Academic says NI and Scotland could stay in EU
A proposal which could allow Northern Ireland and Scotland to remain in the European Union has been described as 'interesting' by Nicola Sturgeon.
Denmark-based academic Ulrik Pram Gad suggested that the UK could seek inspiration from Greenland, which withdrew from the EEC in 1985 while the rest of the Kingdom of Denmark remained.
England and Wales could do a “reverse Greenland” by seeking a territorial exemption from the continuing UK member state, allowing Scotland, Northern Ireland and Gibraltar to retain their EU membership, Mr Gad said in an article for the London School of Economics.
Ms Sturgeon, Scotland’s First Minister, has pledged to explore all options to keep Scotland in the EU after its citizens voted overwhelmingly to Remain.
Northern Ireland also voted against Brexit in the June referendum which saw the UK vote to leave the EU.
Writing on Twitter, she said: “Interesting piece by a Denmark based academic – could a ‘reverse Greenland’ arrangement keep Scotland in the EU?”
Theresa May described some of the suggestions to keep Scotland in the EU as “fanciful” in her first visit to Scotland after being appointed Prime Minister, and senior Cabinet ministers have said the whole of the UK will leave the EU.