THE SNP has said independence is the only way to protect Scotland’s place in Europe – as the Labour Party rules out a return to the EU.
At an event run by LabourList, senior Labour frontbench spokesperson Rachel Reeves MP confirmed “under a Labour government, we will have a close relationship with the EU but we won’t be back in the EU.”
All of the main Westminster parties have now ditched their support for EU membership - with the Tories, Labour and the Lib Dems all committed to Brexit.
Polling has shown a sustained majority for independence in Scotland and a consistent majority for protecting Scotland’s EU membership. A Panelbase poll in August found support for independence at 55%.
Commenting, SNP Westminster Leader Ian Blackford MP said: “It is now beyond doubt that the only way to protect Scotland’s place in Europe is to become an independent country.
“With all the Westminster parties committed to Brexit, there is no route back to the EU in the UK.
“Scotland was once told the only way to protect our EU membership was to vote against independence. We now know the opposite is true.
“Scotland has been completely ignored by Westminster throughout the Brexit process. We now face the worst possible outcome – an extreme Tory Brexit, and a Westminster power grab, imposed on Scotland against our will by a Boris Johnson government we didn’t vote for.
“Scotland can do so much better than this – and we will. We can choose to protect our democratic wishes, our interests, and our place in Europe as an independent country. That choice will be Scotland‘s to make.”
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