A NEW Scottish campaign is being launched to gather support for rejoining the EU. A poll commissioned by the new group, which has yet to be named, found 63% of Scots support backing an extension to Brexit beyond the December 31 deadline.
However, the UK Government formally rejected this option earlier this month and the deadline for requesting a delay will now expire on Tuesday.
The campaign will launch in Scotland with the aim of growing “grassroots support” across the UK for securing a future in the EU and strengthening European connections.
Acting director of the campaign, Fergus Mutch, said: “The sensible and practical thing to do would be for the UK Government to agree an extension to the transition period beyond the end of the year.
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“Failing to do so leaves open the very real risk of a No-Deal outcome, and significant damage to our future relationship with the EU.
“That prospect is bad news in so many ways — for people who want to go on holiday in Europe, for business and jobs that depend on trading freely, for universities who rely on the exchange of expertise and ideas.”
The Survation poll of 1100 adults in Scotland ran alongside a UK-wide survey, which found 48% were in favour of extending the transition period and 52% were opposed.
“By a significant margin people in Scotland want to see the UK Government use the flexibility available to them, and across the UK opinion remains very much divided,” Mutch said.
“People expect political leaders to put public safety before ideology. In the middle of a public health crisis we should be cautious of politicians who recklessly plough on when a prudent and popular option is readily available to them.”
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Mutch, formerly the SNP’s head of communications and a candidate for the party in the 2019 General Election, said the “exciting new campaign” to join the EU would be launched in a few weeks’ time.
He said: “This will be a grassroots movement with people at its core — people who value the peace, prosperity and opportunities enjoyed by all Europeans, living and working together with our closest neighbours.
“We’re realistic about the challenge but, in the coming months and years, a vocal campaign for our future in Europe has never been more badly needed.”
Earlier this month a separate poll by Ipsos Mori found 64% of people in Scotland wanted the UK Government to seek a Brexit extension, compared to 54% across the UK.
The research was carried out by a health charity which warned a No-Deal Brexit will place huge pressures on the health and social care sector at a time when services will still be struggling as a result of the Covid-19 crisis.
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