SNP out of touch with reality on EU, claims Michael Moore

The Secretary of State for Scotland has questioned the reality of the SNP’s assertions on EU membership.

In an update to Scottish Lib Dem members on the referendum in Dundee as part of the party’s conference, Michael Moore MP said the independence debate should be based on hard and fast realities.

He said: “(The EU is) … where decisions are taken on fishing quotas, on agriculture policy, on the regulation of our financial services.

“Each and every one of these issues is crucial to Scotland’s interests. And in each and every one, Scotland gets the best deal from being part of a major member state.

“The Nationalists have gone from saying that everyone agrees an independent Scotland would inherit automatic membership on existing terms.”

He added: “Before they have even told us when we will have the vote, the SNP have said we will be independent by March 2016.

“Could everything be renegotiated and all member states made happy in just a year and a half?

“Anyone in Scotland can tell you that in any negotiation, there is a simple reality the more you are willing to give up, the faster you can reach a deal.”