Meeting of the Parliament 17 March 2015
I am just going to close.
For all those reasons and many more, the need for a referendum on EU membership will become more apparent in the next two years, during which the British people will take part in a debate on Scotland’s and the UK’s position in the EU.
I move amendment S4M-12670.1, to leave out from “role” to end and insert:
“influential position as part of the UK as an active and constructive member state; recognises the UK Government’s track record of delivering positive change in Europe; notes the importance of the single market to the UK, which gives the UK economy access to 500 million consumers and 22 million businesses across the EU; acknowledges the additional social, cultural and educational benefits of EU membership for Scotland and the wider UK; welcomes the UK Government’s commitment to negotiate a new settlement for the UK in Europe followed by an in-out referendum before the end of 2017; notes that no other mainstream political party has publicly given a commitment to give the UK electorate a choice in a referendum on EU membership; further notes that the 1975 referendum on the UK’s membership of the European Economic Community was held on the basis of a simple one-person-one-vote system, and observes that the UK Government agreed with the Scottish Government to legislate for a fair, legal and decisive referendum in Scotland with no additional requirements other than a simple majority of votes.”
Motions, questions or amendments mentioned by their reference code.