Brexit strengthens Scottish independence case: Sturgeon

Brexit has strengthened the case of Scottish independence, said First Minister of Scotland Nicola Sturgeon on Thursday.

Sturgeon’s remarks came shortly after two major cabinet ministers resigned from the U.K. Cabinet over a draft Brexit deal reached with the EU.

Speaking at the Scottish parliament, Sturgeon said the proposed deal will place Scotland at a real competitive disadvantage to Northern Ireland.

“This is not an academic or abstract argument but has real consequences for jobs and living standards in Scotland,” she said.

“The Tory government is imploding as we speak, people the length and breadth of the U.K. are seriously worried about their jobs and their living standards on the line because of the ideology of this Tory government and the complete shambles they have made of the negotiations,” Sturgeon said.

Sturgeon said that Brexit makes the case for independence grow stronger every day although, as usual, she won’t be drawn on timing of another referendum.

“That time will come and when it does I have no doubt that the people of Scotland will choose to be independent,” she added.

Earlier in the House of Commons, Scottish National Party leader in Westminster Ian Blackford described the deal as “dead in the water,” accusing the central Westminster government for not consulting devolved government in Scotland on the draft deal.

Brexit Secretary Dominic Raab and Work and Pensions Secretary Esther McVey resigned from the Cabinet, saying they could not support the deal.

Three junior ministers also resigned on Thursday.

Sturgeon has been critical of Prime Minister Theresa May over lack of consultation on Brexit issues and negotiations with the EU, often saying Brexit will be an absolute catastrophe for Scottish economy.

Scottish voters opted to remain in the U.K. as slightly more than 55 percent voted to stay in the U.K. in a 2014 referendum.

In 2016 EU referendum, Scots voted to remain in the EU by 62 percent to 38 percent.