AN independent Scotland in Europe will be good for the people of Scotland – and the rest of the UK too.
I had the privilege of speaking at last weekend’s Yes For EU rally in Edinburgh, where it was clear to see that the EU question, as well as that of independence, remains one of the key fault lines of Scottish constitutional politics.
Scotland voted overwhelmingly to remain, and that support has only increased as consecutive Conservative governments have made an absolute mess trying to square the Brexit circle.
I fundamentally believe that our support for an independent Scotland in the European Union is going to be one of the big factors for people when it comes to supporting independence, especially when it means getting back all that we have lost.
After all, the Brexit Bonanza is the big lie. It is the grand deceit of an out-of-touch political elite backed by a right-wing media frenzy which was opposed to the European project from the start.
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All the economic and political problems that we are seeing in the UK right now can be traced back to the decision to leave. Peace in Northern Ireland under threat? Brexit. Skyrocketing inflation and cost of living? Brexit. Liz Truss? No way she would have come close to being PM without Brexit.
Of course, Covid and the war in Ukraine have played their part, but every country worldwide had to deal with these to one extent or another – only the UK inflicted Brexit on itself for good measure.
In 2016, the UK economy was 90% of Germany’s, now it is 70%. This is not because Germany has been roaring ahead – it is because the UK has fallen back, making us all poorer and independence in Europe more urgent.
Brexit has taken away our European rights. It has taken away the next generation’s future and deprived the older generation of the stability needed to enjoy their old age. And whether you’re working as a builder or a trader, in the NHS or financial services, Brexit has made all of us poorer.
Yet the UK parties – even the LibDems – have all swallowed the Big Lie, so feart are they of facing down the basic prejudice that spawned it. They claim they can make Brexit “work” – much in the same way that a car that’s fallen off a cliff into the North Sea can somehow start working again after being smashed to pieces.
There’s no point in sticking to the delusion that Brexit might work – it can only ever be a poorer, smaller, meaner outcome.
In Scotland, we have successive democratic mandates for change (unlike the current PM and his predecessor). The people of Scotland are calling for a referendum to resolve the crisis we face, and we intend to deliver on that call.
It is not independence for independence’s sake, though. Flag-waving nationalism is not who I am nor what many people in Scotland are. What we are, though, is about delivering for the people of Scotland, wherever they come from. One of the things I’m most proud of is that we have made residence the criteria for voting rights in Scotland because if you’re here, you’re one of us.
Our internationalism is something that the EU gets and why 72% of Scotland backs EU membership. This is up even from the definitive 62% who backed remain in 2016. It’s why, if we’re serious about regaining our independence, we must make re-joining the EU at the heart of our argument.
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The SNP’s vision for Scotland is clear and energising. With independence, we will be able to re-join the community of nations in the EU. Re-joining the EU will put rocket boosters on a Scottish economy hobbled by the UK and Brexit. And for our young people, the freedom to live, study, and work in the EU will give them opportunities Brexit Britain could only dream of.
It will also be a success for progressives across these islands. I lived and worked in England for many years and was genuinely heartbroken when the charlatans sold our friends down south the lie of Brexit sunlit lands. The success of an independent Scotland as the newest EU member will show our friends in England that Brexit is not set in stone and that there is an alternative to the Brexit dogma.
Independence in Europe is a positive vision. It is a vision with merit and one which will win us the referendum. Together, let’s build that better community with our European friends and get Scotland back to where we belong – in the heart of Europe. Yes For EU are a great bunch of folks. If you want to join them, find them online and get in touch. There’s plenty to be done.
How has Brexit affected your Scottish business?
Has Brexit had an impact on your Scottish business? Whether you work in hospitality, travel, or any other sector we would love to hear from you. We already know leaving the EU has meant empty shop shelves, delays in orders and price rises for Scots businesses. Now we want to hear from owners themselves to find out what Brexit has done to our firms.
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
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