SNP MEP Alyn Smith has called for a second UK wide referendum on the EU.
Writing in today’s National (page 21), the senior politician says an “EURef2” where voters are asked to choose between the deal negotiated by the government or to rescind the Article 50 notification.
He argues that knowing there will be a popular vote at the end of the process will “sharpen the negotiations, and indeed encourage the sort of debate we needed during the actual campaign about what sort of relationship we will have with our wider continent.”
“I’m confident that not many people voted to make themselves poorer,” he added.
Meanwhile frustrated European leaders are asking Theresa May to get on with the day job, and realise leaving the EU affects the whole of the UK. Yesterday, Guy Verhofstadt, the European Parliament’s chief Brexit negotiator tweeted: “#Brexit isn’t just about the Tories leaving the EU, it’s about the whole UK. Everyone’s voice should be heard.”
He later told reporters: “I continue to believe... [Brexit] started, and it’s still, an internal dispute in the Tory party.
“And it’s time now to understand that it’s not about the Tories leaving the European Union, it’s about the UK leaving the European Union.
“And to take into account our positions [as fast as] possible so we can start these negotiations, because that’s the will of the Europeans... the representatives of the European Union, to start [as fast] as possible these negotiations.”
He told the news conference the position of the UK remained “unclear”. But he added that if the changed political make up of the UK Parliament meant that a softer Brexit was a possibility, the UK needed to understand there were some principles on which the EU would not bend.
He said: “It’s unclear if the UK government will stick to the line that they have announced... or if they will change... taking into account the outcome of the election.
“As you know... from the side of the European Parliament, we have always welcomed a very close relationship in the future with the United Kingdom.
“We have even indicated in the resolution that we preferred a Norwegian-style relationship, or even a customs union...
“But we have also indicated that in such case we will not compromise and the European Union will never compromise on a number of conditions.
“And these conditions are clear: citizens first, the four freedoms... that are fully integrated in the single market, a fair financial settlement and... the respect for an effective legal framework in this.”
His comments came after the European Commission’s chief negotiator Michael Barnier said the UK risks falling off a “no deal” cliff edge if it wastes more time.
Barnier, whose department has spent months preparing for Brexit, said: “I can’t negotiate with myself.”
May travelled to France yesterday afternoon where she had her first meetings with new French President Emmanuel Macron.
The SNP’s Westminster Europe Spokesperson, Stephen Gethins, meanwhile called for a “short pause in the negotiations” so that a new four-nation, cross-party position can be put together that recognises the outcome of the election.
Gethins said: “The Tories don’t have a mandate to continue their demands for an extreme Brexit.
“Theresa May needs to start listening to the business community’s serious warnings that without retaining our place in the single market and the customs union, firms will be forced away from the UK.
“Theresa May has admitted she’s led the country into a ‘mess’, and with inflation continuing to rise, the Tories are gambling with people’s pay packets.
“It is vital that we now build a cross-party, all government approach to leaving the EU that will protect all of our interests at this highly uncertain time.
“The UK Government needs to work with others to put together a new position — one that is based on the interests of the whole of the UK. And at the heart of this position must be maintaining our place in the single market and in the customs union.”
Why are you making commenting on The National only available to subscribers?
We know there are thousands of National readers who want to debate, argue and go back and forth in the comments section of our stories. We’ve got the most informed readers in Scotland, asking each other the big questions about the future of our country.
Unfortunately, though, these important debates are being spoiled by a vocal minority of trolls who aren’t really interested in the issues, try to derail the conversations, register under fake names, and post vile abuse.
So that’s why we’ve decided to make the ability to comment only available to our paying subscribers. That way, all the trolls who post abuse on our website will have to pay if they want to join the debate – and risk a permanent ban from the account that they subscribe with.
The conversation will go back to what it should be about – people who care passionately about the issues, but disagree constructively on what we should do about them. Let’s get that debate started!
Callum Baird, Editor of The National
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules hereLast Updated:
Report this comment Cancel