The Labour MSP – who said he wanted “solidarity, not separation” – accepted that “rejoining the EU won’t be easy”.
asserted
rejoining → say → EU
Mr Marra acknowledged there would be “serious questions” over issues such as currency and borders before the UK could go back into the EU.
uncertain
UK → acknowledge → EU
Speaking in Edinburgh on Tuesday, he insisted that “difficult is not the same as impossible”.
asserted
difficult → speak → impossible
While the UK Labour leader is seeking closer ties with the EU, Mr Marra was clear that “it is in Scotland’s interests, and in the interests of the whole United Kingdom, for the UK to rejoin the European Union”.
asserted
UK → seek → Union
Addressing party supporters, the Scottish Labour leader set out how going back into Europe would boost the economy.
asserted
going → address → economy
Mr Marra said that “breaking down barriers” with European nations would “help Scottish businesses grow, attract investment and create better-paid jobs”.
asserted
businesses → say → jobs
It could also “help bring down prices and generate more money for our public services”, he added.
uncertain
he → help → services
Mr Marra accepted that rejoining the EU “won’t solve every problem we have”, adding: “If we’re serious about growth, we cannot keep ignoring the opportunity on our doorstep.”
asserted
we → accept → doorstep
These will be focused on bringing down post-Brexit trade barriers on food and farming, as well as working more closely on emissions trading and making it easier for young people from the UK to work, live and study in Europe, and vice versa.
asserted
people → focus → Europe
But Mr Marra said the UK should go further than this and rejoin the EU.
asserted
UK → say → EU
The Scottish Labour leader declared: “The UK should rejoin the European Union and Scottish Labour will work to make that happen.”
asserted
that → declare → Union
Mr Marra added: “I don’t pretend it will happen quickly.
asserted
it → add → ?
But I believe we should set it as a long-term objective for the UK and that Scotland should lead the change in making that happen.”
asserted
that → believe → change
Noting that the Prime Minister has called for a “a discussion about what Britain’s long-term relationship with Europe should be”, Mr Marra said he was “putting Scottish Labour in the vanguard of that conversation”.
asserted
he → note → conversation
He said: “Rejoining the EU is not the current policy of the UK Labour Party and not the current policy of the UK Government.
asserted
Rejoining → say → Government
In making the case for going back into Europe, Mr Marra said he was “setting out what I think the best destination is for Scotland and the whole of the UK”.
asserted
destination → make → UK
He said he would “seek to make that positive case and build that consensus” – adding that he has written to the Prime Minister “making the case that rejoining be considered as part of Britain’s longer-term European debate”.
asserted
rejoining → say → debate
But he said that Labour could “build a case” for rejoining “through honest deliberation and careful compromise”, with Mr Marra telling his party: “We can build a coalition of those seeking change.”
uncertain
We → say → change
He said: “The SNP tells Scots they must leave one union to join another.
asserted
they → say → another
“I’m not asking Scotland to choose.
asserted
I → ask → Scotland
I’m asking Scotland to help bring the whole United Kingdom back into Europe.
asserted
I → ask → Europe
“Let’s use one union to join another.”
asserted
’s → use → another
Mr Marra now plans to stage a summit in Scotland next year, bringing together businesses, trade unions, universities, young people and civil society, to “develop the case” for rejoining the EU.
asserted
Marra → plan → EU
He also said he would invite all the other parties at Holyrood to take part in these talks, saying that “most of the parties agree we should strengthen our European ties”.
asserted
we → say → ties
However Mr Marra refused to say if another referendum on EU membership would have to be held for Britain to rejoin, with the Scottish Labour leader saying he was “setting out as the principle of where we should get to” with regards to Europe and the focus of his speech was on “the destination, and not just that mechanism”.
asserted
focus → refuse → destination
But Reform UK MSP Max Bannerman said: “We don’t need to rejoin the EU to see growth – it’s perfectly achievable by looking inward, slimming down the benefits bill, creating jobs and not frightening off investment with misguided taxation.”
asserted
it → say → taxation
Mr Bannerman added: “The 2016 Brexit decision returned control of money, borders and trade policy to Westminster.
“
asserted
decision → add → Westminster
If there’s improvement to be made, it’s to the parts of the rushed Brexit strategy orchestrated by a succession of failed leaders.”
asserted
it → ’ → leaders
Scottish Liberal Democrat leader Alex Cole-Hamilton said: “My party has always said that we need to put Britain back at the heart of Europe, so I am pleased to see Michael Marra and Scottish Labour following our lead.”
asserted
Marra → say → lead
He added: “It’s important to offer the people of Britain a realistic road map back to Europe.
“
asserted
It → add → Europe
That starts with rejoining the single market and establishing a customs union as a key first step.
asserted
That → start → step
“It’s how we support businesses now, lower prices and get our economy moving.”
asserted
economy → ’ → prices
SNP depute leader Keith Brown MSP said it was “good that Scottish Labour has finally accepted the obvious fact – that the UK ripping Scotland out of the EU against our will has been a disaster”.
asserted
ripping → say → will
But he added: “The UK Labour Government’s position is as clear as mud – the fact is the only way to guarantee Scotland’s EU membership is to rejoin as an independent member state.”
asserted
way → add → state
The Aporia
