Local MSP Rona Mackay has joined with colleagues from across the party divide to oppose Theresa May’s proposed Brexit deal and call for the threat of No-Deal to be taken off the table.
Speaking in the chamber during a Scottish Government debate on EU withdrawal negotiations, MSPs from the SNP, Scottish Labour, Green Party and the Liberal Democrats highlighted the growing support across Scotland for an extension to the Article 50 process to avoid a No-Deal scenario on 29th March.
In a historic move, politicians at the Welsh Assembly joined forces with Holyrood to debate the same motion simultaneously. Scottish Brexit Secretary Mike Russell said the unprecedented event sent a “strong message to the UK government that it must stop pursing such a disastrous course of action”.
Political commentators have suggested there is currently no prospect of the Prime Minister’s Brexit deal being passed by MPs at Westminster at the second attempt scheduled for 12th March - just 17 days before the UK is set to crash out of the EU.
Research has shown that Theresa May’s proposed Brexit deal would lead to a 6% fall in GDP by 2031, costing each person in Scotland £1,600.
Ms Mackay said:
“The Prime Ministers Brexit deal and threat of No-Deal has to be taken off the table.
“The uncertainty about the duration, alignment and scale of the shock that a No-Deal outcome would trigger is extremely uncertain and is of huge concern to people throughout Strathkelvin and Bearsden. It could push the Scottish economy into recession, with a increase in unemployment. If prolonged, the shock could lead to significant structural changes in our economy.
“As the First Minister said today in her speech, The Scottish Government has made clear that we see continued EU membership as the best outcome for Scotland and the UK. If it can’t be secured for the UK as a whole, we believe that option should be open to Scotland as an independent country.”
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