:37.Scottish people. She is the biggest party? She maybe. We live in a
:38:38. > :38:45.Parliamentary democracy. It is up to her to form coalitions of like
:38:46. > :38:48.minded parties to get that through. The Liberal Democrats will oppose
:38:49. > :38:52.that. We don't believe the Scottish people are best served by another
:38:53. > :38:58.five years or sooner of uncertainty around the possibility of a second
:38:59. > :39:00.independence referendum. So we will fight tooth and nail.
:39:01. > :39:19.Thank you very much. Campbell, of course, lots of
:39:20. > :39:23.discussions to be had about just when that referendum could possibly
:39:24. > :39:29.be held and Nicola Sturgeon's strategy I suppose too? Yes, indeed,
:39:30. > :39:31.it was interesting to hear the Liberal Democrats spokesperson
:39:32. > :39:42.saying an elected Government should not implement its manifesto. That's
:39:43. > :39:48.a departure! No, this is single market is growing legs I think.
:39:49. > :39:52.Obviously it would appear that this is becoming almost a red line for
:39:53. > :39:59.the, if not for the Government, at least for many politicians and it is
:40:00. > :40:03.very unlikely as we've discussed that the UK Government will be able
:40:04. > :40:08.to implement this because I mean, even on their own side, having,
:40:09. > :40:14.being a member of the single market means free movement of people and
:40:15. > :40:17.many of the Brexit people, I mean, David Davis and Liam Fox, they were
:40:18. > :40:21.against the free movement of people, that was the whole point of the
:40:22. > :40:25.Brexit vote. They can't have it both ways. They can't have a single
:40:26. > :40:29.market without free movement of people and if that is not been
:40:30. > :40:36.negotiated by the UK Government, which I can't see how they can
:40:37. > :40:41.manage it, it makes an Independent referendum much more likely. Looking
:40:42. > :40:51.at it from prospective, what do you think she has
:40:52. > :41:02.to do in the Theresa May's case? It must be a 50/50 split within the
:41:03. > :41:06.Tories at Westminster for and against the Brexit. We don't know
:41:07. > :41:10.the timing. She said she is not going to give a running commentary.
:41:11. > :41:15.That's very well, but we have to, she has to set out per ram terse as
:41:16. > :41:19.to what she is looking for to gain support within her own party. She
:41:20. > :41:23.has been clear, there will not be a second general election. There will
:41:24. > :41:27.not be another referendum? Nor will there be a vote in Parliament to
:41:28. > :41:32.trigger Article 50. She says it a matter for her and her Government. I
:41:33. > :41:35.suppose looking at it from the Continental side, what do you think
:41:36. > :41:40.the other European Union states are making of this? There are big
:41:41. > :41:44.elections coming up in Germany next year and of course, the French will
:41:45. > :41:53.be looking at this too? Of course, the French one is very interesting,
:41:54. > :41:58.Marie Le Pen is very much a Brexit year and she has been praising the
:41:59. > :42:06.UK Government for the UK people for voting to leave. There is a ground
:42:07. > :42:09.swell of support throughout Europe for various countries, especially in
:42:10. > :42:14.France for leaving Europe, not a majority in the way there is in
:42:15. > :42:18.Britain, but it will be interesting throughout Europe. We might be
:42:19. > :42:23.looking at a very different European Union in the future? Indeed. The EU
:42:24. > :42:28.could split. We could be losing countries like Greece and Italy,
:42:29. > :42:31.Portugal, Spain, who knows? Campbell, thank you very much.
:42:32. > :42:34.The Prime Minster has said the Government will not be giving
:42:35. > :42:36.a running commentary on Brexit negotiations, stressing that talks
:42:37. > :42:41.In the first PMQ's since the summer break and more than two months
:42:42. > :42:43.after the EU referendum, Mrs May faced repeated questions
:42:44. > :42:45.about the UK's access to the European single market.
:42:46. > :42:55.Here's more of what happened in the House of Commons today.
