First Minister John Swinney has urged the UK Government to work towards returning to the European Union, arguing that closer European ties are essential to Scotland’s economic prosperity, energy security and opportunities for young people.
Speaking ahead of a Scottish Parliament debate on EU relations on Tuesday 6 October, Swinney said the UK Government should be more ambitious about rebuilding its relationship with Europe and ultimately seek a return to EU membership.
His intervention reflects the Scottish Government’s established position that Scotland’s preferred long term future is as an independent member of the European Union.
Swinney said:
“Scotland’s future success depends on returning to EU membership as an independent nation.
“As a European partner, our economic prosperity, energy security, cultural connections and opportunities for young people are strengthened when we work closely with other countries, in an equal partnership, across Europe.
“However, analysis suggests that Scotland is losing around £3.3 billion in public revenues this year as a result of Brexit, equivalent to more than £9 million every day, and this damage cannot be fully addressed through incremental changes alone.
“I urge the UK Government to be bold and recognise the benefits of European Union membership and to work towards returning to the EU as swiftly as possible.
“Ultimately, Scotland’s place is in Europe, and the best future for our country is as an independent member of the European Union.”
The £3.3 billion figure cited by Swinney reflects analysis previously used by the Scottish Government when assessing the effect of Brexit on Scotland’s public finances, with ministers arguing that reduced economic output ultimately means less revenue available to fund public services.
The Scottish Government has also argued that Brexit has created new barriers for businesses trading with Europe and removed opportunities for young people to live, work and study freely across EU member states.
Scotland voted by 62% to 38% to remain in the European Union at the 2016 referendum, while the UK as a whole voted to leave, and the UK formally left the EU on 31 January 2020.
The Scottish Government continues to support closer UK relations with the EU in the short term while maintaining that independence followed by EU membership represents its preferred longer term constitutional settlement.
That position remains politically contested, both over Scottish independence and over whether the UK should ultimately seek to rejoin the European Union.
Tuesday’s Holyrood debate will give MSPs an opportunity to set out those competing positions as the Scottish Government presses its case for a much closer relationship with Europe.
For Swinney, however, the direction he wants both Scotland and the wider UK to take is clear, with the First Minister arguing that incremental improvements to the existing relationship will not be enough to reverse what his government regards as the economic and social damage caused by Brexit.
