NICOLA Sturgeon has suggested that independence may offer an alternative to a "lost decade" of "uncertainty and turmoil" facing the UK following Brexit.
The First Minister, making a series of ominous predictions about the implications of the EU referendum result, warned of the "deep and severe" damage to come during a "torturous" process and said Scotland should consider "better alternatives".
She hinted strongly that she would call a new independence vote if the UK is to lose full single market membership and revealed she is closely monitoring a string of legal challenges to Brexit that could open the door to Holyrood being handed the right to block the process. She added that the Scottish Government could even become "directly involved" in proceedings.
The intervention came ahead of crunch talks today between Mike Russell, the SNP Brexit minister, and his UK Government counterpart David Davis. The Scottish Government is demanding an influential role in setting the UK's negotiating stance ahead of formally serving notice to quit.
Appearing in front of a Holyrood committee, the First Minister rejected suggestions that economic figures, such as those published yesterday showing a rise in employment, should be interpreted as a sign that dire warnings over leaving the EU had been overblown.
She said: "We are hearing some voices saying 'the sky hasn't fallen in so far, it's all going to be fine'. I think that is a deeply, deeply misguided view. Brexit hasn't happened yet, it hasn't even started. When it does, and the implications of it start to hit home, the impact on the economy, on jobs, trade, investment, our universities, on the life of EU nationals living here and EU citizens living in other EU countries are likely to be severe."
She added: "I do think there is a real risk that the UK is facing right now a lost decade or more where the uncertainty and turmoil of Brexit and everything that comes after that... will dominate.
"That potential for a lost decade for the UK, I think should make us all sit up and take notice. In Scotland, it should make us think very carefully about whether there are better alternatives than just accepting we should be part of that."
Pro-Brexit opponents accused Ms Sturgeon of adopting "project fear" rhetoric while business representatives warned politicians to consider implications for consumer confidence and spending when making predictions about leaving the EU.
Tom Harris, the former Labour MP who led the Scottish Vote Leave campaign, said: "Nobody is seriously predicting a decade of turmoil. The last thing we need is a prominent and influential politician talking Scotland down and talking the UK down at a time when she really needs to get behind our efforts to secure a good Brexit deal."
Hugh Aitken, the Director of CBI Scotland, called on the Scottish Government to support businesses in "getting on with creating economic growth through job creation and investment". He added: "It is far too early to tell what the long-term effects of the vote to leave will be. Both the Scottish and UK governments must work in partnership with business in relentless pursuit of the best possible settlement for the whole UK."
The Scottish Retail Consortium, which has recently warned politicians against "exaggerating" the impact of the EU referendum, said little had materially changed for most households since June.
David Lonsdale, the organisation's director, said: "We would argue policymakers should be mindful of all of this in the aftermath of the referendum result, and what the implications might be for consumer confidence and spending. After all there are 250,000 jobs in Scottish retail and many more in other consumer-facing sectors."
There are currently a string of legal challenges to Brexit, with the courts likely to rule over whether Theresa May has the power to serve notice of EU withdrawal without a vote in parliament. Ms Sturgeon said arguments that Westminster would have to vote on Brexit were "pretty compelling" and if successful, would bring the question over whether Holyrood would also have to consent into "sharp focus".
She added: "The Scottish Government is keeping a very close eye on these court actions and will assess as they proceed at all stages whether there is an argument for us to become directly involved."
Alex Salmond, in his weekly radio phone in, said: "If Scotland could block Brexit, then I think Nicola Sturgeon should do that. A politician should take her democratic instruction from her electorate… that’s exactly what a politician should do."
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