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| Version 2 | Version 3 |
|---|---|
| Scottish independence: Politicians at odds over Scotland's global standing | Scottish independence: Politicians at odds over Scotland's global standing |
| (about 7 hours later) | |
| An independent Scotland would be able to engage with other countries as an EU member in its own right, Deputy First Minister Nicola Sturgeon has said. | An independent Scotland would be able to engage with other countries as an EU member in its own right, Deputy First Minister Nicola Sturgeon has said. |
| She argued the alternative was continued representation by a Westminster government which "does not put Scotland first". | She argued the alternative was continued representation by a Westminster government which "does not put Scotland first". |
| Later this week, UK Foreign Secretary William Hague will say the UK has a high level of international influence. | Later this week, UK Foreign Secretary William Hague will say the UK has a high level of international influence. |
| The comments come ahead of September's independence referendum. | The comments come ahead of September's independence referendum. |
| On Thursday, 18 September, the people of Scotland will be asked the "yes/no" question: "Should Scotland be an independent country?" | On Thursday, 18 September, the people of Scotland will be asked the "yes/no" question: "Should Scotland be an independent country?" |
| Ms Sturgeon, who was speaking at the David Hume Institute on Wednesday evening, said that, if independent, Scotland would have benefited from an extra £850m in Common Agricultural Policy funding. | |
| This, she said, would have supported an extra 2,500 jobs and boosted the economy by £1bn over the period 2014-20, while, as part of the UK, decisions taken by the Westminster government had left Scotland with the lowest farm payments in the EU. | This, she said, would have supported an extra 2,500 jobs and boosted the economy by £1bn over the period 2014-20, while, as part of the UK, decisions taken by the Westminster government had left Scotland with the lowest farm payments in the EU. |
| Ms Sturgeon said: "The people of Scotland face a decision about the kind of Scotland they want to live in - one in which we take responsibility and decide our own future, or one in which we wait for things to happen to us. | Ms Sturgeon said: "The people of Scotland face a decision about the kind of Scotland they want to live in - one in which we take responsibility and decide our own future, or one in which we wait for things to happen to us. |
| "Should we continue to have the status of a region, lobbying Westminster in the hope that the UK government will protect our interests and promote our values? | "Should we continue to have the status of a region, lobbying Westminster in the hope that the UK government will protect our interests and promote our values? |
| "Or should we have the powers and status of an independent country, able to engage directly with the international community." | "Or should we have the powers and status of an independent country, able to engage directly with the international community." |
| On Friday, Mr Hague and Chief Secretary to the Treasury Danny Alexander launch a UK government paper in on the EU and international issues in Glasgow. | On Friday, Mr Hague and Chief Secretary to the Treasury Danny Alexander launch a UK government paper in on the EU and international issues in Glasgow. |
| It will argue the UK has one of the world's most extensive and well-respected diplomatic networks, employing more than 14,000 people in 267 embassies, high commissions and consulates in 154 countries and 12 overseas territories. | It will argue the UK has one of the world's most extensive and well-respected diplomatic networks, employing more than 14,000 people in 267 embassies, high commissions and consulates in 154 countries and 12 overseas territories. |
| The paper will also stress that Scotland-based businesses benefit from efforts to protect the UK's economic interests, like defending Scotch whisky against counterfeiting. | The paper will also stress that Scotland-based businesses benefit from efforts to protect the UK's economic interests, like defending Scotch whisky against counterfeiting. |
| It will also look at the implications of an independent Scotland's membership of organisations like Nato. | It will also look at the implications of an independent Scotland's membership of organisations like Nato. |
| The foreign secretary, said: "I believe that we are safer and stronger together, and that together we can do more good in the world." | The foreign secretary, said: "I believe that we are safer and stronger together, and that together we can do more good in the world." |