Salmond predicts Eu-linked Yes vote
Former first minister warns against hardline approach Scottish Government to unveil Brexit strategy
Alex Salmond has predicted that Scots will vote for independence if the UK government blocks a move for a separate Brexit deal for Holyrood.
The former First Minister said that a refusal by UK ministers to listen to Scotland’s proposals for staying in the European Union single market would lead to another independence referendum in two years and a Yes vote.
The Scottish Government will set out its Brexit strategy tomorrow.
Alex sal mo nd has warned that Scots will vote for independence if the UK Government blocks move for a stand-alone Holyrood deal on Brexit. The former First Minister insists that if UK ministers “refuse to listen” to Scotland’s proposals to remain in the EU single market, it will trigger an independence referendum in two years which would deliver a Yes vote.
The Scottish Government will set out its Brexit strategy tomorrow. It will include calls for new powers for Holyrood which could pave the way for a stand alone Scottish deal on single market membership.
Controls over immigration and employment rights and business regulation will be among the measures that will be set out by Nicola Sturgeon when unveils her strategy for Scotland. It will call on the UK to remain in the EU single market, which guarantees free trade with other EU nations. If this cannot be done then a separate Scottish deal is proposed which would secure this.
Mr Salmond warned yesterday that if this is ruled out by Westminster, then Scottish independence will be delivered in two years, Salmond said.
“In a situation where a United Kingdom government was determined – despite being given every opportunity – to sever Scotland’s European links, to sever our ties as a thousand year old European nation, then I think that would bring many people who were previously sceptical about independence onto the Yes side,” Mr Salmond told BBC’S Sunday Politics show.
“There’s a lot of people with an open mind about Scottish independence. Certainly I think there are people who are passionately in favour and people who are strongly against.
“But there are still lots of folk in Scotland who would regard Scotland’s prosperity, securing Scotland’s position as a European nation and the rights of Scottish workers, the equal treatment of our fellow Europeans, access to the single market place as a member, as key priorities which if they could only be maintained and claimed by independence could be persuaded to vote in that direction over the next two years.”
The latest polls indicate that support for independence currently sits at about the 45 per cent, the same level as the 2014 referendum.
Mr Salmond pointed to weekend polling which showed that two-thirds of Scots wanted to maintain Scotland’s place in the single market and put that above the control of immigration.
“What we’re seeing is a variety of indications about a clarion call for Scotland to make its way as a European nation,” he said.
“In the absence of any alternative to secure that position I think would be a strong position to debate the independence issue.”
The EU referendum in June saw 62 per cent of Scots vote to remain in the EU, but the weight of votes south of the Border swung it for Leave. Ms Sturgeon said at the weekend that leaving the EU single market will have “profound consequences” for Scotland’s economy. Retaining Scotland’s membership of the single market will be “at the heart” of her strategy on Tuesday. The Scottish Government’s starting point is for the UK to remain in the EU single market.
But she added: “If that is not possible, then we will also be outlining ways in which this could be achieved for Scotland even if the rest of the UK leaves.
“Doing so will involve the devolution of new powers to Edinburgh.”
Conservatives’ constitution spokesman Adam Tomkins said: “As we begin negotiations to leave the EU, we need a Scottish Government that ends the sabre-rattling, and focuses instead on the national interest, not its own political interest. As she publishes her paper this week, it is vital that Nicola Sturgeon shows she is prepared to be a First Minister for Scotland, not a First Minister for the SNP.”
Labour’s Europe spokesman Lewis Macdonald said: “Alex Salmond gave the game away when he made it clear that the Nationalists are only really interested in finding an excuse to impose another referendum on the people of Scotland.”
“What we’re seeing is a variety of indications about a clarion call for Scotland to make its way as a European nation”
ALEX SALMOND