Single Market Membership and Free Movement Would Be Key Priorities
The SNP would demand the UK has a close relationship with the EU in negotiations with a minority Labour government – as analysis shows the SNP could hold the balance of power at the next election.
As Scotland marks Europe Day, Alyn Smith MP said while independence is the only way for Scotland to regain its membership of the EU, the SNP would seek to “undo Brexit as far as possible” and secure a close relationship between the UK and the EU in the interim, with single market membership and free movement being key priorities.
The SNP is the only major party to support rejoining the EU – after U-turns from Keir Starmer’s pro-Brexit Labour Party and the Lib Dems.
The latest YouGov poll, conducted on 1st May, shows 84% of Scots and 67% of people across the UK think the UK government is handling Brexit badly, with just 9% of Scots and 22% of people across the UK believing the UK government is handling Brexit well. A separate poll conducted by Savanta for ITV Peston, between 28th April and 3rd May, found 86% of young people across the UK aged 18-25 want to rejoin the EU.
Commenting, the SNP’s EU Accession spokesperson, Alyn Smith MP said:
“Brexit has been a disaster for Scotland and the UK – costing our economy billions, damaging the NHS, and contributing to the cost of living crisis – and there’s been a conspiracy of silence on it from Labour and the Tories.
“While independence is the only way for Scotland to regain our EU membership, the SNP could hold the balance of power at the next election and we would use our influence to undo Brexit as far as possible and demand the UK has a close relationship with the EU.
“With all the signs pointing to a hung parliament, the SNP could force a minority Labour government to rejoin the EU single market, reintroduce free movement and transfer power for an independence referendum to Edinburgh, so Scotland can regain our place in Europe.
“The SNP would also push for the UK to rejoin Erasmus and Horizon Europe, and defend the European Court of Justice, while ensuring Scotland has the power to escape Brexit entirely with independence.
“At the next election, voting SNP is the only way to beat the Tories in Scotland – and a strong team of SNP MPs can get the best deal for Scotland, including powers over an independence referendum, a close relationship with Europe and making the cost of living crisis a key priority.”
Notes to Editors:
YouGov poll can be viewed here.
ITV Peston poll can be viewed here.
snpmedia@snpmedia.net