:42:56. > :43:00.Mr Speaker, house building under this Government is 45,000 a year
:43:01. > :43:05.less than it was under the last Labour Government. The former Prime
:43:06. > :43:10.Minister promised that there would be a one for one replacement for
:43:11. > :43:15.every council house that is sold under Right to Buy. Sadly, the
:43:16. > :43:20.reality is that there is only one for every five that are sold. Will
:43:21. > :43:24.the Prime Minister give us a commitment on the one for one
:43:25. > :43:27.replacement and when it will be a reality? I have to say to the Right
:43:28. > :43:31.Honourable gentleman that actually in relation to the figures on
:43:32. > :43:35.council houses, he's wrong. We have delivered on the one for one
:43:36. > :43:41.replacement on the Right to Buy. But I was... I'm very interested because
:43:42. > :43:43.I did notice that the Right Honourable gentleman had asked all
:43:44. > :43:48.his Twitter followers what questions he should ask me this week. So I
:43:49. > :43:54.thought I would look to see what sort of responses he had received. I
:43:55. > :43:57.have to say that the first one was quite good. In fact, he might want
:43:58. > :44:02.to make sure he stays sitting down for this. Lewis writes, "Does she
:44:03. > :44:08.know that in a recent poll on who would make a better Prime Minister,
:44:09. > :44:13.don't know scored higher than Jeremy Corbyn." Mr Speaker, what we do know
:44:14. > :44:16.is that whoever wins the Labour Party leadership, we are not going
:44:17. > :44:22.to let them anywhere near power again. There is very real concern
:44:23. > :44:25.and worry about the prospects of Brexit especially in Scotland where
:44:26. > :44:31.the majority of people voted to remain within the European Union.
:44:32. > :44:39.The UK Government has had all summer to come up with a plan, to come up
:44:40. > :44:43.with a strategy, so far we have just had waffle, does she want the UK to
:44:44. > :44:49.remain fully within the European single market? What I want for the
:44:50. > :44:52.UK is that we put into place, into practise, the vote that was taken by
:44:53. > :44:58.the UK people of the United Kingdom to leave the European Union. That we
:44:59. > :45:01.get the right deal for the trade in goods and services with the European
:45:02. > :45:05.Union in a new relationship that we will be building with them and that
:45:06. > :45:08.we also introduce control of the movement of people from the European
:45:09. > :45:11.Union into the United Kingdom and I say to the Right Honourable
:45:12. > :45:16.gentleman, that we can approach the vote that took place on 23rd June in
:45:17. > :45:19.two-ways. We could try and row back on it, we can have a second
:45:20. > :45:23.referendum, we could say, we didn't really believe it. Actually, we are
:45:24. > :45:31.respecting the views of the British people. But more than that. More
:45:32. > :45:33.than that. We will be seizing the opportunities that leaving the
:45:34. > :45:37.European Union now gives us to forge a new role for the United Kingdom in
:45:38. > :45:40.the world. Mr Speaker, the European single
:45:41. > :45:44.market is the biggest market in the world and it really matters to our
:45:45. > :45:49.businesses and it really matters to our economy. I ask the Prime
:45:50. > :45:54.Minister a very, very simple question - there is either an in or
:45:55. > :46:00.an out answer. So let me ask it again. Does she want the United
:46:01. > :46:05.Kingdom to remain fully part of the European single market? Yes or no?
:46:06. > :46:12.The Right Honourable gentleman doesn't seem to quite understand
:46:13. > :46:17.what the vote on 23rd June was about. The United Kingdom will leave
:46:18. > :46:23.the European Union and we will build a new relationship with the European
:46:24. > :46:27.Union. That new relationship will include control of the moft from the
:46:28. > :46:31.EU into the UK and it will include the right deal for trade in goods
:46:32. > :46:36.and services. That is how to approach it and I also say this to
:46:37. > :46:40.the Right Honourable gentleman, in looking at negotiations, it would
:46:41. > :46:42.not be right for me or this Government to give a running
:46:43. > :46:59.commentary on xherksz. Order, just as I said the right
:47:00. > :47:04.honourable gentleman must be heard, the Prime Minister'sanswer must be
:47:05. > :47:07.heard. It would not be right to prejudge negotiations. We must seize
:47:08. > :47:18.opportunities for growth and prosperity across the United Kingdom
:47:19. > :47:20.including Scotland. What gives growth and prosperity in Scotland is
:47:21. > :47:21.being a member of the United Kingdom.
:47:22. > :47:24.Well, what kind of reaction did that get from Westminster's
:47:25. > :47:27.Our correspondent David Porter is on College Green
:47:28. > :47:40.Thank you, would not be College Green without a siren going off.
:47:41. > :47:44.Prime Minister's Questions, perhaps not Prime Minister'sanswers. Let me
:47:45. > :47:52.introduce you to my two guests, Kevin Schofield, and Kate Derian.
