EDINBURGH, November 3 (RIA Novosti), Mark Hirst — German Chancellor Angela Merkel's comments stating that she would rather see Britain out of the European Union (EU) than restrict free movement of the union's citizens is "embarrassing rebuke" for UK Prime Minister, Christine McKelvie, a Member of the Scottish Parliament, told RIA Novosti Monday.
"This is yet another embarrassing rebuke for David Cameron on Europe – coming on the heels of Jose Manuel Barroso [a former EU President] slapping down his plans just a few weeks ago – and shows the utter folly of allowing EU policy to be dictated by [anti-EU United Kingdom Independence Party's leader] Nigel Farage," McKelvie said.
"Cameron has already brought the UK close to the 'point of no return'. The Euro-hostile Westminster establishment can't be allowed to drag Scotland through the exit door against our will simply to appease UKIP and the more extreme Tory backbenchers," McKelvie said.
McKelvie, who represents the pro-EU Scottish National Party, added that polling data suggested a majority of Scottish voters support continued EU membership and demanded that any final decision on EU withdrawal, in the event of a future UK "In/out" referendum on Europe, would have to be agreed by all four constituent parts of the UK.
"Polling shows that the majority of people in Scotland want to stay in the EU, while there is a majority south of the border to leave — which is exactly why any future in/out referendum on Europe must have the consent of all four UK nations before the UK could quit," McKelvie said.
Earlier on Monday, Merkel has strongly condemned Britain's Prime Minister David Cameron's plans to establish limits on immigration from other EU states and has warned to quit efforts to keep Britain in the EU.
