Michael Russell: Scotland’s home is in Europe – remember that on May 6

I finished my Immortal Memory with an unconventional plea. Never before had I asked those at a Burns event (and as an Ayrshire boy I have been doing them since I was 16) to make sure that Europe kept a light on for Scotland so that we could, in time, return.

It is fair to say that the standing ovation from the Irish audience for that request was loud and prolonged and indeed about the only person who didn’t join in was the British Ambassador who studiously avoided me for the rest of the evening.

My work over the past five years has convinced me that there is a vast reservoir of goodwill towards Scotland which will convert into active support for Scotland’s application to rejoin the European Union.

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John Kerr, the diplomat who drafted the infamous Article 50 of the Lisbon Treaty, has described that process of Scottish accession as “likely to be very fast” and even the former President of the Commission – and as a former Belgian PM, very hostile to independence movements – Herman Von Rumpoy has said that there is “much more sympathy” for Scotland’s membership than there was in 2014.

Gaining membership requires a recognised process to be gone through methodically but there are many countries which are keeping a light on for us and in the background offering advice as support as a means of guiding us back home.

Home. Not next door to home, nor somewhere nearby, but home as a full EU member, because they know that the Europe is where our head and our heart must continue to be.

Now we have seen the manifestos for this election there are only two parties – the SNP and the Green Party – which remain true to what Scotland’s people actually voted for in the referendum of June 2016 and which they continue to support in every poll.

Of course the Scottish Government did, in its initial responses after the EU referendum, proposed membership of the Single Market and the Customs Union through some sort of EFTA/EEA arrangement but that was offered only as a Brexit compromise, not as the ultimate or most desirable destination. The EFTA/EEA choice is still a form of Brexit and has many disadvantages.

Scotland, for far too long a rule taker, would still be left with no effective voice or vote on most key issues, merely swapping the diktats of the UK Government and Parliament for those from the EU Commission and Parliament. Only membership gives a seat at the decision making table, and at times a veto (something unimaginable in the UK).

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Getting EEA Membership is no less onerous than seeking EU membership and could take longer. Scotland would have no representation in the European Parliament, an institution growing in importance across the continent, nor would we automatically be able to take advantage of many of the key benefits of membership such as access to law enforcement databases and processes or enjoy full involvement in programmes such as Erasmus and Horizon.

The immense advantage of being able to re-adjust Scotland’s relationship with the rest of the UK on a basis already in place and agreed between the UK and the EU would be lost with special arrangements having to be put in place which would give London negotiators lots of scope for delay, and the imposition of unacceptable terms.

And finally the advantages we could gain – in business and influence – by being the largest English speaking member of the EU and the strength that would come from our co-operation with, for example, Ireland as a fellow EU member, as well as the direct ferry and air links to other EU countries that would quickly be established, would be significantly reduced if we balked at membership just when it was within our grasp.

Yet, above even all these considerations, is the fact that the development of the European Union has guaranteed peace and prosperity on our continent for more than 75 years. This is the jewel in the crown of European co-operation and throwing that away was the worst, most irresponsible, thing that any UK Government has done in the last century.

Scotland must not make that mistake. Abandoning, or fudging, the policy of restoring EU membership to placate Brexiteers is simply the wrong thing to do and would be deeply damaging for Scotland’s independent future as well as our existing reputation.