Meeting of the Parliament 30 January 2024
No, not just now. I am just making this very powerful argument. [Laughter.]
I remember that Alex Salmond was more obsessed with attacking the UK Government than he was with making a positive case for Europe during that referendum. I remember two direct interventions. The only intervention from Alex Salmond in that European referendum was to attack the UK Government. The SNP does not really care about Europe; it only uses it for its advantage as much as it can.
We need to make the positive case for Europe by working closely with our neighbours in Europe to undo the damage—the economic damage and the division—and make sure that we can get the workers for the UK that we need. Let us not repeat the mistakes that we made in the referendum on independence.
I move amendment S6M-12004.3, to leave out from “notes” to end and insert:
“believes that close UK-European cooperation is a benefit to Scotland and the whole of the UK; notes that work must be done to rebuild the UK’s relationship with the EU and the trust and partnerships that have been badly damaged by the UK Conservative administration; believes that a comprehensive step-by-step plan is required to rebuild those ties with the UK’s nearest neighbours, removing barriers and forging a new partnership built on cooperation, and that these essential steps on the road to EU membership will help restore the economy, prosperity and opportunities; considers that, while this work is ongoing, there are choices that can be taken right now by the Scottish Government to ensure that people in Scotland can still access the many benefits of a close relationship with the EU, and calls, therefore, on the Scottish Government to fulfil its commitment to create a full replacement Erasmus scheme, following the example of the Welsh Government and its Taith scheme.”
Motions, questions or amendments mentioned by their reference code.