Good to see positive ideas coming forward to maintain Scotland's links with EU
Ross Greer MSP, External Affairs spokesperson for the Scottish Greens, today (15 Nov) commented on proposals for Scotland to maintain strong links with Europe after Brexit.
As reported in today's Herald, Scots could be offered tailored passports to allow them to live and work in the European Union if the UK goes ahead with a hard Brexit that ends free movement of people. Experts at the London School of Economics and King’s College London have suggested that a devolved Scotland could issue its own national insurance numbers for Scots to use to apply for jobs in Europe.
Meanwhile, BBC Scotland has reported that Scotland could seek to become a member of the European Economic Area (EEA) when the UK leaves the EU. The plan could give EU citizens the right to work in Scotland but could only happen if the UK and European institutions agreed.
Ross Greer MSP said:
“Remaining part of the single market and protecting the free movement of people are interlinked and fundamental to Scotland's approach as a welcoming nation. The hard-Brexit alternative would inevitably mean far more job losses and damage to our economy. In these unprecedented times all options must be explored for the benefit of Scotland, and it's good to see positive ideas coming forward, in contrast to the confusion and lack of strategy emanating from Whitehall and Westminster.
“A few weeks ago, David Davis said he couldn’t see how immigration policy controlled by the Scottish Parliament ‘would work’. He and the rest of the UK government must now demonstrate a willingness to consider these very credible and detailed proposals, drafted by respected academics, or more and more people in Scotland will quickly begin to believe that a referendum on Scotland becoming an independent member of the European Union is the only way to have our democratic wishes respected.”
Scottish passport plan could allow Scots to keep working and living in Europe (Herald)