The issue of exactly how the UK will leave the EU has so far been characterised by chaos and confusion. Last week UK Prime Minister Theresa May finally delivered some reassurances - but it was only to car manufacturer Nissan. What was said to the firm to encourage their investment in the UK has not been made public, leading to allegations of a secret sweetheart deal.
In Scotland, higher education is an important business. It is the third biggest economic sector, after financial services and energy. Scotland’s universities have a world-class reputation for providing opportunities to study for future generations, academic excellence and quality of research.
Today we reveal the concerns over the very real risks Brexit poses to our universities. Evidence submitted by Universities Scotland and Research Councils UK to Westminster’s Scottish Affairs Committee raises major fears about an exodus of skilled academics, the devastating claim that the nation would be left “intellectually and culturally impoverished”, and the damage facing future generations of students who no longer have opportunities to study or work in Europe.
Alarm bells are also sounding over the potential impact of Brexit on Scotland’s globally renowned research sector, which has a long history of pioneering innovations such as Dolly the Sheep.
May seems able to move quickly to reassure big business about the impact of Brexit so she must apply the same urgency to delivering some answers to both Scotland’s higher education sector and EU nationals who have chosen to make Scotland their home.
However, experience tells us this is unlikely. So we are left with one hope: also in today's paper renowned political scientist John Curtice says it is possible that an independent Scotland could remain in the EU after Brexit as a successor nation to the UK.
As a paper which is proudly European and believes passionately in an independent Scotland we agree with those who describe this possibility as "an elegant solution". It would also be a strong basis on which to build a second independence referendum campaign.
As such, we now need to test the veracity of Curtice's theories. The SNP must establish the legal position around Scotland remaining in the EU after Brexit. If it is the case that this nation can remain in the European Union once we are independent then the calling of a second referendum at the earliest opportunity becomes not an option but a national imperative.
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