Unionists must give options for nation’s role in the EU, warns think tank

UNIONISTS must present options to maintain Scotland’s relationship with the EU or risk the break up of the UK, a think tank has warned.

The Institute for Public Policy Research (IPPR) said the UK and Scottish governments must explore these options with ‘equal vigour’. First Minister Nicola Sturgeon will today repeat her pledge to ‘explore all options’ to maintain Scotland’s relationship with the EU – but she has warned previously that a second independence referendum is ‘highly likely’.

Scottish secretary David Mundell said the idea of Scotland remaining in EU while the rest of Britain leaves is ‘fanciful’.

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. Writing in a Sunday paper, he said: “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. These options need to be explored with equal vigour and rigour by both the UK and Scottish governments.”

“The latter 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.

“And with that, Scotland’s options would be narrowed significantly.”