Economy

Gordon Brown dismantles case for ‘independence’ in Europe

Published

12 years ago

June 27, 2014

Speaking in the European Parliament in Brussels yesterday (26 June), David Martin, Scotland’s senior MEP, said: “Former UK prime minister Gordon Brown has today totally dismissed the case for ‘independence’ in Europe and given other nationalist movements throughout the European Union pause for thought.”

Introduced by candidate for European Parliament President, and Leader of the Socialists and Democrats, Martin Schulz MEP, and chaired by Scottish MEP David Martin, Brown was listened to attentively by MEPs and officials from other member states who have great interest in the continued prosperity of the EU. Using the Scottish referendum as the theme of his speech, Brown expanded on SNP miscalculations on the costs of joining and being part of the EU if an independent Scotland was to be admitted and the second ‘black hole’ in SNP figures*, culminating in a total additional direct cost to Scottish taxpayers of around £2.5 billion (£935 per household) over 2014-20. “Scotland’s membership of the EU as part of the UK is worth £500 million a year more than as an independent state,” concluded Brown.

Brown’s speech explored why political nationalism, which was absent in Scotland for almost 300 years, has emerged as a powerful, but not unstoppable force and considered the rise of nationalist movements in Europe and specifically, the progressives’ response to Scottish nationalism and the September 18th referendum.

Speaking after the event, David Martin MEP said: "The debate in Scotland is not being held in a vacuum. The repercussions of the referendum in September will be felt across the European Union and is being closely watched in Europe's national capitals. “European politics in the 21st century is about coming together to face global issues. At a time when divisions are coming down across our continent, the nationalists' desire to put up barriers is a yesterday's answer to today's common challenges. In the UK as across the EU we achieve more together than we do apart."

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