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Scottish independence: Gordon Brown concern over Scots EU rebate | Scottish independence: Gordon Brown concern over Scots EU rebate |
(about 7 hours later) | |
An independent Scotland faces an extra £500m annual bill to stay in the European Union, former prime minister Gordon Brown has said. | |
In a speech at the European Parliament, the Labour MP argued that Scotland would lose its share of the UK rebate, worth £2bn over seven years. | |
The intervention came ahead of the 18 September independence referendum. | |
The Scottish government said Scotland would have its own, strong voice in Europe with a "Yes" vote. | The Scottish government said Scotland would have its own, strong voice in Europe with a "Yes" vote. |
Mr Brown also said that as well as losing its share of the UK rebate, an independent Scotland would have to pay into the UK rebate at a cost of £540m, also over seven years. | |
He told the gathering: "As part of the UK, the contribution made by Scottish taxpayers to the EU budget over 2014-20 would be around £8.5bn. | |
"But it is estimated that an independent Scottish state would contribute a total of around £11bn to the EU budget over the same seven-year period. | "But it is estimated that an independent Scottish state would contribute a total of around £11bn to the EU budget over the same seven-year period. |
"The difference is that Scotland would lose the benefit from the UK rebate - £2bn over seven years. | "The difference is that Scotland would lose the benefit from the UK rebate - £2bn over seven years. |
Mr Brown added: "Ironically, they would also have to contribute to the UK rebate - about £540m over seven years. | |
"This gives a total additional direct cost to Scottish taxpayers of around £2.5bn or £935 per household over 2014-20. | "This gives a total additional direct cost to Scottish taxpayers of around £2.5bn or £935 per household over 2014-20. |
"This means that while Scotland's membership of the EU through being a member of the UK is worth £350m a year extra to Scottish taxpayers, this would be lost. " | "This means that while Scotland's membership of the EU through being a member of the UK is worth £350m a year extra to Scottish taxpayers, this would be lost. " |
A spokesman for Scottish First Minister Alex Salmond said: "Our farmers have lost out on one billion euros as a result of Westminster's decisions on CAP funding, and the UK government notoriously described Scotland's fishing industry as 'expendable'. | A spokesman for Scottish First Minister Alex Salmond said: "Our farmers have lost out on one billion euros as a result of Westminster's decisions on CAP funding, and the UK government notoriously described Scotland's fishing industry as 'expendable'. |
"An independent Scotland will have its own seat and voice at the top table in Europe for the first time, making sure we get a far better deal - a better deal which Gordon Brown comprehensively failed to achieve for Scotland when he had the power to do so." | "An independent Scotland will have its own seat and voice at the top table in Europe for the first time, making sure we get a far better deal - a better deal which Gordon Brown comprehensively failed to achieve for Scotland when he had the power to do so." |
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