A SENIOR German politician, the son of a Scottish soldier, believes “he understands why so many people in Scotland are upset” about the hard Brexit they are facing.
David McAllister, who has been tipped as a possible successor to Chancellor Angela Merkel, served as Prime Minister of Lower Saxony and is now an MEP for the centre-right Christian Democratic Union (CDU).
The Berlin-born politician is also the vice president of the European People’s Party group in the European Parliament.
McAllister said that while he has to be neutral on the issue that he “still deeply regretted” the UK's decision to leave the EU.
However, he said he was “very proud” of Scottish pro-European attitudes such as support for the single market.
McAllister, whose father James Buchanan McAllister, was born in Glasgow, said that Brexit had deeply upset him because of his Scottish background. "Never has a political event outside Germany touched me so personally," he said.
He was saddened by Brexit, he continued, despite his neutrality on the Holyrood versus Westminster battle.
He said: "I never get involved in British and Scottish government internal issues. But I still deeply regret what happened and what's happening. I'm sorry that the UK is leaving the EU.
"We have to face the realities of the UK leaving and I understand why so many people in Scotland are upset about what this means for Scotland."
McAllister, a dual German-British citizen, added: "So many Germans are so sad to see this happen.
"Germany and the UK have such close links, with most Germans speaking English."
When asked about Scottish support for wanting to remain in the single market, McAllister restated his neutral stance, but added: "It's made me very proud that Scots still believe in a unified Europe."
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