The new SNP minister fails to give straight answer over EU migrant quotas
Nicola Sturgeon’s new Europe
Minister has been repeatedly unable to give a straight answer about
whether the SNP supports Britain signing up to a proposed system of EU
quotas that would force it to accept thousands more migrants.
Speaking on a visit to Brussels, Alasdair Allan said the UK should offer to take in more people and all EU member states should be allocated a share of the massive influx of migrants in Europe.
However, when it was pointed out this sounded very similar to a controversial quota scheme being proposed by Jean-Claude Juncker, the European Commission president
, he refused to say whether Britain should join it.
Although the proposal is the largest single policy question facing the EU, dominating Brussels politics for a year, Mr Allan did not express a definitive view and merely stated that control over borders, immigration and asylum is reserved to Westminster.
The SNP’s reticence on the pivotal plan came as Nicola Sturgeon was told to stop “trashing” the official Remain campaign and start making the positive case for the EU.
Willie Rennie, the Scottish Liberal Democrat leader, said Ms Sturgeon’s outspoken attack during a visit to London on a Treasury report warning Brexit could trigger a deep recession “will not sway a single wavering voter.”
President Juncker’s scheme would mean up to 160,000 refugees who had flooded into Italy and Greece being allocated to member states according to a system of quotas based on population and GDP.
Britain exercised its opt-out from the scheme, meaning it did not have to take its share, which would have been 18,464 - 11 per cent. It has also triggered fierce opposition in eastern European countries and has so far barely worked, with just 1,500 people moved.
But Mr Juncker has now proposed placing it on a permanent footing, with automatic redistribution kicking in if a country is overwhelmed again. Countries that refuse to take part will be fined €250,000 (£191,000) for each migrant they fail to accept under their quota.
Speaking on a visit to Brussels, Alasdair Allan said the UK should offer to take in more people and all EU member states should be allocated a share of the massive influx of migrants in Europe.
However, when it was pointed out this sounded very similar to a controversial quota scheme being proposed by Jean-Claude Juncker, the European Commission president
, he refused to say whether Britain should join it.
Although the proposal is the largest single policy question facing the EU, dominating Brussels politics for a year, Mr Allan did not express a definitive view and merely stated that control over borders, immigration and asylum is reserved to Westminster.
The SNP’s reticence on the pivotal plan came as Nicola Sturgeon was told to stop “trashing” the official Remain campaign and start making the positive case for the EU.
Willie Rennie, the Scottish Liberal Democrat leader, said Ms Sturgeon’s outspoken attack during a visit to London on a Treasury report warning Brexit could trigger a deep recession “will not sway a single wavering voter.”
President Juncker’s scheme would mean up to 160,000 refugees who had flooded into Italy and Greece being allocated to member states according to a system of quotas based on population and GDP.
Britain exercised its opt-out from the scheme, meaning it did not have to take its share, which would have been 18,464 - 11 per cent. It has also triggered fierce opposition in eastern European countries and has so far barely worked, with just 1,500 people moved.
But Mr Juncker has now proposed placing it on a permanent footing, with automatic redistribution kicking in if a country is overwhelmed again. Countries that refuse to take part will be fined €250,000 (£191,000) for each migrant they fail to accept under their quota.
Speaking at a press briefing in
Brussels, Mr Allan agreed at the second time of asking that the UK
should be offering to admit more migrants. The Government has agreed to
take in 20,000 refugees from Syria by 2020 under a bilateral deal.
He said: “We believe that the UK is offering to take a very small number of people. Some of the arguments that have been put by the UK have been unfriendly and unhelpful. We have to find a European solution.”
Asked whether Britain should opt into Mr Juncker’s proposed quota scheme, Mr Allan said there was “willingness in Scotland to help” but that the SNP government did not have a say in whether a quota system is adopted.
He then said that the only solution was “where all countries take a share”. Pressed that this sounded like President Juncker’s plan, he would only say that it would require further negotiations and reiterated that “these are all matters for the UK Government.”
On Monday Ms Sturgeon delivered her latest attack on the negative tone of the official Remain campaign despite her supporting an In vote. She said the public are too “savvy” to believe the more extreme claims of economic disaster in the Treasury report and warned it was insulting their intelligence.
But Mr Rennie said: “Flying to London to stick the boot into the Remain campaign will not help persuade Scots of the huge benefits that we receive from our membership of the EU. Nicola Sturgeon refused to join the joint campaign but now wants to dictate how it is being run.”
He said: “We believe that the UK is offering to take a very small number of people. Some of the arguments that have been put by the UK have been unfriendly and unhelpful. We have to find a European solution.”
Asked whether Britain should opt into Mr Juncker’s proposed quota scheme, Mr Allan said there was “willingness in Scotland to help” but that the SNP government did not have a say in whether a quota system is adopted.
He then said that the only solution was “where all countries take a share”. Pressed that this sounded like President Juncker’s plan, he would only say that it would require further negotiations and reiterated that “these are all matters for the UK Government.”
On Monday Ms Sturgeon delivered her latest attack on the negative tone of the official Remain campaign despite her supporting an In vote. She said the public are too “savvy” to believe the more extreme claims of economic disaster in the Treasury report and warned it was insulting their intelligence.
But Mr Rennie said: “Flying to London to stick the boot into the Remain campaign will not help persuade Scots of the huge benefits that we receive from our membership of the EU. Nicola Sturgeon refused to join the joint campaign but now wants to dictate how it is being run.”
Hakuna maoni