Scotland & the EU ScotRef Westminster Mismanagement

Westminster working against Scotland’s interests on Europe

EU flagIt has become increasingly clear Westminster does not want the people of Scotland to know the truth about independence and the opportunities it can bring as it fears that the facts will undermine the No campaign’s “Project Fear” message.

EU is big in Japan

In the news today Japan, in response to the UK governments plans for an in/out referendum on EU membership, has issued the following warning.

Japan has urged the UK to stay in the EU. Not only to stay, but to “to maintain a leading role in the European Union”, saying that “membership is a “key advantage for companies looking to access Europe’s single market”.

Japan’s embassy in the UK went further when it issued the following statement: “the advantage of the UK as a gateway to the European market has attracted Japanese investment. The Government of Japan expects the UK to maintain this  favourable role”.

I don’t disagree with this, although in no way do I claim that the EU is perfect (far from it). However, the maintenance of EU membership, particularly the common market element, is economically vital to both Scotland’s and the wider UK’s economic interests and especially for Scottish business. Those interests should not be put at risk in a UK wide vote which will most likely be decided by the South-East of the UK because of the nature of our electoral system and the population concentration in that part of the country.

Cameron will return to power in 2015

The reason the Japanese Government issued this statement is because they were encouraged to do so by the UK Government. David Cameron has become increasingly worried by the rising influence of UKIP and the European Union membership question in British politics ahead of the 2015 Westminster election. Particularly when it comes to his core vote in London and the South East of the UK, hence why he has agreed to an in/out referendum on the UK’s membership of the EU shortly after the 2015 General Election. Setting this referendum has contributed to a turn around in the polls for the Conservatives, so much so that it is looking much more likely David Cameron will be returned to power in 2015 partly on a manifesto commitment which gives Britain the option of leaving Europe.

We have a situation where at least some elements of the UK Government want the public to vote for staying in the EU in 2016 but recognise there is a substantial risk to the country’s ongoing membership. They have begun to pull out all the stops including seeking opinions from foreign governments to better educate, inform and influence British voters.

Double standards

However, the same UK Government refuses to answer vital questions about the proposition for Scotland with a No vote in next year’s Scotland referendum, including the potential for Scotland leaving the UK if it votes No in the independence referendum next September. Presumably this is because they know that better informed voters will not vote in the way they want?

In a related development, the Sunday papers reported on internal Yes Scotland research showing that the more informed a Scottish voter is the more likely they are to vote Yes next September. Perhaps that’s why the Scottish Government and Yes Scotland are producing more and more information every day to the extent that most reasonable questions on the Yes proposition can now be met with substantial answers. Any gaps which remain will be covered in November’s Scottish Parliament white paper, almost a year ahead of the independence referendum.

Undemocratic

For democracy to work properly, all votes require the people to make educated and informed decisions. Even unionist members of the House of Lords have attacked the Scottish Secretary for refusing to ask the European Union’s governing body for advice on Scotland’s future if it becomes independent as the Westminster committees investigate the possible scenarios for Scotland following a Yes or No vote.

In fact, the House of Lords Economic Affairs Committee accused Scottish Secretary Michael Moore of leaving Scotland with “a blind vote” and adopting a “puzzling”, “unsustainable” and “totally irresponsible” position. The problem for the Scottish Government is that only member-states such as the UK can expect a proper response from Brussels on subjects like the terms of an independent Scotland’s or the remaining UK’s (rUK’s) membership (the principle is not in any real question but the terms are up for negotiation during a set transition period in which Scotland will still be part of the Westminster system for circa 18 months). The European Commission has made it clear that whilst it is sympathetic to the need for discussions it can only act when approached by the UK Government.

Even arch unionist Lord Forsyth of Polltax (that might not be his real title) said “I find it a bit puzzling how you can reconcile saying ‘we’re not prepared to talk to the Commission as a Government to ask what the consequences would be’, with saying at the same time that we want to have ‘a fully informed debate’.

Conclusion

It is plain for all to see that when the UK Government expects or knows it can get the answer it wants, it is willing to engage internationally or produce scaremongering reports. In contrast, when it is worried about its ability to influence the answer, the default position is to avoid asking the question and reduce information which undermines the public’s right to a well informed debate.

In my view, this is nothing less than an affront to democracy. The people of Scotland are being denied their democratic right to have an informed and educated debate solely because it is politically expedient for the No Campaign to maintain some level of fictional uncertainty. All of this despite the fact that the UK government and the Secretary of State for Scotland are paid to act in our best interests as much as any other part of the UK. It is clearly in the best interests of the people of Scotland to have clarification on matters like the terms of and process for EU membership and the UK Government should ask the EU to off advice on these matters as soon as possible.

