THERE is no Scottish independence style White Paper to leave the EU because opponents could attack it, the boss of the Scottish out campaign has admitted.
Tom Harris, director of Scottish Vote Leave, appeared before the Scottish Affairs Committee at the House of Commons and put forward the case for a leave vote.
The former Glasgow South Labour MP said it wouldn’t help the cause.
He said: “The SNP did produce a White Paper. I don’t think it did the campaign any good. It only set up a number of targets for the no campaign to attack.”
Asked if it was a failing of Vote Leave not to produce one to give information to voters, he said: “There’s a lot of advice on website on what would happen. I think it a reasonable criticism but I’m not convinced it would have helped the campaign.”
Mr Harris gave an honest account of some benefits of being in the EU but said that Britain and Scotland would fare better outside.
He said the EU court of justice stopped minimum pricing of alcohol, adding it showed a “democratic deficit”.
He said: “The SNP has a mandate for minimum pricing. A mandated political party has the right to introduce its policies.”
He said Scottish students would benefit as there would be more places if they could be prioritised over EU students, who would also have to pay.
He admitted this worked both ways with Scots able to study abroad.
Earlier John Edward, director of the Scotland Stronger In campaign, gave evidence and said Scots benefit financially.
He said the CBI produced figures showing for every £1 contributed there is an economic benefit of £10 back.
He also addressed the lack of a specific vision of what Britain out of the EU would look like.
He said: In 2014 there was a clear White Paper. Three is no equivalent. People deserve to know what we aim to do. We are being asked to assume it will all be fine.
However he added: “We have the advantages just now.
When asked ‘what were the risks to Scotland of remaining in the EU’, he said: “I can’t think of any. I’ve seen Scots at the top of the judiciary, the parliament and the commission.”
He also dismissed ideas that the EU wanted to create a superstate were wrong.
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