In the wake of Thursday’s EU Referendum vote to leave Europe, and a night of the long knives which has now become the morning after the night before, the LibDems are apparently seizing the opportunity to recover ground lost in 2015.
Speaking to an emergency meeting of party members in Edinburgh, the Scottish Liberal Democrat leader Willie Rennie MSP said:
“Last week, before the result, Tim Farron and I agreed that we would pursue re-entry to the European Union if there was a leave vote.
“At the next general election, whenever it comes, that is what we will stand for.
“On Thursday people had the right to choose to leave the European Union. At the next election they must have the option to change their mind.
“Thursday was upsetting for many reasons: for the risks to our economy; to our universities; to our environment; to our security and safety.
“But what has been shattering is what it says about our country.
“What does it say to the world that we can’t even work with our closest neighbours? What are we saying to the millions of Europeans, many who now live, work and pay taxes here that we don’t want to share with them anymore? What does it say to those who fought bravely to deliver peace on our continent?
“I am angry that the all the good work to bring the peoples of Europe closer together over decades has been consigned to the dustbin of history in one ugly moment.
“It is not the country I have been so proud of.
“Proud that we give billions in foreign aid – the best in the world. Proud that we have the best armed forces and the best Foreign Service so we can be a force for good in the world. Proud that we created the best health service in the world to look after our sick.
“This is a country that does not walk on the other side of the road. On Thursday that’s what we did.
“But the Liberal Democrats are determined to lead us back to the right side of the road.”
Founding Editor of The Edinburgh Reporter.
Edinburgh-born multimedia journalist and iPhoneographer.
