Scottish Government Debate: Protecting Scotland’s Interests in Negotiating our Future Relationship with Europe

Michael Russell S5M-03427 That the Parliament notes the publication on 20 December 2016 by the Scottish Government of Scotland’s Place in Europe, setting out options for the future of the UK and Scotland’s relationship with Europe; understands the detrimental social and economic impact on Scotland and the UK of losing their current place in the European single market; welcomes the options set out in the paper, including on free movement of workers; agrees that the UK as a whole should retain its place in the single market, ensuring rights not just for business but for citizens, and that, in the event that the UK opts to leave the single market, alternative approaches within the UK should be sought that would enable Scotland to retain its place within the single market and the devolution of necessary powers to the Scottish Parliament; agrees that further devolution to the Scottish Parliament is required to mitigate the impact of the UK's decision to leave the EU, and endorses the Scottish Government discussing these proposals with the UK Government in order to secure the protection of Scotland’s interests as part of the Article 50 process. Dean Lockhart S5M-03427.3 As an amendment to motion S5M-03427 in the name of Michael Russell (Protecting Scotland’s Interests in Negotiating our Future Relationship with Europe), leave out from "the detrimental" to end and insert "that the whole of the UK, as the member state, will be leaving the EU following the UK-wide EU referendum held on 23 June 2016; recognises that trade within the UK domestic market is four times as important to Scotland compared to trade with the EU’s single market; encourages all parties and the Scottish Government to work with the UK Government and other devolved governments in the UK to achieve the best possible negotiated outcome for Scotland and for the UK, and urges the Scottish Government to stop using the outcome of the EU referendum to campaign for Scottish independence." Lewis Macdonald S5M-03427.1 As an amendment to motion S5M-03427 in the name of Michael Russell (Protecting Scotland’s Interests in Negotiating our Future Relationship with Europe), insert at end ", and calls on the Scottish Government to further engage with the UK Government on arrangements that might apply after the invocation of Article 50, with a view to maintaining as many as possible of the benefits of the UK’s relationship with Europe in any transitional period." Willie Rennie S5M-03427.2 As an amendment to motion S5M-03427 in the name of Michael Russell (Protecting Scotland’s Interests in Negotiating our Future Relationship with Europe), leave out from “welcomes the options” to end and insert “regrets that the paper does not countenance the UK remaining a full member of the EU; considers that voting for a departure is not the same as voting for a destination; believes that this democratic decision cannot end with a 'blank cheque-Brexit' and a deal that nobody voted for being imposed by a Conservative administration still unable to provide any certainty and beset by contradictions, and calls on the UK Government to agree to a referendum on the final terms of Brexit and all of Scotland's MPs in the House of Commons to vote against the triggering of Article 50 unless this is guaranteed.”