A damning new report has outlined that Westminster’s post-Brexit trading arrangements with the EU are creating “significant new challenges” for Scotland’s businesses.
Holyrood’s Constitution, Europe, External Affairs and Culture Committee concluded that businesses in Scotland have endured resource and cost pressures under new EU trade arrangements, resulting from increased custom formalities and regulatory checks.
The SNP has consistently campaigned for Scotland to take its place back within the world’s largest trading bloc – but it is the Labour UK government in Westminster that is now holding Scotland back and damaging businesses.
Commenting, SNP MSP Jackie Dunbar said:
“This report is the latest in a long line of evidence outlining that Brexit has been an absolute disaster for Scotland – our economy is needlessly suffering billions of pounds worth of loss thanks to a Westminster decision that we did not vote for.
“Brexit is costing the UK economy around £100 billion every single year – that is lost investment that should be going towards eradicating child poverty, investing in our NHS and tackling the climate emergency.
“The Tories and Labour don’t want to talk about what we’ve lost, or how much worse off we are with Brexit.
“But, ignoring Brexit is ignoring the cost of living, the economy and fundamentally the views of Scotland.
“This report makes clear that EU membership is the best option for Scotland – and the SNP will continue to be the only major party in the UK campaigning for Scotland to re-join the EU.
“As an independent country, Scotland will regain what has been lost as a result of a hard Brexit and access to the EU single market without further delay.”
