Campaigners for a Yes vote in the Scottish referendum have launched an appeal for EU migrants to support independence.

There are 160,000 people from the EU living in Scotland who have the right to vote on the country's future.

The Yes campaign argues that those people could have their residency put at risk if Scotland stays part of the UK.

It follows Prime Minister David Cameron's promise to seek an in-out referendum on Britain's membership of the EU if he wins the 2015 General Election.

Several EU migrants have formed small groups campaigning for Scottish independence to help ensure their residency in Scotland continues. Among them are Polish For Yes, Italians For Yes, French For Yes and EU Citizens For An Independent Scotland.


Addressing a meeting of Polish For Yes, Deputy First Minister Nicola Sturgeon said: "With the Westminster parties dancing to UKIP's anti-European tune, Scotland faces the very real prospect of being ripped out of the EU against our will in the event of a No vote.

Image: Ms Sturgeon and Mr Salmond

"With independence we will finally be able to take our place around the European top table, building on our positive relationships with our European partners and ensuring we get the best possible deal for Scotland."

Pro-independence Polish actor Tomek Borkowy, who is now living in Scotland, said: "Westminster is treating Polish nationals as freeloaders and scroungers who are coming to the UK to receive benefits. But Poles are hard-working and valued employees.

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"The Scottish Government, on the other hand, values the contribution we make to Scottish society."

A spokesman for Better Together, which is campaigning against independence, said: "The facts are clear - if Scotland votes to leave the UK, we would have to reapply to join the EU.

"This would be a very long and complex process, putting at risk the special EU deals we enjoy today as part of the UK.

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"Our opt-outs on the euro and the no borders immigration scheme would also be at risk. That's a risk we simply don't have to take.

"Alex Salmond is the man who told us he had legal advice on the EU and a separate Scotland. It turns out that wasn't true and he spent thousands of pounds of public money trying to cover that up. Nobody trusts a word he has to say on this issue.

"We should say No Thanks to independence on 18 September."

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It came as the Yes and No campaigns in the independence referendum set out rival visions on the NHS.

Ms Sturgeon and Scottish Greens co-convener Patrick Harvie argued a Yes vote would "save Scotland's NHS".

"Scotland's budget has already been subject to Westminster cuts and now Labour shadow health secretary Andy Burnham has said that the NHS south of the border will be pushed 'off the cliff edge' by Tory privatisation and cuts," she said.

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But former first minister Jack McConnell, speaking at a Better Together event in Edinburgh, called on the Yes camp to withdraw their "big huge lie" about the health service.

"It is because the Scottish Parliament has power over the health service that the NHS in Scotland is not following the privatisation route favoured by Westminster," he said.

"Scotland's NHS has been safe in the hands of the Scottish Parliament. Even the SNP boast about that."