There was plenty of “cut and thrust” at a generally good-natured debate on the Scottish Independence Referendum at Lochter, Oldmeldrum.
The debate between representatives of the Better Together and Yes Scotland campaigns was organised by NFU Scotland to air the issues likely to directly affect farmers in the event of a Yes vote in the referendum.
Inevitably, the arguments from the panel – three on each side – centred round the future of the pound and whether or not an independent Scotland would get immediate entry into the European Community.
Buchan farmer, Peter Chapman, supporting the Better Together campaign, argued that it would take years for Scotland to negotiate entry and that much of the present advantages of EU membership would have to be sacrificed to gain entry as Scotland would be treated in the same way as other recent new entrants.
There was no way these countries would vote to allow Scotland’s entry on better terms than they had been able to negotiate for themselves and there was also the issue of Scotland having to adopt the euro which nobody wanted, he said.
“Voting for independence would be like buying a pig and a poke – we won’t have a clue what we are buying into,” he said. “Far better to remain as part of the UK where we have the best of both worlds.”
But SNP MSP for Angus North and Mearns, Nigel Don, insisted that Scotland would have an automatic right to immediate EU membership. It would simply be a case of splitting the UK’s current membership into two.
“There is not the slightest risk of Scotland being thrown out of the EU,” he maintained. “It is not legally possible.”
As a Londoner, he was supporting the case for independence as he knew from his own experience that most people in England didn’t know much about Scotland and cared less.
“The union could be a success but the fact is that it isn’t because we have a Cabinet dominated by old Etonians,” he said. “Far better to have an independent Scottish Parliament which is closer to the problems and able to make proper udgements.”
North East Conservative MP, Alex Johnstone, said SNP claims about the alleged financial advantages of independence had been discredited and Scotland had benefitted for more than 300 years being a member of the most successful union of countries anywhere in the world. Independence would undermine Scotland food exports to England on which Scotland was so dependent.
Banff and Buchan MP Eilidh Whiteford, SNP spokesperson for agriculture in the House of Commons, claimed agriculture was not a priority for the UK Government.
“UK priorities are not Scottish priorities,” she said. “Scottish farmers will have the lowest EU support of any country in Europe as a result of the Cap deal negotiated by the UK Government.”
Former MEP and chair of the Rural Better Together campaign, George Lyon, pointed out that Scottish farming benefited hugely from UK research funding.
“Scotland receives 13% of UK funding – nearly double our population share – and this will be at risk if we leave the UK,” he said. “As part of the UK, we have the best of both worlds – a strong Scottish Parliament with the guarantee of more powers backed up by the strength, security and stability of being part of the UK.”
Lanarkshire beef farmer, Jim Brown, said his experience over many years being involved in the politics of milk had made him highly sceptical of civil servants south of the border.
“Devolution has worked well for farmers – no farmer can deny that – and we have easy direct access to ministers which you can’t get in England,” he maintained.
“The choice is to support independence to get a Scottish government which supports farmers or remain in the UK and turn Scotland into a wildlife park.”