Mr. Angus Robertson:

The partnership agreement is noteworthy and we are delighted to have a partnership agreement with the Scottish Green Party. As the Deputy knows, it is a pro-independence party. We have an excellent working relationship and we now have two Green Party ministerial colleagues. This is working very well in terms of the general work of the government by bringing their insights and priorities into government so they can be delivered. We are delighted that is working so well.

It is also very advantageous for the preparations we are making for the referendum. Their perspectives are not all the same. We have different policies on a number of different issues, which underlines an important point. Independence is not just there for one party or one vision of an independent state. Becoming an independent state means it can change to become the image of different political parties and priorities, which is a thoroughly good thing. It is what is done here. Our partnership working with the Green Party is new for us and for it. It is working very well. It is good to be able to put that on record.

The mechanisms from 2014 are the mechanisms to be used. We have a precedent and it is exactly what we intend to follow. I have gone through it already so I will not go through it again. We have a precedent and it worked then. This does not need to be complicated. It is very important for us that we have an agreed, recognised and constitutional process. It is important for us in the UK and it is important for the European Union and EU member states. The level of interest across the European Union for where Scotland finds itself in our ambitions to rejoin the European Union is extremely high. Across the political spectrum we are seeing incredible empathy for the situation in which we find ourselves, having been taken out of the European Union against our will.

I look forward to us working as good neighbours and friends and as member states of the European Union, helping and supporting one another, especially in times of need, like those seen currently in Ukraine. Perhaps we can act as a beacon to our friends in England in showing why working together in Europe is thoroughly good. Who knows? Perhaps in time we will be able to inspire them to rethink their relationship with the European Union.

I will finish on one fact, which it may be helpful for friends in Westminster to remember. If Ireland and Scotland's economies are counted together, we are England's biggest trading partner. We look forward to working with our friends from the rest of these islands. It is in our interest and their interest. We will find the appropriate constitutional way of doing this for the 21st century rather than the 20th century.