Scotland's long-term prosperity does not depend solely - or even predominantly - on oil and gas. It will also be based on our success in the other in… - Alex Salmond

We have pushed hard to ensure that the UK negotiating line takes full account of Scotland's circumstances - and we will continue to do so. But we have no guarantee of success. Nor can we be sure that Scottish interests will not fall victim to trade-offs that the UK Government has to make at the Brussels negotiating table. Independence would remove that uncertainty at a stroke.

I believe that we must look outwards, not inwards, to test our true economic potential - measuring ourselves against our international competitors.

No Member State, even the most passionately pro-European, is always fully in agreement with all the policies of the EU. And all make their voice heard on the issues that affect them most. This is how Europe should work. It is how an independent Scotland would act.