Rennie: We must build back our European connections

Speaking three years on from when the UK left the European Union, Scottish Liberal Democrat spokesperson for communities and the economy Willie Rennie MSP said:  

“Three years on, but there is little to show for it other than economic damage.  Brexit has made us poorer.  

“More than ever before, we must find a pragmatic approach that will remove barriers, strengthen ties with our European neighbours and bring about mutual benefit.  

“Scottish Liberal Democrats would work hard to build back our close connections with Europe.

“We would follow the lead of our Welsh counterparts and set up an equivalent Erasmus exchange, generating thousands of opportunities for students.

“We want to be an associate member of Horizon university funding scheme, develop mutual recognition on trades and professions to enable people to work across the UK and EU and remove the barriers on technical standards such a REACH.  

“It is in the interests of both the EU and the UK to be close. We trade, we are Europeans, we share cultural and economic ties. We need policies and actions which recognise that.

“And we should learn the lessons of Brexit, not repeat them with independence.”