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SNP's Sturgeon says UK withdrawal from EU 'must have' four nation backing SNP's Sturgeon says UK withdrawal from EU 'must have' four nation backing
(about 3 hours later)
A referendum in favour of leaving the European Union would need to have the clear support of the UK nations, the SNP's Nicola Sturgeon has insisted.A referendum in favour of leaving the European Union would need to have the clear support of the UK nations, the SNP's Nicola Sturgeon has insisted.
She said England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland should each deliver a majority vote to make withdrawal legal.She said England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland should each deliver a majority vote to make withdrawal legal.
Prime Minister David Cameron has promised a referendum on EU membership if the Conservatives win next May's General Election.Prime Minister David Cameron has promised a referendum on EU membership if the Conservatives win next May's General Election.
Ms Sturgeon will write to other parties seeking support for her suggestion. UKIP MEP for Scotland David Coburn said Ms Sturgeon's idea was "ridiculous".
She is due to make her case clear during a speech to a mass party rally at the Corn Exchange in Edinburgh later. Ms Sturgeon plans to write to other political parties seeking support for her idea.
New deal She suggested that if a referendum Bill came before the House of Commons her party would table an amendment.
The MSP, who is set to become leader of the pro-European SNP next month, will say: "Should a Bill be tabled in the House of Commons for a referendum on European Union membership, my party will table an amendment. It would require that, for the UK to leave the EU, it would need "not just a majority across the whole UK but a majority in each one of the four nations - England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland".
"That amendment will require that for the UK to leave the EU, each of the four constituent nations - England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland - would have to vote to do so, not just the UK as a whole." In an interview with BBC Radio's Good Morning Scotland, Ms Sturgeon said: "If you look at states like Australia and Canada there are some circumstances where changes to their constitution requires not just a majority across the country but in each of the provinces as well.
"The UK is not a unitary state it is a family of nations, it is made up of the four home nations.
"We were told during the referendum that each of these nations had equal status, that our voices mattered.
"If that is the case I think it is right that something that would have such significant consequences for jobs, for the economy, for our standing in the world, it should require the consent of not just the UK as a whole but that family of nations."
Mr Coburn of UKIP told Good Morning Scotland: "Our country is Great Britain. I don't hold a Scottish passport I hold a British passport.
"We are one country. That was decided once and for all at the referendum.
"What part of no does she [Nicola Sturgeon] not get? No, neigh, naw. We are all British voters. That was decided at the referendum."
Mr Cameron said he was keen to renegotiate the UK's relationship with Brussels ahead of a possible 2017 in/out referendum on EU membership.Mr Cameron said he was keen to renegotiate the UK's relationship with Brussels ahead of a possible 2017 in/out referendum on EU membership.
But the prime minister has so far declined to say whether he would back a British exit if he did not get the concessions he wanted. The Tory leader insisted he was confident of success in the negotiations.But the prime minister has so far declined to say whether he would back a British exit if he did not get the concessions he wanted. The Tory leader insisted he was confident of success in the negotiations.
Ms Sturgeon believes a referendum is inevitable "regardless of who wins the next election".Ms Sturgeon believes a referendum is inevitable "regardless of who wins the next election".
She added that the anti-European politics of the UK Independence Party (UKIP) was on the rise given its recent win at the Clacton by-election.She added that the anti-European politics of the UK Independence Party (UKIP) was on the rise given its recent win at the Clacton by-election.
Ms Sturgeon said academic research had shown that an in/out referendum on EU membership would generate a different result on either side of the border - with Scotland voting to stay in and the UK as a whole voting to exit. Future membership of the EU will be a key theme in a speech Ms Sturgeon will make to the party faithful at a mass rally in Edinburgh later.
Her speech will say: "It is entirely possible that the UK as a whole could vote to exit the EU, but that Scotland would vote to stay. She is expected to point to academic research showing that an in/out referendum on EU membership would generate a different result on either side of the border - with Scotland voting to stay in and the UK as a whole voting to exit.
"I don't think the EU is perfect. Far from it. It badly needs change and reform. Ms Sturgeon reckons her proposal would give "proper protection" against any of the nations of the UK "being removed form the EU against their will".
"But I do believe - strongly - that our interests are best served by being in, not out, of the EU.
"The impact of an exit on jobs and on the economy would be disastrous.
"And to be taken out against our wishes would be democratically indefensible."
Ms Sturgeon reckoned her proposal would give "proper protection" against any of the nations of the UK "being removed form the EU against their will".
'Economic vandalism''Economic vandalism'
Earlier this year, Labour leader Ed Miliband said a referendum on the EU was "unlikely" to take place if Labour won the next general election.Earlier this year, Labour leader Ed Miliband said a referendum on the EU was "unlikely" to take place if Labour won the next general election.
But he said his party would "guarantee" an in-out referendum if the UK was being asked to transfer more powers to Brussels.But he said his party would "guarantee" an in-out referendum if the UK was being asked to transfer more powers to Brussels.
The Liberal Democrats are the most vocally pro-European of the main Westminster parties.The Liberal Democrats are the most vocally pro-European of the main Westminster parties.
The party's leader Nick Clegg compared leaving the EU to an "act of monumental economic vandalism".The party's leader Nick Clegg compared leaving the EU to an "act of monumental economic vandalism".
UKIP, which won its first Westminster seat earlier this month, said leaving the EU would improve prosperity by cutting bureaucracy and that it would allow the UK to regain control of immigration.UKIP, which won its first Westminster seat earlier this month, said leaving the EU would improve prosperity by cutting bureaucracy and that it would allow the UK to regain control of immigration.