Scotland determined to stay in EU: Scottish first minister

Scottish First Minister Nicola Sturgeon will travel to Brussels for talks with European Parliament leaders, part of her efforts to maintain Scotland within the European Union (EU) after Britain as a whole voted to leave the bloc.

Sturgeon said she will also meet with European Parliament President Martin Schulz on Wednesday, sources said on Tuesday.

Sturgeon said she was "utterly determined" to defend Scotland's place in the EU following a vote by the United Kingdom to leave the bloc.

"Tomorrow I will make an initial visit to Brussels to set out Scotland's position and interests," Sturgeon told the Scottish parliament, adding: "Through all of this I am determined, utterly determined to preserve Scotland's relationship and place within the EU".

With the unity of the EU’s 27 other members on the line, top European leaders have taken a tough line with Britain.

Britain’s political system and economy have been thrown into chaos by the outcome of the EU referendum, which was not expected by analysts, the markets or even the politicians who campaigned for a British exit, also known as Brexit.

On Monday, Britain was downgraded from its triple-A rating by the Standard & Poor’s (S&P) Global Ratings agency, a humiliating blow for the country and one that could cost its economy.

S&P warned of the economic, fiscal and constitutional risks the UK now faces as a result of the EU referendum result. The agency said it may slash its rating again.

In the June 23 referendum, about 52 percent of British voters opted to leave the EU, while roughly 48 percent of the people voted to stay in the union. More than 17.4 million Britons said the country should leave the bloc, as just over 16.14 million others favored remaining in the EU.

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