May says won't trigger EU divorce until UK-wide approach agreed

[muriel_volestrangler]

14. It quotes José Manuel Garcia-Margallo from 2012, before the Scottish referendum, let alone

the EU one. What Rajoy says now is a lot more pertinent than what his foreign minister said 4 years ago, or 2 (if Rajoy goes, so will his foreign minister, of course).

I think it's a fantasy to expect Scottish independence before the UK leaves the EU, or even think it's achievable. Because the Tories don't want it, so they're not going to prioritise it, and it's even more complicated than leaving the EU. There are assets and liabilities to sort out; nationalities to determine; currencies to create, or share; and there's a time limit for leaving the EU, while a break-up of the UK will happen only as fast as the governments can agree to.

Professor Douglas-Scott thinks Scotland could negotiate with EU countries while the UK is negotiating exit; but the EU countries, not just Spain, are already saying they won't do that. Her problem is that they think "internal UK politics are a matter for the UK" and aren't going to start negotiations with one part of the UK while negotiating with the overall government.