SNP RESPONSE TO LABOUR EU CLAIMS

SNP RESPONSE TO LABOUR EU CLAIMS

In response to a press release issued by Ian Davidson MP which makes a
number of erroneous claims about the status of an independent Scotland in
the European Union, an SNP spokesperson said:

"Labour must be scared stiff of the SNP challenge in the General Election
if they are reduced to trotting out this ancient and discredited rubbish.
Not for the first time, this Minister has been left with no clothes on.

"The reality is set out in the Scottish Government's White Paper and draft
Referendum Bill. As independent members of the European Union, both
Scotland and the rest of the UK would enjoy full access to the other’s
markets, with open borders and freedom to travel and work throughout the
EU.

"An independent Scotland and the rest of the UK would both be in exactly
the same position, and both would continue their membership of the EU on
the basis of equality - as a range of European and legal experts have
confirmed. By definition, neither Scotland nor the rest of the UK would
be ‘accession countries’.

"Even the late Robin Cook, when Labour's Foreign Secretary, accepted that an
independent Scotland would remain a member of the EU: 'It's in the nature
of the European Union, it welcomes all-comers and Scotland would be a
member.' (BBC, July 2000).

"This daft election stunt will backfire badly on Labour in Scotland. How
can they possibly support independence in Europe for every other nation,
but attack the rights of Scotland - which happens to be the most
energy-rich country in the EU in terms of both oil and gas and renewable
power? Labour's anti-Scottish position is silly and will cost them votes
in Scotland."