- Title: Scots' social rights at risk in EU vote, Edinburgh minister says
- Date: 25th May 2016
- Summary: BRUSSELS, BELGIUM (MAY 24, 2016) (REUTERS) EXTERIOR OF EUROPEAN COMMISSION / EUROPEAN COUNCIL EU FLAGS FLYING DOOR READING (English): "THE SCOTTISH GOVERNMENT" SCOTTISH MINISTER FOR EUROPE, ALASDAIR ALLAN, ENTERING NEWS BRIEFING ROOM ALLAN (SOUNDBITE) (English) SCOTTISH MINISTER FOR EUROPE, ALASDAIR ALLAN, SAYING "I think that we just need to look at Scotland's relationship with Europe and realise now how deep it is and how part of a being, if you like, it is, part of our expectations that we will trade with Europe, but not just trade with them, that we will get the benefits for our workers, that we'll get the social benefit from Europe that we've all come to expect. And frankly, it's a range of rights that we've got from Europe, that we couldn't be certain that Scotland would get, if we were left to the tender mercies of the UK." NEWS BRIEFING IN PROGRESS (SOUNDBITE) (English) SCOTTISH MINISTER FOR EUROPE, ALASDAIR ALLAN, SAYING: "If Scotland is taken out of the European Union against the will of her people, as expressed in the referendum, that will certainly increase the pressure, it will certainly increase the demand, for independence in the future. But the task in front of us in the immediate days ahead is to make sure that Scotland remains part of the European Union." NEWS BRIEFING IN PROGRESS ALLAN (SOUNDBITE) (English) SCOTTISH MINISTER FOR EUROPE, ALASDAIR ALLAN, SAYING: "I think that Scotland will vote to stay in the European Union, I'm determined to work to ensure that we get every vote to achieve that. But the Scottish government will have a very clear argument that Scotland is better off enjoying the benefits of European Union membership. The fact is, that 11 billion pounds of our exports annually, externally from the UK, go to the European Union, 300,000 jobs in Scotland depend on the relationship with the European Union." BRITISH, EU AND SCOTTISH FLAGS
- Embargoed: 9th June 2016 11:40
- Keywords: Brexit referendum Britain Scotland EU Alasdair Allan
- Location: BRUSSELS, BELGIUM
- City: BRUSSELS, BELGIUM
- Country: Belgium
- Topics: European Union,Government/Politics
- Reuters ID: LVA0014JB3MMF
- Aspect Ratio: 16:9
- Story Text: Scots must vote to keep Britain in the European Union or risk social rights protected by the European Union (EU) being eroded under the "tender mercies" of post-Brexit London governments, a Scottish minister said on Tuesday (May 24).
Visiting Brussels after last week being named Europe minister in the devolved Scottish government, Alasdair Allan told Reuters that a British vote next month to leave the EU could jeopardise trade and labour rights cherished by Scots, and would lead to new calls for independence.
His remarks highlighted a leftward slant in Scottish politics -- also a feature of Scotland's 2014 independence referendum -- as well as expectations that Scots will vote heavily in favour of remaining in the EU.
The 84 percent of the UK electorate living in England, where the referendum debate has split the governing Conservatives and prompted accusations of scare-mongering on both sides, is more evenly divided.
Noting cross-party support in Scotland for staying in the EU, Allan said the Scottish National Party (SNP) of First Minister Nicola Sturgeon -- reappointed following elections to the Scottish parliament on May 5 -- would stress the benefits of membership in campaigning for the June 23 referendum.
It was not just about trade, but also "a range of rights that we've got from Europe, that we couldn't be certain that Scotland would get, if we were left to the tender mercies of the UK," Allan said.
While reluctant to comment on how the Scottish government would react to a vote for Brexit, Allan restated that this would revive pressure for a new referendum on breaking up the United Kingdom, less than two years after Scots rejected that by a 55-45 margin, in what was billed as a "once in a generation" decision.
"If Scotland is taken out of the European Union against the will of her people, as expressed in the referendum, that will certainly increase the pressure, it will certainly increase the demand, for independence in the future. But the task in front of us in the immediate days ahead is to make sure that Scotland remains part of the European Union," the minister added.
Allan declined comment on the timing of a new secession vote.
If Britain remains in the bloc, Allan said he would press for a greater direct Scottish role in EU affairs, for example during the six-month British presidency of EU ministerial councils starting in July 2017. With Scotland accounting for much of Britain's fishing industry, he said, a minister in the Scottish government might chair EU meetings on the issue. - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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