Brussels bigwig claims crumbling EU ‘cannot afford’ to lose SCOTLAND as Brexit talks loom
THE EU’s chief Brexit negotiator has claimed Europe “cannot afford to lose” Scotland in a desperate bid to upset the UK as the Prime Minister prepares to trigger Article 50.
Alex Salmond: EU has more sympathy for Scotland
Guy Verhofstadt, the former Belgian prime minister who is set to play a key role in Brexit negotiations, used the romantic sentiment of Valentine’s Day to suggest relations between the EU and Scotland may not be over.
He told The National: “Europe hasn’t forgotten that a large majority of the Scottish people voted to remain.
“We need the Scottish people and their firm European beliefs.
“Scotland has shaped European civilisation, through iconic figures such as David Hume, Alexander Fleming and Adam Smith and still does so today by being at the forefront of defining and strengthening European values.
“We cannot afford to lose that.”
"I don't think this is a cherry-picking thing, I am very sorry for Scotland because of that."
With Theresa May set to trigger Article 50 next month to begin Brexit negotiations, Scottish First Minister Nicola Sturgeon has repeatedly threatened the possibility of a second independence referendum.
Last week it emerged Downing Street is in talks with senior Tories in Scotland to deal with another push for independence from the SNP, which Dundee newspaper The Courier claims is “only weeks away”.
However, any independence bid suffered a major blow after leading Eurocrat Jacqueline Minor suggested Scotland would be at the back of the queue if the country tried to retain EU membership.