Nicola Sturgeon: Remaining in EU far outweighs the supposed benefits of leaving

The polls UK-wide remain extremely tight and, in a near dead-heat, the result in Scotland could be decisive in determining the outcome. But even if that were not the case, I would still argue that a strong Remain vote in Scotland is absolutely vital.

I certainly do not believe the European Union is perfect. But I also know there are clear benefits to EU membership – and that we must vote Remain in strong numbers to protect these.

They include access to the world’s biggest single market, with 500 million people to sell our goods and services to on the same terms as France or Germany – creating jobs and making the UK, and Scotland, an attractive place to invest for major companies from other parts of the world, such as the Far East and North America.

Being part of the EU has also brought guaranteed standards across the Continent, with workplace and social rights, such as paid holidays or parental leave, embedded across the EU.

And for those about to go on holiday anywhere in the EU, they do so with the knowledge that they are entitled to compensation for delayed or cancelled travel and to the public healthcare they get at home.

A few weeks ago I visited Glasgow University and saw first-hand how that institution benefits from our EU membership. The Erasmus scheme has helped thousands of Scottish students broaden their horizons by studying abroad, and also brought many European students to our shores.

Perhaps just as significantly, the tens of millions of pounds in research funding that comes from Europe is instrumental in keeping Glasgow – and universities across Scotland – at the cutting edge of research and discovery.

This is the positive case for Remain – and what the referendum debate should be about is whether we could continue to enjoy these benefits outside the EU.

Sadly, such discussion has been largely crowded out in favour of an increasingly hysterical, ill-informed and intemperate debate about immigration.

I understand that immigration causes pressures in some areas – I see it in my own constituency. But the leaders of the Leave campaign – Nigel Farage, Boris Johnson, Michael Gove et al – seem determined to place all of society’s ills at the door of immigrants.

They ignore the fact that EU nationals bring a net economic benefit to the UK, and that many public services such as our health and social care sectors could not function without the EU citizens working in them. And they have deliberately conflated asylum and immigration – culminating in the vile racist poster unveiled last week by Nigel Farage.

I would suggest that if there is pressure on our public services, that is far more as a result of years of Tory austerity than immigration.

Beyond the somewhat ugly discussion about immigration, the Leave campaigners have also deployed cynical arguments – from right-wing Tories of all people – that quitting the EU would mean more money spent on the NHS, wage increases and increased public subsidies for farmers, as well as an independent immigration policy for Scotland.

The sheer effrontery is breath-taking – for these are the very same Tory right-wingers who have been the biggest cheerleaders for more NHS privatisation, for the rolling back of the state and of employment and social protections, and who have resisted devolution of powers to Scotland at every turn.

And that brings me to the question of how supporters of Scottish independence should vote in the EU referendum – something I’ve been asked a lot over the last few weeks.

How can I support independence and back Scotland’s membership of the EU? The answer to that is simple: I believe independent countries must co-operate to tackle common challenges. Every member of the EU is an independent country working with others for the greater good. And many of the newer EU members joined shortly after becoming independent.

I am also asked whether a Brexit vote will mean a second independence referendum. The SNP manifesto at the recent Holyrood election was clear, saying Holyrood “should have the right to hold another referendum if there is a significant and material change in the circumstances that prevailed in 2014, such as Scotland being taken out of the European Union against our will”.

I am clear that if Scotland does indeed face the prospect of being taken out of Europe against our will, then that option is on the table. But to be clear – that situation only arises if Scotland votes Remain next week. If Scotland votes to leave, then that premise for independence doesn’t arise.

So I will be voting Remain for positive reasons – but if people are basing their decision on what it means for independence, the only sensible and logical vote is one for us to remain in Europe.