Rally for Europe will take place in Edinburgh on Saturday to urge the UK Government to think again on Brexit.
This is a call to Scotland’s cities to sign up to an Open Declaration to show leadership against what they regard as potential damage from the move.
Speeches will be delivered outside the City Chambers at 2pm by Tommy Sheppard MP, Ian Murray MP, Patrick Harvie MSP Alex Cole-Hamilton MSP and Susannah Rae of Perth for Europe.
The hope by the organisers is that the rally will demonstrate the case for remaining in the EU which they say 62% of those in Scotland voted for.
This is part of a network of 12 rallies across the UK taking place on Saturday, the number of rallies mirroring the number of European Parliamentary constituencies.
The City of Edinburgh Council decided on 2 October to adopt a motion regretting the outcome of the EU Referendum and agreed to call upon the UK Government to avoid the worst of the damage by pursuing continued membership of the Single Market and Customs Union. The Conservative group did not support the motion, but all other groups did.
Scotland’s cities Open to Europe Declaration.
We suggest that Scotland’s cities make a public declaration that they will do the following:
- Support immigration powers being devolved to Scotland.
- Provide welcome and advice services to EU nationals.
- Work with key employers (finance, legal services, universities, NHS) to help recruitment and retention.
- Organise events, for example with the Young European Movement, to welcome new students to Scotland in September.
- Campaign for fully-equal future status of EU nationals.
- Work to resist barriers to travel with the EU to promote tourism to our cities and remain attractive hubs for airlines.
- Champion high environmental and consumer protections going forward, aligned with and in support of EU standards, for health and well-being of our citizens, workers and visitors.
- Keep dynamic channels of engagement and influence open with cities across Europe and with the EU institutions.
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