Scotland rejoining the European Union should be a “national mission”, John Swinney has declared.
The First Minister warned the country would pay “a heavy price” if the UK Government does not pursue closer cooperation with Brussels on issues like freedom of movement and exports.
Setting out his vision for growing the Scottish economy in a speech yesterday, the SNP leader also called for the creation of a dedicated visa system to allow international students to remain in the country after graduation.
Swinney insisted it was the continuing impact of Brexit that was causing the most damage.
“I believe that Scotland is a European nation and that our future lies within the European Union,” he told an audience at the new JP Morgan building in Glasgow.
Labour last night claimed the SNP could not “keep using Brexit as an excuse for its own record of economic failure and financial mismanagement”.
The Scottish Trades Union Congress (STUC) said leaving the EU had “exacerbated the skills shortage across the country” with the NHS, social care and construction sectors worst hit.
In his speech, Swinney said: “I believe rejoining the European Union should be our clearly stated goal and national mission. Why? Because the opportunities presented by open access to a market of 450 million people with a collective GDP in the order of 17 trillion Euros are enormous for an outward-looking economy such as Scotland.
“And as the threat of a more restrictive global trading environment increases, it becomes all the more important to have access to the European single market and all that that entails.”
The SNP leader added: “My aim is not to look backwards in order to refight the Brexit debate. Brexit, for all its folly, has happened.
“For those of you in the food and drink sector, the immediate priority is veterinary agreement, so that barriers to trade in Scotland’s world-beating produce are reduced.
“Entry into the customs union, renewed participation in the single market, all of these a challenge to achieve unless the politics of the UK changes or we choose to walk this path ourselves.
“Of course, I recognise that rejoining the European Union is not going to happen tomorrow. It will take significant effort and choice to make it happen.
“But have no doubt, if that never happens, then Scotland will pay a heavy price. The simple fact is that two of the greatest issues facing the Scottish economy in the coming years are our specific population challenges and the damage being inflicted by Brexit.”
Swinney also issued a stark warning about the demographic challenges Scotland faces as a result of the country’s declining birthrate.
The country’s population rose steadily between 2003 and 2023 largely as a result of migration from the EU, particularly Poland and the Baltic states.
But Brexit means this migration flow has greatly reduced.
Neil Bibby, Scottish Labour spokesman on the constitution, said: “While the SNP agitates for more constitutional upheaval and disruption, Labour is working to reset the UK’s relationship with the EU and clean up the mess the Tories left behind.
“Labour is focused on finding practical solutions to the challenges we face as a result of Brexit – from boosting trade to delivering a migration system that works for every part of the country.
“The SNP cannot keep using Brexit as an excuse for its own record of economic failure and financial mismanagement.
“The truth is the SNP has been inflicting untold damage on Scotland’s economy and communities since long before Brexit – what Scotland really needs is an end to SNP incompetence.”
Roz Foyer, STUC general secretary, said: “The STUC has long called for a tailored migration system for Scotland.
“A right-wing, ideologically harmful Tory Brexit has exacerbated the skills shortage across the country with our NHS, social care and construction industries, to name but a few, struggling to plug the gaps.
“The First Minister is correct – Scotland needs more workers. We want to attract and retain the brightest and best. But he should be in no doubt that, to do this, even within or outwith the European Union, we must make our labour market more attractive with higher wages and improved terms and conditions for all of Scotland’s workforce.
“Ensuring trade unions have access to negotiate on behalf of them, driving up pay and boosting our nation’s productivity is absolutely vital in achieving that.”
One of Scotland’s biggest unions warned more constitutional debate about rejoining the European Union will not win a contract or create a job.
Louise Gilmour, GMB Scotland secretary, said: “The way to a more prosperous Scotland is through good jobs, decent pay and lower bills.
“Whatever our future in Europe, the Scottish Government can make a difference to all of those things right now. Better pay and conditions in our social care would, for example, do most to ease the crisis in staff recruitment and retention.
“Meanwhile, we are still waiting for an industrial strategy capable of seizing the opportunities of renewable energy while, crucially, securing the oil and gas industry.
“The First Minister is right to say Scotland could be at the forefront of an energy revolution but his predecessor Alex Salmond said the same thing 14 years ago.
“It takes more than big talk. It takes politicians and policy makers with the ambition and determination to make things happen.”
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