Theresa May will not allow Nicola Sturgeon to veto her Brexit deal, Downing Street has declared.
The first minister insisted she was in a “strong position” to shape negotiations during a round of television interviews over the weekend, but stopped short of claiming any ability to halt a deal to take the UK out of the European Union.
David Davis, the so-called Brexit Minister, played down the influence of the Scottish Government on negotiations but No 10 was more conciliatory – despite confirming Ms May would be the one to ultimately take any decision.
A senior source said: “The matter of fact is the PM said she wants to come to a UK-wide decision.
“The ideal aim is to reach agreement with all the devolved administrations.
“The relationship will be the same way that Dundee and Glasgow did not have a veto in the independence referendum but the people were consulted.”
Ms Sturgeon said on Sunday that a failure to maintain Scotland’s EU membership could lead to a second independence referendum as early as next year.
Meanwhile, Ms May said she has had “very constructive” talks with Wales’s first minister during her first visit to the principality since becoming PM.
She was greeted by the First Minister Carwyn Jones on the Senedd steps before discussing post-Brexit Britain and the uncertainty around Tata steelworks.
Ms May said: “The Union is very important to me and I’m pleased to visit Wales so early in my premiership.
“I’ve had a very constructive meeting with the first minister and we’ve been talking about a number of issues – including the
United Kingdom leaving the EU.”
Prior to Mrs May’s visit, Mr Jones admitted he admitted he knew “very little” about the new Tory leader – but hoped she would be able to deliver an improved devolution settlement.
But Leanne Wood, leader of Plaid Cymru, the official opposition in the Welsh Assembly, said Scotland had a “much better” devolution deal than Wales and it was “vital the Welsh Government now commands the respect of the new prime minister in the same way”.
