Alyn Smith

Scotland needs to take her place as an independent European nation

With the First Ministers of Scotland, Wales and North Ireland all committed to an independent future, recognising a more prosperous future away from Westminster, there is a Celtic connection across these islands no Westminster Prime…

Through a fresh start with independence, we can take control of our energy resources and entice businesses to make Scotland their home – that’s how we build a wealthier Scotland anew.

Broken, Brexit Britain is in terminal decline and Andy Burnham is fast running into that reality, but it does not have to be that way for Scotland.

The undoubted success of Ireland is a mere glimpse into the wealth of an independent Scotland.

The Labour Party made a key error in cutting international aid and it seems Andy Burnham is intent to double down on it.

It's when the time is right, and that'll be.. I would say that there would need to be a second referendum on the euro for the people of Scotland to decide that.

The commitment is to participate in economic and monetary union, and that's something that we will take on, of course we will, because that's what you need to do to accede into the European Union.

What we're looking for is a normal accession process.

That’s not to mention the opportunities to study and work abroad enjoyed by my generation which have been robbed from our young people.

Our NHS and care sector have been hit with staff shortages, and Brexit has driven up the cost of living for all of us.

But the impact of Brexit goes way beyond the damage to our economy. In an increasingly uncertain world, we have been left isolated from our closest allies in Europe.

A Brexit which Scotland never voted has hammered our economy – hitting our key food and drink and oil and chemicals industries hardest by making trade with our closest allies harder.

Ten years on from the Brexit vote, this latest report lays bare the facts - Scotland is still paying a massive price for being dragged out of the EU against our will.

Equally, as the interim report published by the CMA on 1st May notes, “Fuel margins remain at historically high levels reflecting ongoing concern about a lack of competitive pressure in the fuel retail market.”

Fuel prices have increased substantially following the outbreak of the Iran War.

As the MSP of a Scottish rural constituency, households in my area and others across Scotland are far more likely to rely on domestic fuel oil for which I note there is no price cap.