Scotland CAN’T stay in the European Union as the rest of the UK leaves, independent or not, Scottish Secretary set to say
David Mundell will tell Members of the Scottish Parliament that Scotland won't be able to remain in the bloc, even if it holds a second referendum on independence

SCOTLAND CAN'T stay in the European Union as the rest of the UK leaves, whether the country chooses to become independent or not, the Scottish Secretary is set to say.
David Mundell will tell Members of the Scottish Parliament that Scotland won't be able to remain in the bloc, even if it holds a second referendum on independence.
He will tell Holyrood's Culture, Tourism, Europe and External Relations Committee tomorrow that there are no "easy assumptions" of how long it could take Scotland to rejoin the EU if it opts to become independent.
"There is no set of circumstances in which Scotland could remain a member of the EU after the rest of the UK has left," he will say.
And he will add that Scotland would have to re-apply to become a member after the EU leaves, and Scotland leaves the UK.
He will say: ""If Scotland's constitutional position were ever to change, it would have to apply to be a member of the EU afresh, and we should not make easy assumptions about the length of time this would take, the process Scotland would have to follow or the terms of membership that may be on offer."
The First Minister Nicola Sturgeon has said a second referendum is "highly likely" if the UK opts for a "hard Brexit".
But if the UK stays inside the Single Market, she said she could take the option off the table in the short-term.
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Previous analysis has said that it would take a minimum of five to six years for Scotland to rejoin the EU.
Scots insist that it could be possible to remain in the bloc even as the UK begins its journey towards the exit door - expected to finally leave in 2019.
But EU officials have said Scotland will have to join the queue.