Britain’s new Prime Minister Theresa May is in Scotland today, an anti-Brexit PM trying to assure the anti-Brexit Scottish First Minister that no steps toward triggering Article 50 to withdraw from the European Union are imminent.
Indeed, May insisted that Britain absolutely would not trigger Article 50 until there was a “UK approach” that had been agreed on in general accord around the United Kingdom, suggesting the strong opposition to the exit in both Scotland and Northern Ireland is likely to greatly slow matters.
May told Scottish First Minister Nicola Sturgeon she is open to listening to options on how to proceed. Sturgeon had warned Scotland would have another secession referendum if the UK withdraws from the EU, and would attempt to become a member of the Union on its own.
Some within the British government have suggested that their economic importance may allow them to keep some of the benefits of being a member of the European Economic Area without being a member of the EU itself, though EU nations seem split on whether this is possible.
That’s a bit like not filing for divorce until the settlemnt is agreed. It might work in an amicable separation but not in a malicious one.
I’ll wager that the new PM (and her handlers) come up with an excuse not to follow the results of the referendum – with the appropriate level of fear-mongering, of course. So much for the “democratic voice” of the people.