The SNP has warned that Keir Starmer’s decision to continue imposing a hard Brexit will cost Scotland and the UK around £30billion a year in lost tax receipts by the end of the next Parliament – as the UK marks the eighth anniversary of the EU referendum.
Marking the anniversary, Scotland’s First Minister John Swinney said:
“Keir Starmer’s £30billion Brexit bombshell is a disaster for Scotland’s NHS, our economy and the cost of living.
“It will mean even longer and deeper cuts to public services than the £18billion of cuts the Labour Party is already planning – and it shows why it’s vital to vote SNP on 4th July to escape Brexit and put Scotland’s interests first.”
Institute for Fiscal Studies (IFS) analysis of the SNP manifesto found:
“By far the biggest revenue-raiser, is the proposal that the UK rejoin the EU.
“The SNP assumes that the resulting boost to economic growth would increase revenues by £30 billion a year… this would not be an unreasonably high figure for the eventual boost to revenues.”
The latest polling from Yougov, published last week, found that of those expressing an opinion more than three quarters of Scots (77%) think the negatives of Brexit outweigh the benefits, compared to just one in ten (13%) who think the opposite.
Across Britain, more than two-thirds (68%) now think the negatives outweigh the benefits, with just two in ten (19%) disagreeing.
Separately, polling published by BMG research for the I newspaper, published on Friday, found that of those expressing an opinion seven in ten Scots (70%) want to rejoin the EU, compared to three in ten (30%) who prefer to stay out.
Across Britain, a majority (55%) want to rejoin the EU, compared to 45% who prefer to stay out.
Commenting, SNP Leader John Swinney said:
“Keir Starmer’s £30billion Brexit bombshell is a disaster for Scotland’s NHS, our economy and the cost of living.
“It will mean even longer and deeper cuts to public services than the £18billion of cuts the Labour Party is already planning – and it shows why it’s vital to vote SNP on 4th July to escape Brexit and put Scotland’s interests first.
“The SNP is the only pro-EU party at this election and only a vote for the SNP can secure the closest possible relationship with Europe – including rejoining the world’s largest single market and regaining full membership of the EU with independence.
“Brexit has been an unmitigated disaster – costing Scotland billions of pounds, harming the NHS, choking off economic growth and sending the cost of living soaring.
“It is the elephant in the room at this election – and the SNP is the only party confronting it.
“Neither the Labour Party or the Tories can claim to have a credible plan for economic growth when they both support Brexit – the most damaging policy destroying growth.
“And neither can improve the NHS and services if they are both imposing cuts to pay their £30billion Brexit bill.
“On 4th July, the choice is clear – vote SNP to stop the cuts, reject Brexit and secure a future made in Scotland, for Scotland.”
