‘Scots social rights at risk’:
Scots must vote to keep Britain in the European Union or risk social rights protected by the EU being eroded under the “tender mercies” of post-Brexit London governments, a Scottish minister said on Tuesday.
Visiting Brussels after last week being named Europe minister in the devolved Scottish government, Alasdair Allan told Reuters a British vote next month to leave the EU could jeopardise trade and labour rights cherished by Scots and would lead to new calls for independence.
His remarks highlighted a leftward slant in Scottish politics — also a feature of Scotland’s 2014 independence referendum — as well as expectations that Scots will vote heavily in favour of remaining in the EU.
The 84 percent of the UK electorate living in England, where the referendum debate has split the governing Conservatives and prompted accusations of scaremongering on both sides, is more evenly divided.
Noting cross-party support in Scotland for staying in the EU, Allan said the Scottish National Party (SNP) of First Minister
Nicola Sturgeon — reappointed following elections to the Scottish parliament on May 5 — would stress the benefits of membership in campaigning for the June 23 referendum.
It was not just about trade, but also “a range of rights that we’ve got from Europe that we couldn’t be certain that Scotland would get if we were left to the tender mercies of the UK,” Allan said.