'We want FULL membership' SNP member rejects 'absurd' idea Sturgeon will ditch EU for EFTA
AN SNP MSP has branded reports Nicola Sturgeon could abandon her plans to join the European Union (EU) and settle for European Free Trade Association (EFTA) membership “absurd”.
SNP lawmaker: It's absurd Tories are criticising our stance
Kate Forbes took aim at the Tories for reports claiming the First Minister was seeking alternatives to Scotland becoming a full member of the European Union.
Speaking to Julia Hartley-Brewer on talkRADIO, the politician repeatedly refuted the claim.
She said: “I personally think it’s absolutely absurd for the Tory party, who are apparently trying to drag Scotland out of Europe against our will, to be criticising our longstanding position.
“Our longstanding position is EU membership and that remains the case."
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Our longstanding position is EU membership and that remains the case
Hartley-Brewer bashed Ms Forbes for dining at the Conservative Party before the MSP admitted her party had looked into different options while devising a compromise deal.
Mrs Sturgeon had eventually asked Theresa May if Scotland could remain members of the single market after Brexit but was unsuccessful in her attempts to persuade the Government.
Ms Forbes said: “Our party has long had a commitment to full EU membership and as we go into this campaign our position is EU, full EU membership.
“We have in the past – last December – looked at what the alternatives are, we spent a long time doing very heavy-duty research looking at things like EEA [European Economic Area] and EFTA.
“But at the moment as we go into a campaign for independence our position is full EU membership and I say that with as much transparency as I can.”
Speaking about the potential to delay a Scottish referendum till after Brexit she insisted she would "hazard a guess that support for independence would rise”.
The comments come after Mrs Sturgeon this week said she did not wish to “force” Scotland into a “hard Brexit”.
She added: “Our plan to protect Scotland’s interests. Right now Scotland stands at a hugely important crossroads.
“We did not choose to be in this position and I wish that we were not in this position but we are and the stakes are high. We must have a plan for the way forward."
However, Spanish MEPs have warned Scotland it would not be fast-tracked for EU membership.
Antonio Lopez-Isturiz White said: “There are no privileges here, everybody has to go through the same process.”
Santiago Fisas added: “My opinion is that Scotland will be out of the European Union and should go to the back of the queue.”