:47:53. > :47:57.Not surprising that they said she was not going to give a running
:47:58. > :48:02.commentary on Brexit. She does not know what form the negotiations will
:48:03. > :48:06.take. Early days, the government are keen to stress they have been doing
:48:07. > :48:10.a lot of hard work since the referendum. All departments getting
:48:11. > :48:16.plans in place before the talks begin in earnest next year. Safety
:48:17. > :48:21.say we are in the very early stages, she does not have all that much to
:48:22. > :48:27.say right now. We will have to wait and see how it plays out in the
:48:28. > :48:30.first quarter of next year. She can perhaps in political terms get away
:48:31. > :48:33.with it, we're looking at everything, I am considering
:48:34. > :48:40.everything. The pressure will grow as time goes on. She has captured
:48:41. > :48:45.very interestingly, she is trying to give herself a bit every war room.
:48:46. > :48:50.She is saying loose lips cost lives. Let's not give away our hand.
:48:51. > :48:57.Especially to the people we will be negotiating against. I will not give
:48:58. > :49:00.a running commentary. Code for I am not going to be telling the French
:49:01. > :49:05.and Germans everything we want to get out of the negotiations. The
:49:06. > :49:11.problem she has, one facing increasing pressure already. I agree
:49:12. > :49:15.with what Kevin is saying, early days, but there is growing public
:49:16. > :49:19.pressure to find out what she's thinking and what the negotiation
:49:20. > :49:26.may be. Importantly for Theresa May, she is facing pressure from the
:49:27. > :49:32.people behind her, and they have very different ideas about what
:49:33. > :49:36.Brexit is. The SNP saying our euphoria against the single market.
:49:37. > :49:41.In light of the comments made by David Davis, the Brexit secretary,
:49:42. > :49:44.where he said it is unlikely Britain would remain part of the single
:49:45. > :49:50.market. Lo and behold, Downing Street slapped him down. It was a
:49:51. > :49:55.fairly brutal slapping down from Downing Street. Not something you
:49:56. > :49:59.would expect quite so early in this kind of administration, when Theresa
:50:00. > :50:03.May is trying to keep an awful lot of different opinions onside. She
:50:04. > :50:07.clearly felt David Davis has gone too far by suggesting they probably
:50:08. > :50:14.would not be part of the single market. Something that a lot of Tory
:50:15. > :50:23.backbenchers want answers on on both sides. Some want to say, someone to
:50:24. > :50:27.-- some want us to leave. Theresa May is the key figure, the Prime
:50:28. > :50:32.Minister, she cannot tell us what the strategy is. On the other side
:50:33. > :50:38.of the Commons, confusion about where labour stands? Jeremy Corbyn's
:50:39. > :50:43.people were briefing as they always do after Prime Minister's Questions.
:50:44. > :50:47.They were asked explicitly does Jeremy Corbyn back Britain remaining
:50:48. > :50:57.part of the single market, massive part of the discussions. The source,
:50:58. > :51:01.as we must call him, repeatedly asked, and he would not say whether
:51:02. > :51:05.they support the single market. As far as Labour MPs are concerned,
:51:06. > :51:10.passionately pro-European Union, very controversial. One said that
:51:11. > :51:15.the mask has slipped. There is a very strong suspicion and not
:51:16. > :51:20.stronger than that, that Jeremy Corbyn is not exactly heartbroken
:51:21. > :51:25.week left the European Union from his heart was not in it. This is him
:51:26. > :51:30.showing his true Eurosceptic colours. He is in the middle of a
:51:31. > :51:38.leadership campaign. A challenge from Owen Smith. How do you assess
:51:39. > :51:42.the way that is going? Is it a foregone conclusion come the 24th of
:51:43. > :51:47.September that Jeremy Corbyn will still lead the Labour Party? It is
:51:48. > :51:53.as close to a foregone conclusion as you can say. The Owen Smith camp are
:51:54. > :51:59.still putting a reasonably brave face on it, saying it is closer than
:52:00. > :52:03.the polls suggest. A poll in the Times, putting Jeremy Corbyn 24
:52:04. > :52:06.points in front. Even if they are little doubt, they are never 24
:52:07. > :52:13.points out. Jeremy Corbyn will still be Labour leader on the 25th of
:52:14. > :52:17.September. Again the Labour MPs will have to ask themselves, how do they
:52:18. > :52:22.play it? Three quarters of them do not like the man, do not wanting to
:52:23. > :52:26.be a leader, believe he will lead them to disaster at the next general
:52:27. > :52:31.election. Interesting how they chase that rabbit in the future. We could
:52:32. > :52:38.have a situation, come the 25th of September and the Jeremy Corbyn may
:52:39. > :52:43.be returned with an even bigger majority. That could happen. What do
:52:44. > :52:49.Labour MPs do? Three quarters have said they do not want him as leader?
