DEAR European friends,

The United Kingdom left the European Union last night after 47 years of membership. Sad though that is for everyone concerned, the people of England voted for it in the 2016 Brexit referendum. That was their choice. England has had a troubled relationship with European cooperation and the European idea for decades.

The United Kingdom is, however, more than just England, and in this multi-national state, Scotland and Northern Ireland both voted to remain in the European Union. Scotland voted by 62% to stay in the EU and people in Scotland are appalled to be ripped out of the EU against their will.

Scotland is a historic European nation and its links with the continent are long and enduring. In recent decades, the European Union has been particularly crucial to the Scottish economy and jobs, with the single market profoundly important and a buoyant tourism sector hugely popular with European visitors.

Tens of thousands of Scots have taken the opportunity to live, work and study elsewhere in the EU.

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Connections with European Union institutions have also included at least two EU Commissioners from Scotland, three European Court of Justice judges, and senior staff working for the Commission, Council, European Parliament, as well as European, UK and Scottish representative offices. More than 230,000 EU citizens from other member states currently live in Scotland.

They and many before them have made a major contribution to Scotland, its public services and national life. It is terrible that they have been made to feel so insecure and rejected because of Brexit. No wonder people in Scotland were not celebrating Brexit last night.

In contrast to scenes elsewhere, people were protesting outside the Scottish Parliament in Edinburgh. They were angry that they are losing their European citizenship and rights to live, work, study and travel wherever they like in the EU. They are upset about the undermining of economic, cultural and educational links with the rest of the EU. They are outraged that Scotland is being taken out of the EU against the democratic wishes of the people.

Scotland had an independence referendum in 2014 in which continuing EU membership was a central issue. Supporters of independence argued that Scotland would be able to be a member state like other countries with a population of 5 million, like Denmark, Finland and Slovakia.

Opponents of independence warned that the only way to guarantee continuing EU representation was to vote No. Ironically, the No side won 55% to 45% but it took only two years for their promise to be exposed as totally false. Scotland has been taken out of the EU because it does not have the rights of a sovereign state, by a UK Government in London that values Brexit more than the unity of the United Kingdom.

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Unsurprisingly, an opinion poll in Scotland this week showed that there is now a 51%-49% majority for independence. The biggest single move in opinions is amongst pro-Europeans who previously voted No to Scottish independence and would now vote Yes. Amongst voters under 65 years of age, support for independence now runs at 58%.

Scotland’s First Minister Nicola Sturgeon, who leads the pro-European, pro-independence Scottish Government, yesterday laid out her plans for the route to Scottish independence, which will include a constitutional convention to bring together people of all persuasions.

Her governing party, the SNP, already has four election mandates and a majority vote in the Scottish Parliament in favour of holding an independence referendum, but the UK Government opposes people in Scotland having the choice.

There is a widespread consensus that a referendum cannot be blocked forever. An independence vote will come, and as a result, the campaign to persuade the open-minded and undecided is going up a gear.

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The object is not to win the holding of a referendum, but to win Scottish independence itself. Holding an unofficial plebiscite will not secure legitimacy and recognition at home or the European Union. There are no shortcuts to major constitutional change.

Many people in the Scottish independence movement are thinking long and hard about how the case can give the assurance and reassurance needed for voters to change their votes from No to Yes. It is also crucially important to acknowledge the legitimate concerns of many No voters, who fear losing what is important to them.

If there is any lesson for society to take from the Brexit experience, it is that a referendum result can’t mean the winner takes all. Everyone shares in the outcome.

Dear friends across Europe: please leave a light on for Scotland. We want to find our way back. It is a great shame that England has decided to leave, and in many ways it is leaving the United Kingdom as well. In Scotland, we look forward to rejoining the European family as soon as possible.

Please keep a seat ready for us at the top table. Scotland is a European nation and Brexit will not stop that.