Scots dream of Eurovision glory as independent state

SCOTLAND competing in its own right in Eurovision would be one of the benefits of independence, according to a new prospectus published by the SNP.

A 55-page report written by Humza Yousaf ’s civil servants argued that leaving the UK would give Scotland the power to “build relationships with other broadcasters across Europe and further afield.”

In particular, it claimed that separation would “enhance Scotland’s voice on the world stage through global forums like Eurovision”.

Nationalists have regularly complained in years when the UK entry to the song contest has flopped that Scotland would perform better as a separate nation.

These claims have intensified since Brexit, with independence supporters arguing that low marks given to some British entries have reflected antipathy towards the UK following the vote to leave the EU.

The new report is the 10th in a series of documents produced by the Scottish Government that will together form a new prospectus for independence, focusing on how separation could benefit culture.

Immediately after independence, it claimed that Scots could continue to gain access to the full range of BBC output by continuing to pay the licence fee, even though they would live in separate country from the UK.

The report said that a Scottish version of the BBC would then be set up, funded by a new licence fee. It said a new broadcasting regulator could ensure that a fixed “quota” of programmes are made in Scotland.

It cast doubt on whether Scots would still receive all BBC programming at this point, saying merely that the government would “explore continued access to the programming and services that matter to Scottish audiences.”

The Scottish Government’s White Paper on independence, unveiled by Alex Salmond and Nicola Sturgeon in 2014, also promised to set up a new Scottish Broadcasting Service (SBS) as a successor to the BBC.

It said this would seek membership of the European Broadcasting Union (EBU) and “we would envisage the SBS engaging with some of the EBU competitions, including Scottish entries in the Eurovision Song Contest”.