Scottish Labour leader backs rejoining EU in change of position

Michael Marra said it was in Scotland’s interests to rejoin the bloc, and called for this to be included in the next UK Labour manifesto.

He accepted such a move would throw up “serious questions” but insisted “difficult is not the same as impossible”.

Last month, Mr Marra, who was elected Scottish Labour leader in September, said it would be a “generation or more” before rejoining was a realistic prospect.

His latest comments come as Prime Minister Andy Burnham seeks closer ties with the EU.

Mr Marra said his previous answer “troubled” him, because he “told people what I thought was politically possible”.

He added: “Now I understand that my job is to help change what is possible.”

Addressing party supporters in Edinburgh, he said: “It is in Scotland’s interests and in the interests of the whole United Kingdom for the UK to rejoin the European Union.

“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.”

Mr Marra said the world is fragile and uncertain, with both opportunities and “serious threats”.

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He added: “We are stronger as part of the United Kingdom, and we would be stronger still as part of a Europe working together.”

He said “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.

He argued rejoining the EU “won’t solve every problem we have”, but added: “If we’re serious about growth, we cannot keep ignoring the opportunity on our doorstep.”

Mr Marra said: “I know that rejoining the EU won’t be easy. There are serious questions about our currency, our borders, our laws and our obligations.

“We shouldn’t hide from those questions or pretend the answers are straightforward.

“Nor can we assume that our European neighbours would offer us whatever terms we wanted.

“But difficult is not the same as impossible. The Prime Minister has acknowledged that Brexit has done more harm than good.

“He has called for an evidence-based assessment and a discussion about what Britain’s long-term relationship with Europe should be.

“Today, I am putting Scottish Labour at the vanguard of that conversation.

“Rejoining the EU is not the current policy of the UK Labour Party and not the current policy of the UK Labour government.

“The UK Labour Party isn’t there yet. This is a distinct Scottish Labour position.”

He said he had written to the Prime Minister “making the case that rejoining be considered as part of Britain’s longer-term European debate”.

Mr Marra also called for rejoining to be included in the next UK Labour manifesto.

He said he will convene a Scottish summit in the next year, bringing together businesses, trade unions, universities, civil society and opposition parties.

Mr Burnham is 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.

Asked if he was flying a kite for Mr Burnham, the Scottish Labour leader said: “This is genuinely the position of the Scottish Labour Party that I have arrived at looking at the needs of Scotland and what best serves the interests of the country on that basis.”

He insisted it was not contradictory to back rejoining the EU while refusing to reopen the issue of Scottish independence, arguing they are “very different questions”.

Asked if rejoining should require a referendum, Mr Marra said the main thing was to “make the case”, adding: “This is a long-term project.

“I don’t see this happening in the next two years or more. We have to really move the dial.”

He said the mechanism for rejoining was “up for debate”.

A spokesman for First Minister John Swinney said: “It’s welcome that voices in Labour now seem to be acknowledging that Brexit has been a catastrophic mistake, and obviously Labour enabled Brexit against the wishes of the people of Scotland.

“We’re all now seeing the consequences of that.

“Labour’s position is quite confused, to put it politely. There seems to be several different policies saying different things, whereas the Scottish government is unequivocal in support for re-joining the European Union.

“But the most significant aspect, I would say, of what Mr Marra said this morning for people in Scotland is - if he now accepts that it’s acceptable to and right that we revisit a decision on Brexit, obviously that means he would now accept that it’s okay for the people of Scotland, if they wish, to revisit the Scottish independence question as well.”

When asked if the government would join any summit on the EU held by Mr Marra, the spokesman said: “To be honest, I don’t really know why it’s for him to chair a summit on it when we’ve had plenty of discussions on this.

“We will consider any invitation received, but the Scottish government’s position has been clear and consistent before, during and after Brexit.”

He added: “It’s a shame that Labour couldn’t support a cross-party effort a few weeks back from the Scottish Parliament.”

READ MORE: Michael Marra: I'd like Scotland to rejoin EU in a generation

The Scottish Greens accused Labour of “utter hypocrisy”.

The party’s co-leader Gillian Mackay said: “Michael Marra is right that Scotland’s place is in the EU, but he cannot at the same time ignore the growing demand for an independence referendum.

“Scottish voters have repeatedly called for a vote on our country’s constitutional future and have been completely ignored. Is Scottish Labour now arguing that it’s fine to have a second referendum on being a member of the EU and not on independence?

“This shows the utter hypocrisy of a party striving for relevance while completely ignoring the will of voters.

“It is another example of Scottish Labour changing its position to fall in line behind Westminster. We’ve heard promises like this before, only for them to disappear when they are not politically convenient.”