Stewart Paterson 

Political Correspondent

NICOLA Sturgeon said she left a meeting with Theresa May over Brexit “deeply frustrated” by the UK Government’s stance.

The First Minister met the Prime Minister with leaders of the Northern Ireland and Welsh assemblies seeking clarity on how the UK will negotiate its way out of the European Union.

With Theresa May insisting that the UK will leave Europe together, Ms Sturgeon said she was no further forward in understanding the UK Government’s aims or approach.

Glasgow Times:

Ms Sturgeon has called for Scotland to be allowed to stay in the single market even in the UK does not, because Scots voted to remain.

She has raised the possibility of calling a second independence referendum if that does not happen.

Mrs May however, said the UK’s union would be strengthened by the Brexit process.

After the meeting the Prime Minister said: “Working together, the nations of the United Kingdom will make a success of leaving the European Union and we will further strengthen our own unique and enduring union as we do so.

“The great union between us has been the cornerstone of our prosperity in the past and it is absolutely vital to our success in the future.

“The country is facing a negotiation of tremendous importance and it is imperative that the devolved administrations play their part in making it work.”

“We have important work to do for the UK in terms of negotiating a smooth exit from the EU and getting the best possible deal for the whole of the UK.

“The UK has chosen to leave the EU and we’re going to make a success of it.”

Ms Sturgeon however was not impressed and said she was far from happy with the outcome of the meeting.

She said: “We had a frank exchange of views. I don’t mind admitting large parts of the meeting were deeply frustrating.

“I don’t know any more now about the UK Government’s approach to the EU negotiations than I did before I went in to the meeting.

“I can’t speak for the other devolved administrations but I think there was a degree of frustration shared by all of us about that.”

“We are hearing the words that she will consider options like that but so far those words are not matched by substance or action.”

It was agreed at the meeting a new cross-nations forum on Brexit talks will be set up, to be chaired by UK Brexit secretary David Davis.