Scottish Labour leader Michael Marra has called for the UK to rejoin the European Union, insisting this should be a "long-term objective" for the whole country. Speaking in Edinburgh on Tuesday, the Labour MSP said he wanted "solidarity, not separation" and accepted that "rejoining the EU won't be easy".
Mr Marra acknowledged there would be "serious questions" over issues such as currency and borders before the UK could go back into the EU, but insisted that "difficult is not the same as impossible".
Position goes further than Prime Minister
Mr Marra accepted his call for the UK to go back into Europe goes further than Prime Minister Andy Burnham's position. While the UK Labour leader is seeking closer ties with the EU, Mr Marra was clear that "it is in Scotland's interests, and in the interests of the whole United Kingdom, for the UK to rejoin the European Union".
Addressing party supporters, the Scottish Labour leader set out how going back into Europe would boost the economy. He said that "breaking down barriers" with European nations would "help Scottish businesses grow, attract investment and create better-paid jobs". It could also "help bring down prices and generate more money for our public services", he added.
Mr Marra accepted that rejoining the EU "won't solve every problem we have", adding: "If we're serious about growth, we cannot keep ignoring the opportunity on our doorstep."
Speech ahead of Brussels trip
His speech came ahead of the Prime Minister travelling to Brussels next week where he is expected to sign a series of deals with the EU. These will be focused on bringing down post-Brexit trade barriers on food and farming, as well as working more closely on emissions trading and making it easier for young people from the UK to work, live and study in Europe, and vice versa.
But Mr Marra said the UK should go further than this and rejoin the EU. He declared: "The UK should rejoin the European Union and Scottish Labour will work to make that happen."
Mr Marra added: "I don't pretend it will happen quickly. But I believe we should set it as a long-term objective for the UK and that Scotland should lead the change in making that happen."
Distinct Scottish Labour position
Noting that the Prime Minister has called for a "discussion about what Britain's long-term relationship with Europe should be", Mr Marra said he was "putting Scottish Labour in the vanguard of that conversation". He said: "Rejoining the EU is not the current policy of the UK Labour Party and not the current policy of the UK Government. The UK Labour Party isn't there yet. This is a distinct Scottish Labour position."
In making the case for going back into Europe, Mr Marra said he was "setting out what I think the best destination is for Scotland and the whole of the UK". He said he would "seek to make that positive case and build that consensus", adding that he has written to the Prime Minister "making the case that rejoining be considered as part of Britain's longer-term European debate".
He said that Labour could "build a case" for rejoining "through honest deliberation and careful compromise", telling his party: "We can build a coalition of those seeking change."
Reactions from other parties
While the SNP want to see an independent Scotland join the European Union, Mr Marra also claimed "the truth is that Scotland's best chance for re-entering the EU is by the UK rejoining". He said: "The SNP tells Scots they must leave one union to join another. I'm not asking Scotland to choose. I'm asking Scotland to help bring the whole United Kingdom back into Europe. Let's use one union to join another."
Mr Marra now plans to stage a summit in Scotland next year, bringing together businesses, trade unions, universities, young people and civil society, to "develop the case" for rejoining the EU. He also said he would invite all the other parties at Holyrood to take part in these talks, saying that "most of the parties agree we should strengthen our European ties".
However, Mr Marra refused to say if another referendum on EU membership would have to be held for Britain to rejoin, saying he was "setting out as the principle of where we should get to" with regards to Europe and the focus of his speech was on "the destination, and not just that mechanism".
Reform UK MSP Max Bannerman said: "We don't need to rejoin the EU to see growth – it's perfectly achievable by looking inward, slimming down the benefits bill, creating jobs and not frightening off investment with misguided taxation." He added: "The 2016 Brexit decision returned control of money, borders and trade policy to Westminster. If there's improvement to be made, it's to the parts of the rushed Brexit strategy orchestrated by a succession of failed leaders."
Scottish Liberal Democrat leader Alex Cole-Hamilton said: "My party has always said that we need to put Britain back at the heart of Europe, so I am pleased to see Michael Marra and Scottish Labour following our lead." He added: "It's important to offer the people of Britain a realistic road map back to Europe. That starts with rejoining the single market and establishing a customs union as a key first step. It's how we support businesses now, lower prices and get our economy moving."
SNP depute leader Keith Brown MSP said it was "good that Scottish Labour has finally accepted the obvious fact – that the UK ripping Scotland out of the EU against our will has been a disaster". He added: "The UK Labour Government's position is as clear as mud – the fact is the only way to guarantee Scotland's EU membership is to rejoin as an independent member state."
