#EU60

60 years ago this Saturday the Treaty of Rome was signed meaning the European Union is 60 years old this weekend.

For the last 60 years, European nations have worked together to create our continent’s longest ever period of peace, freedom, stability and prosperity. The UK is also the only country to have turned down its invitation to the special events to celebrate this momentous anniversary and will therefore not be represented.

On Sunday our clocks go forward an hour as it is spring. On the day Article 50 is triggered by the UK Government to leave the European Union the clocks will go back 60 years.

Scotland voted to Remain in the EU in June 2016. I believe we did this because it makes us safer, our country wealthier through access to the EU single market of more than 500 million people, it makes our country fairer with EU directives that have provided us with the fundamental right not to be discriminated against, as well as the right to be paid holidays, parental leave other benefits and very importantly the reconvened Scottish Parliament. It has also protected us from the worst excesses of Tory Governments in Westminster. We also have the EU to thank for funding for projects across Scotland – for example the University of Saint Andrews receives a quarter of its funding from the EU, and as a result of free movement is able to attract talent from across the Union.

At this time Scotland faces being removed from our European family against out clearly expressed democratic will, without even a token gesture to indicate that our country’s collective opinion has counted for anything. Can the UK therefore be credibly considered a state made up of 4 equal nations when 2 of those nations are being effectively ignored? The future of Scotland should not be imposed upon us. It should be the choice of the people of Scotland.

After all in Scotland sovereignty lies with the people, a fundamentally different concept to that in England and Wales where sovereignty lies in parliament. This is why for example Mary was Queen of Scots and not Scotland, whilst Queen Elizabeth the 1^st was the Queen of England.

Alyn Smith, SNP MEP states “Make no mistake, Europe is interested in Scotland. We are a good news story for Europe, and our First Minister really made our European neighbours take notice when she used her first speech after the UK wide Brexit result to reassure EU nationals living in Scotland: ‘This is your home: you remain welcome here and your contribution is valued’”.

He also says “It’s time for Scotland to roll up its sleeves and make its own moves on the global stage. Last week, I addressed the European Parliament, President Tusk and President Juncker and told them that, just as the EU will not be intimidated by threats from the London government, neither will Scotland. It is only right that our national parliament in Edinburgh debate, and decide, on Scotland’s interests. What self respecting parliament or government would not? We will not be bystanders as the Tories steer the ship towards the rocks.”

This is why the Scottish Government is seeking a mandate to ask the UK Government to hold a further independence referendum as a means to allow the Scottish people the right to choose their future in very different times from only 2 and half years ago. This looks very likely to be granted as the Scottish Greens are in favour and will be able to carry the vote with the SNP who had a very clear mandate for it their manifesto….

‘The Scottish Parliament should have the right to hold another independence referendum if there is a significant and material change in the circumstances that prevailed in 2014 such as Scotland being taken out of the European Union against our will’.

That manifesto commitment combined with the result of the Scottish election in 2016 which returned a pro-independence majority, and then the outcome of the EU referendum gives the Scottish Government an unquestionable democratic mandate for an independence referendum.

The UK Government’s reaction has been to state categorically that ‘Now is not the time’. The Scottish Government agrees with this as it never wanted a referendum before the terms of the UK’s exit are agreed.

The sensible time to have a referendum will be when agreement (or not) has been reached with the EU as to the terms of separation but before the UK actually leaves the EU. This would allow the Scottish people to make an informed choice between these 2 futures, both of which involve change. The referendum could be held while the other parliaments in the other EU countries are ratifying the agreement. This window of time corresponds exactly to that stated by the Scottish First Minister Nicola Sturgeon.

Another reason for the timing of the independence referendum before Brexit is to allow EU nationals who did not have the opportunity to vote in the EU referendum a vote. It is important that they should, as in the last independence referendum, have the right to vote on something that will affect them more than most other sections of the community. Thanks to the Brexit vote this group of people feel less welcome and some have started to leave all ready. Scotland needs EU migration to reduce the impact of the impending demographic time bomb caused by an ageing population and shrinking tax base. Without them Scotland may not be able to preserve many of the essential services that it presently provides for its population as it will not have the money. Presently however the UK Government is in charge of immigration and looks set on Brexit to make it much more difficult for people from the EU to come and work here. This I believe is one of the most fundamental problems with Brexit. It will compound problems that all ready exist.

Scotland’s people should have the right to decide their future. We cannot avoid change, but we can choose the change we want.