The Scottish Government’s long held position that EU membership for a newly independent Scotland would be automatic (in other words its only the terms not the principle that are in question) is compelling and heavily backed by legal opinion. Voting Yes in 2014 is not a vote to leave the EU but rather a vote to guarantee Scotland’s continued membership without the risk of exit driven by the different values and outlook of London and the South-East. It also strikes me that renegotiating the terms of our membership will be straightforward as will be maintaining the opt-outs on Shengen and the Euro etc. It is not the size of the country that matters in negotiations with the EU but rather the leverage and potential contribution of that country. Given our long-standing history in Europe and of course Scotland’s energy, renewables, fishing and broader industrial assets, we should expect favourable terms of membership.

Fortunately, not everyone wants to keep Scottish voters in the dark. Recently, several sources within the Danish Government made it clear that continued EU membership for a newly independent Scotland would be a formality.

Polls consistently show that Scotland would vote to stay in the EU but that the rest of the UK would probably vote to leave. Given our relative population sizes this raises the prospect that Scotland (should we vote to remain politically dependent on Westminster) could be taken out of the EU against our wishes by the larger English population’s vote.  This point is driven home by the recent polling of Panelbase suggesting that if it looks like the UK is going to leave the EU then the projected voting intentions for the 2014 Scottish referendum move to a dead heat at 44% Yes and 44% No.

In simple terms, the only way to guarantee continued EU membership and to get a fully empowered government that works in the interests of Scotland is to vote Yes in 2014.

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About the author

Gordon MacIntyre-Kemp

Gordon MacIntyre-Kemp is the Founder and Chief Executive of Business for Scotland. Before becoming CEO of Business for Scotland Gordon ran a business strategy and social media, sales & marketing consultancy.

With a degree in business, marketing and economics, Gordon has worked as an economic development planning professional, and in marketing roles specialising in pricing modelling and promotional evaluation for global companies (including P&G).

Gordon benefits (not suffers) from dyslexia, and is a proponent of the emerging New Economics School. Gordon contributes articles to Business for Scotland, The National and Believe in Scotland.

6 Comments

    • “In my view, this is nothing less than an affront to democracy. The people of Scotland are being denied their democratic right to have an informed and educated debate solely because it is politically expedient for the No Campaign to maintain some level of fictional uncertainty”

      The people of England, since 1997, have been ignored regarding the devolution issue. No consideration has been given to the English people regarding OUR independence and/or devolved body i.e. a parliament. Since you see it fit that Scotland has been unfairly treated, you also consider it unfair that England has been unfairly treated, one would assume?

      Gordon, you come across as very pro-Scotland in your speech and very pro-EU. Westminster is the enemy and Brussels is the favourable friend. It is amazing that you wish to see Scotland’s nationhood removed and for Scotland to become a mere “region” of the EU (as it will be). To be governed by Brussels not from Holyrood or Westminster, but by Brussels. A foreign institution with no democratic mandate whatsoever. Fortunately Scotland voted NO and we remain the UNITED Kingdom in the face of a growing European super-state that you wish Scotland to be a part of.

      You should be careful what you wish for.

  • I am a bit concerned regarding joining the EU and the terms we will have to sign up to. I would hope we as a nation would have a vote on whether we agree with the terms laid down for our joining. I am also concerned about the assumption …in the pro independence sites…that we are joining .

    • Irene – its not actually a case of joining the EU, Scotland is a nation in a union (UK) and that union is a member of the EU. If we vote to become politically independent on the UK union we stay members of the EU. The rights of EU citizenship are vested in the individual and so can’t be removed just because we decided to move some political decision making from Westminster to Hollyrood.

      To actually leave the EU we would have to have a separate debate, hold a separate referendum on leaving the EU, vote to leave, and then spend about 4 years negotiating our way out whilst simultaneously renegotiating trade deals (formally covered by our EU membership) with the rest of the world.

      The Scottish Government will publish a white paper defining independence in October this year and that will state clearly that we are voting for political self governance within a UK and EU trade union. If you are saying that you cant vote yes simply because the UK government wont ask the EU for clarification on the terms of our continued membership then you are voting for the side that has denied your democratic right to be informed for their own political gain.

      Denmark has more opt outs than the UK and Scotland has more strategically important assets in than Denmark so it is reasonable to assume that we will get a good deal.

    • I am very concerned about joining the EU and more so by the fact that it’s being shoved down our throat.

      • We are not planning on joining the EU – we are already members of the EU – we are planning no change to that. This referendum is not about the EU it is about building a better Scotland through enlightened self governance. If you want to leave the EU then in Scotland first elections campaign for a party that wants to leave.

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