SNP fear Westminster ‘power grab on Scotland’ after Brexit
SNP Westminster leader Ian Blackford speaks during Prime Minister's Questions in the House of Commons. Photograph: House of Commons. - Credit: PA
The SNP fears a 'Brexit power grab on Scotland' from the UK government, in what they claim is the 'biggest threat to devolution' since the Scottish parliament was reconvened in 1999.
Ian Blackford, SNP Westminster leader, is set to also call on Prime Minister Boris Johnson to accept the extension to the transition period on offer from the EU, and said that crashing out would be damaging at any time and 'extremely reckless' in the middle of a global pandemic.
Scottish government analysis has found that ending the transition period in 2020 could remove £3 billion from the Scottish economy in just two years - on top of the impact of coronavirus.
Speaking ahead of the Commons debate, Blackford said: 'Tory plans for a Brexit power grab on Scotland represent the biggest threat to devolution since the Scottish Parliament was reconvened in 1999.
'The threat to our NHS, agriculture, environment and economy is growing by the day as Boris Johnson tramples over Scotland's interests to satisfy Donald Trump's trade deal demands.
You may also want to watch:
'The Tory government must rule out any attempt to roll back devolution, which the SNP will resist every step of the way, and put the economy first by extending the Brexit transition period.'
Blackford said that with just six months left until the transition period ends, little progress has been made and there is no good deal in sight.
Most Read
- 1 PMQs: Commons speaker reprimands Boris Johnson over Greensill response
- 2 MEPs again refuse to ratify Brexit deal amid concerns No 10 is flouting conditions
- 3 Tory anger as Labour to hold vote on establishing committee to investigate cronyism
- 4 A lesson from the last of Mainwaring's men
- 5 Tory government 'doesn't think it has to be abide by rules', says former civil servant
- 6 Tory MPs vote down proposal for parliamentary inquiry into Greensill scandal
- 7 David Cameron 'only sorry he got caught', MPs told
- 8 The stench of scandal seeping out from Britain
- 9 How the vaccines have shifted opinions over Brexit
- 10 Nick Clegg says EU 'let itself and millions of Europeans' down over Covid vaccine programme
He said that all of the options being considered would inflict lasting damage on the economy and leave the UK 'poorer and worse off'.
Blackford added: 'With businesses struggling to survive and thousands of jobs being cut, we cannot afford a Tory Brexit crisis piled on top of the coronavirus emergency we already face.
'Crashing out of the EU would be damaging at any time but it is extremely reckless in the middle of a global pandemic.
'Scotland has been completely ignored throughout the Brexit process and we have been shut out of the trade talks.
'It is clearer than ever that the only way to properly protect Scotland's economy and our place at the heart of Europe is to become an independent country.'
Become a Supporter
The New European is proud of its journalism and we hope you are proud of it too. We believe our voice is important - both in representing the pro-EU perspective and also to help rebalance the right wing extremes of much of the UK national press. If you value what we are doing, you can help us by making a contribution to the cost of our journalism.
