PM Theresa May has 'no mandate' to take whole of UK out of Europe, Scottish leader warns

Britain's Prime Minister Theresa May has 'no mandate' to take the whole of the UK out of the European Union, Scotland's First Minister Nicola Sturgeon has warned

Voters in England and Wales voted in favour of leaving the EU in June's referendum, but the electorate in both Scotland and Northern Ireland overwhelmingly wanted to remain part of the bloc.

In a statement to the Scottish Parliament on Wednesday, September 7, the SNP leader said: “I accept that the Prime Minister has a mandate in England and Wales to leave the EU, but I do not accept that she has a mandate to take any part of the UK out of the single market.

“I hope all parties in this chamber will back us as we make that case, and I hope also that we can make common cause with others across the UK.”

She also warned that Scotland must be permitted to 'consider independence' again, if it 'becomes clear that our interests cannot be protected within the UK'.

In September 2014, Scots narrowly voted in favour of remaining part of the United Kingdom.