Call for clarity on EU after referendum

The SNP was yesterday urged to clarify whether a Yes vote would take Scotland back into the European Union.

The challenge was issued after reports suggested Nicola Sturgeon is exploring the option of Scotland signing up to the European Free Trade Association (EFTA). Signing up to EFTA alongside countries including Norway and Iceland would give access to the single market short of EU membership.

Lib Dem leader Willie Rennie said: “The SNP have called this whole referendum because of the UK exit from the EU. It is absurd for them to dodge whether their referendum would put us back in the EU. It looks very much like they are using the Brexit vote to drag us into another divisive referendumonindependence.

“This referendum is not about Scotland having a say, it’s about their obsession with independence no matter the consequences.” 0 Brexit minister Michael Russell promised ‘clarity’

On his weekly radio phone in programme, Alex Salmond said membership of the single market as part of the European Economic Area (EEA) had “primacy” in Ms Sturgeon’s thinking, and that the Scottish Government would seek continuous membership of the EEA after independence, “not necessarily the European Union”.

Yesterday a Scottish Government source denied the reports. Brexit minister Michael Russell said there would be “absolute clarity” on its position on EU by the second referendum.