Meeting of the Parliament 09 June 2015
I can always depend on Stewart Stevenson to make an interesting intervention.
I am not convinced that the introduction of a double majority is the way to resolve some of the issues. I do not deny that different results across the UK would be difficult, but the current public reaction does not suggest that that will happen. A double majority is not a logical or credible solution. We recognise that it is a UK vote. We cannot weight votes depending on where a voter lives in the UK, because that would be undemocratic. Last week, Gordon Wilson pointed out that that would set a precedent for any future referendums, and given the ambition of many in the SNP, one would think that that would be something that they would want to avoid. There are also legal concerns because the vote will involve a member state, not individual parts of that state.
The debate will be more productive if we emphasise where we have agreement, and we agree that we want the UK to stay within an EU that works in the interests of the people of Scotland and the UK. Let us not engineer a disagreement between Scotland, England and Wales—such a situation helped to give the Tories the keys to Downing Street—and miss the bigger prize.
As a member of the EU, we have a voice on the world stage that would otherwise be lost. Whether in discussions about tackling climate change or in our relationship with the biggest economies in the world, we have influence far greater than our size would suggest. We live in the 21st century—a time that demands co-operation and partnerships. The European Union is a positive force of which we should remain a part.
I move amendment S4M-13404.4 to leave out from “calls for” to end and insert:
“believes that the EU referendum should not be held on the same date as any other election in Britain, including the Scottish Parliament election in 2016, as recommended by the Electoral Commission in its briefing, Referendum on the United Kingdom’s membership of the European Union; highlights the substantial benefits of EU membership to Scotland and the UK’s economy through access to its single market; acknowledges the social, cultural and educational benefits of continued EU membership, and will make a positive progressive case for continued membership during the referendum while advocating constructive reform of the EU from within the existing treaty framework as strong and active members.”
14:44Motions, questions or amendments mentioned by their reference code.
- S4M-13404.4 EU Referendum Motion