An Aberdeen University professor is among dozens of leading academics, activists and politicians to back a new campaign against Brexit.
Professor Michael Smith, the university’s chair in international relations, is one of more than 40 people to sign the new “Scotland for Europe” declaration.
Launching today, the group will declare: “We hereby commit to work with and support people and organisations of all political views and of none to maintain our European Union membership.”
Other backers include historian Professor Sir Tom Devine, Emmy Award-winning actor Brian Cox, ex-Liberal Democrat leader Lord Campbell and broadcaster Lesley Riddoch.
The founding declaration, which it is asking people to sign up to, says that Scotland voted “clearly and decisively” to stay in the EU and that it is possible to “change course and build the society we choose”.
The movement is led by Vanessa Glynn, from the European Movement in Scotland, and director of the Scottish Centre on European Relations Kirsty Hughes.
Ms Hughes said: “Brexit is harming our economy, our society and our security.
“We need to think again; we need to show that through debate and action we can halt this reckless slide to a chaotic Brexit.”
The Scottish Council for Voluntary Organisations is another of the signatories.
Andrew Burns, its convener, said: “We believe that nothing is inevitable about our departure from the EU and consider that now is the time to put the brakes on process which – however it is concluded – would have a negative impact on communities all across Scotland.”
However, Braden Davy, who was assistant director of Scottish Vote Leave, described the group as “yet another attempt by a few of the elite to overturn the democratic will of the British people”.
“Instead of re-fighting the referendum, it’s time everyone got on with delivering Brexit.
“It’s time to plan for when we have control over our borders, to plan for when our parliament has more powers and to plan for when we can control our farms and our fisheries.”
