Scottish Conservative leader Ruth Davidson bids to keep Scotland in the EU
Ruth Davidson has committed to backing Scotland's 'national interest' and fighting to stay in the EU, regardless of the outcome of the UK Conservative government's ongoing negotiations.
During a speech made to New Direction think tank in Brussels today (Tuesday, 22 September) Davidson claimed that the benefits of staying in the EU clearly outweighed the disadvantages associated with membership of the Union, especially for Scottish SMEs who she argued were mostly in favour of staying in the Union.
She said: "To me, the cost benefit analysis is clear. The advantages we gain from EU membership clearly and categorically outweigh any disadvantages that come with it.
"So, for my part, I will be backing our national interest and urging Britain to stay within that reformed EU."
According to Davidson the reforms, currently being negotiated by the UK government, should seek to close the democratic deficit between citizens and the EU, improve competitiveness in the EU and reduce bureaucracy.
She also criticised the costly "monthly flits to Strasbourg" as "absurd" and called upon the EU to be thriftier.
She said: "I hope we will use the referendum to highlight the positive future that a reformed EU can bring and lessen the negative impact it can have on us."
Davidson argued for a positive referendum campaign and warned that the UK should not "lose sight of the economic benefits" gained from having access to 28 markets and its global negoatiating muscle in trade agreements.
She added: “I want to make it easier for Britain’s makers and sellers and do-ers to get their product to market.
"So, what I want is a better European Union which puts trade and the single market top of its agenda, with a stronger United Kingdom at its heart, showing it is open for business and open to the world."
Parallels were made to the Scottish independence referendum, which celebrated its first anniversary last Friday (September 18).
Davidson said that referendum was about identity, while the EU referendum was a simple "cost benefit analysis" and subbed the suggestion that a Brexit would catalyse a second call for Scottish independence.