The SNP has said the greatest gift to Scotland’s economy would be a swift return to the European Union through independence, as the country approaches a decade since the Brexit referendum.
Next year will mark ten years since the vote to leave the EU, a decision Scotland did not support, with the SNP warning the economic damage caused by Brexit is now clear.
Recent analysis has found the continuing cost of Brexit is worse than first feared, with the UK economy now around eight per cent smaller, making the average person £3,700 poorer.
At the UK Budget, the Office for Budget Responsibility downgraded growth forecasts from next year onwards, with weaker growth now expected until the end of the current Westminster parliamentary term.
The Resolution Foundation has warned living standards will continue to stagnate under the UK Labour Government, with this parliamentary term forecast to be the second worst on record since the 1950s.
The Labour Party also failed to support a Westminster bill that would have enabled a return to the EU customs union.
Stephen Gethins said:
“The greatest gift to the Scottish economy this year would be a swift return to the EU this new year the hope on offer to the Scottish people is the fresh start of independence.
“Next year will mark 10 years since the Brexit referendum and the subsequent Westminster chaos that has followed, it has been a decade of damage and Scotland has paid the price for a Brexit we never voted for.
“It has made our people poorer, has battered our businesses and yet Westminster continues to double down on the damage it has done.
“Despite all Keir Starmer’s warm words about resetting relations with the EU, this month he whipped his MPs not to support a return to the EU customs union, all those warm words were clearly empty words.
“If the Labour Party aren’t even prepared to join a customs union with our nearest neighbours, never mind gaining the full benefits of the single market, then it is increasingly obvious that broken, Brexit Britain will never be fixed.
“Brexit was a political choice, and it was the wrong choice.
“Scotland can’t keep paying the price for Westminster’s damaging choices.
“By making our own choices over our own future and by choosing the fresh start of independence, Scotland can unite against Westminster’s damaging choices, protect our public services and grow our economy by re-joining the European Union.”
