Mr Sillars was the architect of the slogan which has driven the SNP since the Nineties –‘Independence in Europe’. However in recent years he has become a dissident voice within the party, and pushed for independence outside of the EU instead. He has claimed repeatedly that the bloc has changed significantly in comparison to when he was SNP deputy in 1991. On the other hand, SNP leader and Scottish First Minister Nicola Sturgeon continues to push for a second independence referendum, claiming Brexit has made the 2014 referendum redundant.

She has even suggested joining the EU would be “relatively quick”, although this has been highly disputed.

Questions have been raised over whether the bloc would even accept Scotland, because a nation needs a unanimous vote to become a member. Spain is predicted to reject the Scots, so as not to raise questions of secession in its own country.

There are concerns over Scotland’s high deficit too and the subsequent austerity measures the EU would most likely impose if Scotland became a member, as Mr Sillars has mentioned.

In his 2014 book, ‘In Place of Fear II’, he pointed out that the ongoing dispute over Scotland’s potential EU membership as an independent state “will rage for some time”, and that it is a “mystery” why the SNP has not opted for the alternative – the European Free Trade Area (EFTA).

The EFTA is a free trade deal between Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway and Switzerland.

It is another trading bloc which operates outside of the EU while still staying inside the EU area. Unlike the EU, it is not a customs union but does have a coordinated trade policy.

Writing before both Brexit and the first independence referendum, he explained: “Membership of the EFTA give what Scotland needs, access through the European Economic Area (a joint agreement between EFTA and EU) to the whole European market and the ability to exercise a greater range of sovereign powers than is available as a member of the EU.

“Scotland is an easy fit with EFTA – small in numbers, oil producer, and fisheries resource.

“Even if the SNP Cabinet would choose the EU over EFTA, it seems sensible that the EFTA alternative would provide a good bargaining position.

“A wise leadership, aware that 5 million people cannot dictate terms of membership to 28 others representing 500 million, would have made diplomatic contacts with EFTA countries some years ago, and certainly since 2011.

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“That did not happen. The SNP position will therefore be subject to whatever attitude is struck by the powers in Brussels, giving them the upper hand in negotiations.”

He added: “This programme does not take the SNP line, nor should the people of Scotland.

“Membership of EFTA will not free Scotland from much of the regulation required for all in the EEA [European Economic Area], but EFTA members exercise sovereignty over their own budget, fisheries, foreign policy, and trade policy with the rest of the world, to mention but a few state activities.”

Jim Sillars told Common Space in 2015: “Opponents of Scotland in EFTA, argue that EFTA countries have to sign up, willy nilly, to anything the EU decides in relation to the operation of the single market.

“They disparage EFTA on the basis that it obeys the faxes sent to it from Brussels. It doesn’t work that way.

“The EU is bound to consult EFTA on any single market policy, because it is dealing with sovereign states.

“Outside of single market issues, EFTA states follow their own international trade policy, foreign, defence and home affairs policy.”

He pointed out how the the EFTA has been in negotiation with India too, and so it would be “sensible” for the Scottish Government to begin discussions.

Mr Sillars concluded: “Scotland in EFTA would, by the way, enable the EU to maintain its policy of ‘no secession without exit’. That being so, the EU would probably be happy to see us join EFTA.”

In May this year, he also wrote in The Times advocating membership of the EFTA where “our sovereignty would be protected by articles 99 and 100 of the efta-EU treaty”.

He claimed: “Scotland’s interests would be sacrificed on the altar of the SNP’s infatuation with the EU.”

Interestingly, Norway’s arrangement with the EU was put forward as a suggestion for the UK post-Brexit, except it would be the ‘Norway-plus’ plan. It was rejected as many critics said it would not honour the 2016 referendum, forcing the UK to stay in the single market without having any influences over its rules.

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