At First Minister’s Questions, Scottish Conservative leader Ruth Davidson pointed out Scotland exports £48.5 billion to the rest of the UK, compared to £11.6 billion to Europe.
She urged Nicola Sturgeon to acknowledge the importance of this fact, rather than use Britain’s departure from the EU as an excuse to call a second independence referendum.
Within hours of last week’s result, the First Minister said she had ordered civil servants to begin drafting plans for another separation referendum.
This is despite again saying today that independence wasn’t her starting point for negotiations with the EU.
The Scottish Conservatives have urged the SNP to work with the UK Government and other devolved administrations to secure the best deal for Scotland.
Scottish Conservative leader Ruth Davidson said:
“We need full involvement from all our devolved governments in securing the best deal going forward.
“Retaining our place in the EU single market should be our over-riding priority – it helps our economy, it helps
sustain jobs and it helps to keep our public services well-funded.
“But while that’s important, our own UK single market is even more so.
“The UK single market is four times more valuable to our firms here in Scotland than the EU’s, and it is underpinned by shared currency and free borders.
“The First Minister cannot jeopardise this by seeking to rip Scotland out of the UK.
“That’s why she should work with the UK Government in these negotiations rather than moving straight towards another independence referendum.”