:52:50. > :52:54.That could happen, part of what we're seeing is a scorched earth
:52:55. > :53:00.policy. We have seen Owen Smith, and the GMB union throw everything they
:53:01. > :53:04.have against Jeremy Corbyn. Accusations he will leave a
:53:05. > :53:09.generation without a home. Making fun of his energy policies, leaving
:53:10. > :53:15.people without heating and power. There is a real strategy to try to
:53:16. > :53:22.appeal to swing voters, union members. To vote against Jeremy, to
:53:23. > :53:27.try, as you say, make sure he does not have a higher mandate than this
:53:28. > :53:31.time last year. Maybe within that they can be pressure put on him that
:53:32. > :53:36.he will have to try and change his ways. Whether that will happen or
:53:37. > :53:43.not, remains to be seen. If that happens, Kevin, as Kate is alluding
:53:44. > :53:49.to, in Labour Party turns, not going to be pretty? Not going to be
:53:50. > :53:54.pretty. Many MPs saying if we do not getting this time, we will try next
:53:55. > :53:58.year. This could be an annual occurrence. They underestimated
:53:59. > :54:04.Jeremy Corbyn. They thought the wave of resignations would force him to
:54:05. > :54:08.quit. That is not happen, he was boosted by John McDonnell, he seems
:54:09. > :54:15.to be enjoying it. This is his dream. In charge of the party,
:54:16. > :54:18.reshaping the party on a hard left agenda, they will not give it up
:54:19. > :54:23.without a fight. Thank you for joining me this afternoon. I will
:54:24. > :54:24.leave you with that thought it could become an annual occurrence,
:54:25. > :54:29.leaderships for the Labour party? Campbell Gunn has some final
:54:30. > :54:41.thoughts this afternoon. Picking up on what Kevin was talking
:54:42. > :54:46.about, Jeremy Corbyn from one source saying his mask slipped when it came
:54:47. > :54:51.to his love of the single market, not particularly keen European. I
:54:52. > :54:56.don't think he is. That has been proved over the past few weeks. As a
:54:57. > :55:02.former adviser, I wonder who is advising Jeremy Corbyn. The first
:55:03. > :55:08.Prime Minister's Question Time, one issue all summer, Brexit, and he
:55:09. > :55:12.went on rented accommodation. Angus Robertson asked the question that
:55:13. > :55:15.Jeremy Corbyn should've asked. You could see the backbenchers behind
:55:16. > :55:24.Jeremy Corbyn more or less agree with that. They been aghast when he
:55:25. > :55:30.gave his question. Only one question to ask, and that was Brexit. Housing
:55:31. > :55:35.is an important issue to many people, does not get media traction.
:55:36. > :55:41.You saw on the interviews, the one question David was asking the
:55:42. > :55:46.journalists from Westminster was about Brexit, the questions the SNP
:55:47. > :55:51.asked, that Labour should have asked. As David was pointing out, we
:55:52. > :55:55.could see an annual Labour leadership challenge. Looks like
:55:56. > :56:01.that Jeremy Corbyn will actually win this leadership election. As Kevin
:56:02. > :56:05.Schofield said, as near an odds-on certainty as you can find investing.
:56:06. > :56:11.The backbenchers would be happy about it, they will try again next
:56:12. > :56:16.year. What happens in the meantime. If he does win, the morning of the
:56:17. > :56:21.25th of September, how do the Labour MPs play the game. You have the
:56:22. > :56:29.party out there, you have voted against Jeremy Corbyn. I don't think
:56:30. > :56:34.a split will happen. He may have trouble forming a front bench. With
:56:35. > :56:39.opposition spokespeople. So few people he can choose from. People
:56:40. > :56:44.pointing out, so few people, people start to look at the capability of
:56:45. > :56:51.the people he has available. He only has one Scottish MP, not a fan of Mr
:56:52. > :56:56.Corbyn. He will have to have a shadow Scottish Secretary. From an
:56:57. > :57:04.English constituency. Absolute nightmare. Music to the ears of
:57:05. > :57:09.Theresa May. She could've been a lot more trouble over Brexit, whether it
:57:10. > :57:15.not for the fact that Labour were in such disarray. Election in 2020. I
:57:16. > :57:20.think she would coast it. Join us for First Minister's
:57:21. > :57:22.Questions tomorrow on BBC We'll be back at the same
:57:23. > :57:28.time next Wednesday.