THE SNP’s European campaign launched yesterday on Europe Day – marking decades of peace and co-operation on the continent.
Not many people expected this election would happen. Now it’s shaping up to be by far the most important European election in Scotland’s history. At stake isn’t just who represents Scotland in Europe – though that is important. At stake is whether Brexit happens at all. For three years, the UK Government has tried in vain to make Brexit work. They know that a hard Brexit will be a major shock to the economy – their own analysis shows that. But Theresa May also knows that any attempt to soften the impact requires compromises that the hard Brexiteers in her party, and around her Cabinet table, simply won’t accept.
Compromises like the Norway-style single market option proposed by the Scottish Government – which have been completely ignored by an arrogant, out-of-touch Prime Minister.
Sadly, Jeremy Corbyn’s approach is almost identical to Theresa May’s. Labour and the Tories both want to drag Scotland out of Europe against our will. They both want to end freedom of movement, despite the enormous damage that would cause. And they both want to deny people in Scotland the chance to choose between Brexit and independence.
READ MORE: New pro-EU group tells Scottish Remainers to vote SNP
This election is Scotland’s chance to send a message to Theresa May and Jeremy Corbyn. A vote for the SNP is a vote to make clear that Scotland says no to Brexit. Three years of chaos has shown that Brexit is not just undesirable – it is undeliverable. Despite repeated attempts, there is no Brexit scenario – even the fantasy scenarios dreamed up by senior politicians who should know better – that can win the support of a majority of MPs.
That raises the unthinkable prospect of us leaving without a deal – the hardest of hard Brexits. A second EU referendum, with the option to Remain, can solve Westminster’s impasse, and it can keep Scotland in the EU. We know Theresa May doesn’t want to do that. We need to send a message that can’t be ignored.
This election could be the tipping point that calls time on the Brexit disaster. But we can’t take anything for granted. Along with the other candidates and activists across the country, I’ll be working hard over the next fortnight to make sure we win every vote. Let’s send a strong team of SNP MEPs to Brussels – and show that Scotland’s not for Brexit. Scotland’s for Europe.
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Callum Baird, Editor of The National
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