The SNP’s Westminster leader Angus Robertson has said that more Scotch whisky is sold in a month in France than cognac in a year.
The Moray MP highlighted the comparison while arguing in favour of the UK’s continued membership of the EU.
Speaking at an event in central London, he said that 38 bottles of Scotch were shipped overseas every second, with exports generating £4billion a year for the UK’s balance of trade.
These account for around a quarter of the UK’s food and drink exports, earning £125 every second.
Mr Robertson added: “You might ask yourself why the European market is so important. I think it is underlined by one single fact alone.
“More Scotch is sold in one month in France than cognac in a year.
“That goes to show how much Europe matters to one of our key industries.”
He also maintained EU membership was important to Scotland’s rural economy and pointed to the funding which various schemes around Moray had received for community projects.
Mr Robertson admitted the EU was imperfect, but insisted it remained the best way of European countries working together.
And he added that being in the EU did not make a person any less Scottish or any less British.
He described it as “perverse” that landlocked countries like Austria and Slovakia had more direct say over the Scottish fisheries industry than the Scottish Government.
But he argued: “That’s not the fault of the EU. That’s because Scotland is not a sovereign state and we are not sitting at the top table being part of those discussions.
“It is of course down to the UK Government.”
During his remarks, Mr Robertson also insisted he did not wish for a Brexit as the route to Scottish independence.
He added: “Scotland can and will make constitutional progress regardless of the EU referendum.
“I don’t want Scotland to become independent, to become a sovereign state because the UK decides to leave the EU.
“I want Scotland to become independent because the people of Scotland consider the advantages and disadvantages of being a normal European country.”
Asked about claims SNP voters might be tempted in favour of a Brexit on the grounds it would bring powers over fisheries and agriculture to Holyrood, he pointed to the “strong level of support” for Remain in Scotland and among supporters of independence.
He went on: “I hope people will engage with a positive argument and I hope people of all political backgrounds, including SNP voters, will vote. We need a good turnout.”
Highlighting the significance of the single market, he said 42% of more than 2,310 foreign-owned companies in Scotland in 2015 were ultimately owned by firms based in the EU.
He also pointed to Scotland’s success in attracting foreign direct investment over and above the rest of the UK nations and regions outside of London.
But he insisted the debate was about much more than money, underlining in particular the “bonus of living on a peaceful continent”.
