Salmond the Euro’s biggest cheerleader

The First Minister desperately attempted to hide his pro-Europe credentials during today's First Minister's Questions.

This was simply a tactic to divert attention away from the fact that he is a Euro enthusiast.

Ruth Davidson said:

"Alex Salmond is on the wrong side of this argument and is quickly becoming a lone voice in his opposition to the Prime Minister's strong stance in standing up for all of Scotland and Britain's interests.

"At Holyrood today, his long, convoluted reply painted a picture of a man who would have signed up hook, line and sinker for the Merkel and Sarkozy deal.

"This is no surprise because we know he is one of the Euro's biggest cheerleaders.

"Alex Salmond has seriously misjudged the mood in criticising the Prime Minister's use of the veto. It is a decision that safeguards more than 150,000 direct and indirect jobs in the financial sector in Scotland.

"Two thirds of Scots back David Cameron's use of the veto and even an SNP MSP supports him, along with Independent MSP Margo MacDonald.

"And BBC Radio Scotland this morning reported that fishing leaders have poured cold water on Alex Salmond's assertion that this will have an impact on the talks on fish quotas.

"Let's be clear it is for the European Commission to decide on fishing quotas not politicians.

"The SNP's own minister has a place at the top table as the UK Government tries to get the best deal for Scotland.

"The outcome of these negotiations will as much depend on Richard Lochhead as anyone else.

"Alex Salmond can wear as many fig leaves as he likes but his Euro embarrassment is still on show."

The First Minister said in 2009:

"...I think the argument for having strong fiscal powers, powers over revenue, powers to expand the economy within a monetary context, within a European Euro context, will prove to be a very strong one....." and "we need also in my view to be in a framework for monetary policy, a European framework, which we're not in at the present moment, to have the best chances."

S4M-01583.1 Jackson Carlaw () (Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party): As an amendment to motion S4M-01583 in the name of Colin Keir (UK Veto is Damaging for Scotland), leave out from "deep" to end and insert "support for the Prime Minister's use of the British veto; considers that David Cameron's actions are in the interests of the UK and especially Scotland as 150,000 Scottish jobs are either directly or indirectly dependent on the financial services industry; further considers that the UK economy and the jobs in all sectors, especially small business, that are intrinsic to growth are dependent on a strong economy of which the financial services industry is a vital part; understands that Scots back the Prime Minister's use of the veto by a proportion of 2:1; notes that EU relations are a reserved matter and believes that the coalition government has always been sensitive to Scottish requirements as seen with its Respect Agenda; expresses concern that the SNP is among the biggest cheerleaders of the failed eurozone, with the man who speaks for the SNP in Europe, Alyn Smith MEP, confirming that it is still SNP policy to join the euro; further believes that Scotland's sovereignty would have been eroded in complying with eurozone plans, which entail governments referring their proposed budgets to the European Commission before national government scrutiny; welcomes the fact that Scotland is not independent or part of the eurozone, and therefore pays tribute to the Prime Minister for fighting for British interests rather than the SNP, which it considers would have an independent Scotland while surrendering Scotland's financial services industry to Brussels dictat."

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