Help Scotland stay in EU to save UK
Think-tank’s plea to Unionists to prevent separation
UNIONIST campaigners must fight to keep Scotland in the EU or risk the breakup of Britain, a leading thinktank has warned.
The Institute for Public Policy Research (IPPR) said options need to be explored with ‘equal vigour and rigour by the UK and Scottish governments’.
It emerged yesterday that Nationalist MP Stephen Gethins has been on a series of secret trips to Europe to examine ideas, with a possible ‘reverse Greenland’ scenario seen as the most realistic option.
Greenland is not in the EU but is part of Denmark, which is, while Cyprus could also provide inspiration as the northern part of the island is exempt from EU legislation. Labour is examining options involving a federal UK.
However, the most likely outcome is that Scotland leaves the EU at the same time as the entire UK, with Attorney General Jeremy Wright insisting the people of the Britain ‘have spoken’ as one.
Prime Minister Theresa May has said she is ‘willing to listen to options’ that the SNP presents – but she has described some of the early ideas as ‘impracticable’ and Scottish Secretary David Mundell said the idea of Scotland remaining in the UK and EU is ‘fanciful’.
That raises the prospect of a second referendum on independence, forcing Scots to choose between the country’s biggest trading partner of England, or the Brussels club and all the strict requirements forced on new EU member states.
Oil tycoon and former Scottish Government jobs commissioner Sir Ian Wood warned that Scotland ‘would have very little influence in Europe’ as a small independent member of the EU, and raised concerns that the uncertainty could harm the economy.
Nicola Sturgeon promised her supporters a new ‘summer’ drive for separation, but it was reported yesterday this has been delayed in the wake of the shock Brexit vote.
IPPR director Russell Gunson said the Scottish Government lacks ‘a genuine commitment to the UK’ so it is up to Unionists to present options for Scotland’s EU future if they want to protect the UK.
He wrote in a Sunday newspaper: ‘It is those across the UK who do not wish to see Scottish independence, or those open to exploring all the options, who will need to come forward with other options.
‘The [Scottish Government] is certainly giving the impression of being up for exploring all the options, but without a genuine commitment in the rest of the UK, and without significant reform to Britain as a whole, a tailored approach to Brexit will not be deliverable.’
SNP Westminster leader Angus Robertson said: ‘If the UK Government and Westminster parties continue to act against Scotland’s wishes they shouldn’t be surprised when the Scottish people conclude that independence is the only viable option.’
In a speech in Edinburgh today Miss Sturgeon will lay out ‘five key interests’ she wants to preserve in Scotland’s relationship with the EU. These include ‘democratic interests’ in having Scotland’s Remain vote respected, retaining access to the single market, social protection and workers’ rights, ‘solidarity’ with other nations and influence over EU rules.
However, Sir Ian said EU accession is ‘a long process and one that would be damaging, with a lot of uncertainty for the oil and gas industry’. He added: ‘Everyone wants to be independent, but I think bigger economic units are more successful.’
Scottish Labour leader Kezia Dugdale is to order her 22 MSPs to stick to its manifesto pledge and reject any new bid for a second independence referendum.
Her advisers have issued a strongly worded statement clarifying the party’s firm opposition after deputy leader Alex Rowley said last week that he ‘wouldn’t oppose’ plans for a second vote.
‘Come forward with options’