Meeting of the Parliament 09 June 2015
I do not know whether Christian Allard will be allowed to vote or not. That is my honest answer.
If countries such as France, Germany and Belgium want a federal model in the shape of the holy Roman empire, so be it, but we want to ensure that the EU serves all member nations equally in achieving the objectives that can be agreed upon.
We need a lighter and more flexible Europe, not one that smacks of authoritarianism. The Prime Minister is fighting for practical improvements for all EU member states, not just the UK. Those are good intentions that surely deserve support.
The argument presented by the Scottish Government in its motion talks about the double-lock majority, suggesting that if one constituent part of the UK—England, Scotland, Wales or Northern Ireland—votes to leave the EU, that should not force the other constituent parts to leave the EU. I fail to understand the logic of that argument, because the other three constituent parts of the UK were given no say at all in the SNP’s separatism agenda in the other referendum. Is that not a palpable sign of the Government’s inconsistency? The point that Neil Findlay made in an intervention deserves scrutiny, not the brush-off.
I see all the benefits of the UK remaining a member of the EU but, as a member of the European and External Relations Committee, I have consistently argued that reform of the EU is required. As the Foreign Secretary, Philip Hammond, said at the weekend, we are simply calling for a fairer deal for Britain, and I am sure that that definitely includes Scotland. For my part, the Highlands and Islands desperately need the sort of EU investment that other nations enjoy.
David Cameron has yet to set out the specific details of the changes that we want, but clearly they will include opting out of an ever-closer EU, some way to adjust benefits for EU migrants and giving greater powers to national Parliaments to block EU legislation that could have a negative effect.
The debate should not be divisive. Questioning our relationship with Europe is not unnatural, as all relationships need questioning from time to time, but to do that in a divisive manner is simply unhelpful. Our Prime Minister will set out a programme of negotiations with our European partners to create a better deal, not just for Scotland and other parts of the UK but for the EU in general. We intend to make Europe work better, so why does the Scottish Government not get behind us, provide support and help us to deliver a better deal for Scotland?
I move amendment S4M-13404.2, to leave out from first “advocates” to end and insert:
“believes that the UK Parliament has the right to determine the franchise for such a referendum; recognises the vital importance of renegotiating the UK’s relationship with the EU, and pledges to work with the Prime Minister in order to achieve these changes and their subsequent approval in a UK-wide referendum.”
14:51Motions, questions or amendments mentioned by their reference code.
- S4M-13404.2 EU Referendum Motion