New deal is ‘far worse’ than previous one

As I write my latest Advertiser column, Boris Johnson has set out his “new deal” that will see the UK leave the European Union.

It is clear that this is a far worse deal than the one negotiated by Theresa May – and that was rejected by the House of Commons three times.

According to analysts, the deal negotiated by Boris will see GDP reduce by 6.4 per cent, compared to 4.9 per cent with May’s deal.

That’s not where the problems end. It is not just a terrible deal economically, but in terms of fairness and democracy for Scotland.

During the Brexit referendum, people in England voted to leave and will leave; people in Wales voted to leave and will leave; and people in Northern Ireland, who voted to remain, will remain in the single market, thus maintaining a closer relationship with the EU and gaining a competitive advantage.

The people of Scotland voted overwhelmingly to remain in the EU and we have been completely ignored; there is nothing for Scotland in this deal.

UK minister Michael Gove said, under Boris’ deal, the future of Northern Ireland will be decided by the people of Northern Ireland.

So why is this same Tory UK Government so determined to block the people of Scotland exercising our right to choose our future? This not a union based on fairness, justice or equality.

SNP MPs will reject this undemocratic and unfair deal. We want you, the people of Scotland, to be able to choose our future and I believe our time is coming.

Moving on to other news, last week I took part in the inaugural meeting of the First Minister’s social justice and fairness commission.

Our remit is to look at the opportunities an independent Scotland will have to transform the lives of our citizens and deliver a fairer society.

It is a great honour to have been asked to work with such a talented group of campaigners and thinkers and I am looking forward to developing and delivering a prospectus for what brought me into politics – greater fairness for all.

If you would like to have your say on what you would like to see happen to deliver a fairer society in an independent Scotland, please get in touch with my office.

Power players European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker (left) and European Council President Donald Tusk following the agreement by EU member state leaders of the Brexit deal