Hansard

Scotland is often described as being on the periphery of Europe. Although that may be true in a geographic sense, our strong cultural, historical and political connection to Europe suggests otherwise. Indeed, it is impossible to understand Scottish culture or the development of our political system without an appreciation of our historic links to other European nations. We need only look at the quintessential markers of Scottish nationhood to realise that Scotland itself is a product of Europe and of our interactions with our European neighbours.

Today, we have a more formalised relationship with our European neighbours, and the legislation that we scrutinise in our committees and debate in this chamber is always considered within a European legal context. Clearly, Scotland has benefited greatly from its European interactions, and I believe that Scotland should continue to build on those connections as a constructive member of the European Union.

However, after being instructed that a no vote in last year’s referendum was the only way to secure Scotland’s participation in the EU, our EU membership and our ability effectively to influence European policy are now under threat from the Tory party. David Cameron’s commitment to an in/out referendum on our EU membership threatens to undermine decades of European co-operation and the vital economic benefits of a single market that gives Scotland access to 500 million people and 22 million businesses across Europe.

It is the threat to Scotland’s participation in the single market that I am particularly concerned about: I believe that removal of our EU membership would seriously undermine Scotland’s long-term economic objectives. The EU accounts for nearly half of Scotland’s international exports, and in 2011 those European exports supported more than 336,000 jobs in Scotland.

It is difficult to understand how our withdrawal from the European single market would improve economic relations with Europe, particularly in light of the €985 million investment that Scotland currently receives from the European regional development fund and the European social fund. In reality, the loss of EU membership would not only threaten jobs; it would also undermine investment and our ability to create sustainable growth.

Putting aside economics for a moment, the threat of the UK Government’s proposed EU referendum is a symptom of a more general rise in hostility against Europe from the Westminster elite. That hostility has also shown itself in the Tory threat to withdraw the UK from the European Court of Human Rights. That move would place us alongside Belarus as one of the few European states not to have ratified the European convention on human rights. We have also seen that hostility focused against migrants as the UK Government toughens its rhetoric against Europeans who wish to work hard and build a life in the UK. It is an unedifying spectacle to see UK parties tack to the right as a response to the siren calls from UKIP. It is essential that we continue to challenge the UK Government’s politically motivated and illogical immigration rhetoric.

As the minister mentioned in his opening speech, University College London found that EU migrants contributed more than £20 billion to the economy between 2001 and 2011. Workers from EU 15 countries such as France and Germany contributed 64 per cent more in tax than they received in benefits, and migrants from newer accession states paid 12 per cent more than they received. That shoots down the argument that Jamie McGrigor used earlier about people coming here and taking benefits. The figures give the lie to that argument. European migrants make positive economic, social and cultural contributions to Scotland, and they deserve better than a Westminster political culture that is locked in a race to the bottom on immigration.

The clear difference in approach that we see at Westminster, compared with that at Holyrood, is indicative of the diverging political cultures of the two Parliaments. It is becoming increasingly apparent that the UK Government does not reflect the views of the people of Scotland and that it does not prioritise the Scottish position on a range of European policy issues.

Research by Durham University and the University of East Anglia concluded that although a majority of constituencies in England would vote to leave the EU, only four seats in Scotland would vote to do likewise. Dr Hanretty of the University of East Anglia said that the findings show that

“Scottish views on the European Union are distinct from English views”

and that—I want to quote very carefully here—

“Even looking at constituencies just north of the border—areas that are by no means bedrocks of SNP support—you find a more favourable opinion of the EU than you do in the north of England.”

Those findings show why it is essential that Scotland has a democratic safeguard against the threat of the UK Government’s in/out referendum. I therefore fully support the introduction of a four-nation consent clause as part of any future EU referendum bill to ensure that the voices of the respective UK nations are respected.

We were told to vote no to be part of the family of nations. We cannot be a family if one particular member of that family can drag the other three members out of the EU. That is not a family of nations. Scotland cannot be dragged out of Europe against the wishes of the majority of people in Scotland.

I conclude by reaffirming the importance of the UK’s European Union membership but say also that Scotland’s interests would, ultimately, best be served by having our own voice on the European stage. The proposals that the Smith commission outlined, which would see greater Scottish Government and UK Government co-operation on European representation, are welcome, but there are still limitations to that approach. I know that I will not be alone in expressing concern about the UK Government’s ability to represent accurately our interests on energy policy, fisheries and many other portfolio areas.

I look forward to the day when Scotland’s voice is heard unimpeded at the top tables of Europe. Given the evidence from recent polling, that day might come sooner rather than later.