Gavin Yates (Edinburgh, GYmedia) The Sunday Herald’s columnist, Iain Macwhirter, describes the SNP’s leader’s first official trip to Europe since becoming First Minister. As I posted recently on OK, the primary purpose of the trip was to place Scotland at the forefront of the fishing agenda and to hold further trade talks with Peter Mandelson.
The context was more than that and hinged on a message about how Scotland is perceived in Europe. In the Sunday Herald article Salmond says: “I think the people here realise what we are about, and that Scotland's interest has not been articulated in the past. It's not actually about independence.” We’ll see.
What it is about, Macwhirter quotes him as saying to the EU,
"I believe that it is time to transform the nature of Scotland's representation and impact in Europe tonight, my message is clear and unambiguous - this is the time for Scotland to assume our obligations and responsibilities and to help mould the world around us to rediscover the sense of internationalism which once defined our nation."
It seems British officials in Brussels got the message: "This is really heavy. If the Scots are going to start making their own policy here, then there could be tears before bed" one of them told the Herald's reporter.
Salmond also told Macwhirter that he is happier working with Gordon Brown (and of his mistrust for Blair). The First Minister will need to progress his relationship with the Prime Minister as he prepares to negotiate on the £1.5bn End of Year Flexibility underspend.
