He\u2019s made his bed but unfortunately the SNP is also forced to lie on it, and it is uncomfortable.\u00a0 Originally, the SNP was in favour of closer co-operation with Europe as a means to a more stable future.\u00a0 This changed when Edward Heath took the UK in, without a referendum, sacrificing Scotland\u2019s fishing industry, unnecessarily, as it turned out. I do not know if it was in the Tories\u2019 manifesto, but a referendum was not in the British tradition.<\/p>\n
When Labour came to power in 1974, Harold Wilson did have a manifesto commitment about the EEC, as it was in those days, asking if the people wanted to remain within, in June 1975.\u00a0\u00a0 The SNP campaigned for a No, with the slogan \u201cNot on anyone else\u2019s terms.\u201d\u00a0 Scotland voted Yes, with the exception of Shetland and the Western Isles.\u00a0 I remember being on a platform at a hall in Edinburgh, speaking for No, and on the same side as a gentlemanly elderly Tory\u00a0 – long before the days of Thatcher\u2019s toxicity.<\/p>\n
The Liberal made an impassioned plea; people in Europe got longer holidays with better weather, and yes he did use that expression!\u00a0 The Labour man, well it was his government\u2019s proposal, said that in France the farmers blocked the roads when they were unhappy about agricultural subsidies, letting me claim that we would be allowed to riot in the streets!<\/p>\n
At the SNP Conference in Edinburgh in 1978 I narrowly lost a motion to oppose membership, so I had form.\u00a0 My contention was that I could see no sense in seeking independence from one remote foreign capital only to meekly surrender it to an even remoter foreign capital.<\/p>\n
Anyway, at an Inverness Conference, 1981, I think, the SNP decided to change its mind on Europe, as we wished to challenge the \u201clonely isolated\u201d tag that our opponents were using on independence.\u00a0 People credited that to Jim Sillars, but those with better memories say Gordon Wilson.\u00a0 In our house we had a heated argument with my youngest son calling me an Albanian;\u00a0 my wife defused that by saying \u201cI thought you came from Dundee!\u201d (We all did). Anyway my card was not taken at Conference, and the SNP supported membership.<\/p>\n
As to why I changed my mind?\u00a0 When discussing the matter with the late Jimmy Halliday and making the point about the loss of independence (as yet not attained) he said: \u201cScotland will have exactly the same amount of independence as every other country in that organisation\u201d.\u00a0 There was also the likelihood of a wider but shallower Europe.\u00a0 Game set and match to my political role model!<\/p>\n
History lecture over, how do we in the SNP ride the two horses, Yes for Independence, and No to exit Europe?\u00a0\u00a0 Well, despite all the hype and hoohah, Europe is secondary.\u00a0 Just think, we are seeing thousands, millions really, of refugees trying to enter Europe in search of sanctuary, a complex war in the Middle East, Russian aggression in the Ukraine and the Baltic, and an attack on the poor and dispossessed in the UK.\u00a0 The main driver of Brexit is a greedy right wing narrow minded movement which is dominated by England.\u00a0 We can only influence the consequences by Scottish Independence.\u00a0 We see now how any improvements for Scotland are struck down by the Tory majority.\u00a0 We do not want to be in any shared campaign, the lines are too blurred.<\/p>\n
Remember, when the Liberals went into coalition with the Tories they were slaughtered at the next election.\u00a0 When Labour stood shoulder to shoulder with the Tories in the Referendum they suffered the same fate. Let\u2019s not be tempted to commit suicide.<\/p>\n
The Tory approach to Europe is simple;\u00a0 they have never reconciled themselves to not running it, as they believe this is their divine right.\u00a0 There was a half hearted attempt to have Tony Blair become the top dog in Europe, but the biggest half ie all the other countries did not agree, so that dog was put down. (I know Tony Blair was not a Tory but they are all brothers under the skin).<\/p>\n
It is my belief that we should not become confused about a divisive issue that may not even arise;\u00a0 if there is a referendum just after the Scottish Election then our work force will be weary and not inclined to campaign vigorously.\u00a0 We will not be enthusiastic, and I am not sure if support for the EU in Scotland is as popular as the polls make out; further if Scotland does vote to leave then it puts us on the back foot, the last thing we need at this juncture.\u00a0 I would hope that we run a minimal campaign, clearly stating our aims.\u00a0 Whether we remain in Europe or not, the decision must be made by Scotland.<\/p>\n
And as I write, I see Prime Minister David Cameron stating that he had a deal on Europe \u2013 no details on the Internet yet!<\/p>\n
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