Nicola Sturgeon’s pursuit of a separate Brexit deal for Scotland is doomed to fail, the Welsh First Minister said.
Carwyn Jones, who hosted a summit for British Isles leaders on Friday, said he cannot see how Scotland can stay in the EU as the rest of the UK leaves, without creating a hard border with England.
Ms Sturgeon is looking at options to protect Scotland’s EU status including securing special European single market access for Scotland, convincing the UK to pursue a “soft” Brexit from Brussels or a Scottish breakaway from the UK.
Speaking after the British-Irish Council meeting, the SNP leader said retaining single market access is the “least worst outcome” after the Brexit vote.
Ms Sturgeon said she shared a similar position to Mr Jones, who said he wanted the UK to continue to have “full and unfettered access”.
Earlier, Mr Jones told the BBC that he could not see how a unique Brexit deal for Scotland would work.
He said there is “no other way” to deal with different market access arrangements between Scotland and the rest of the UK than customs posts at the border.
Wales voted alongside England to Leave the EU, while Scotland and Northern Ireland backed Remain.
Ms Sturgeon said after the summit: “Both Scotland and Wales have spoken loud and clear.
“Single market status is simply the only way to protect the economy not only of Scotland and Wales respectively, but the UK as a whole.
“Anything else risks us falling off a hard-Brexit cliff edge, and we are united in our call to ensure the UK Government does all it can to ensure that happens.”
The meeting, which was held near Cardiff, focused on Brexit and was attended by Irish Taoiseach Enda Kenny and the leaders of devolved administrations.
But Theresa May faced criticism from Ms Sturgeon and Northern Ireland’s Deputy First Minister Martin McGuinness for her no-show.
When asked if the Prime Minister should have been there, UK government Northern Ireland Secretary James Brokenshire said: “The Prime Minister strongly supports the British Irish Council, that’s why you had two Cabinet ministers and two other ministers here today strongly representing the UK government’s perspective.”
Mr Brokenshire said his government would look at all options for a UK-wide Brexit deal.