Study shows rural communities and urban poor will be hit hardest

Almost the entire Highland region is in the top 20 per cent most vulnerable areas. Aberdeen shows up as relatively protected against Brexit but is surrounded by high-risk areas. They include coastal fishing communities. THE full damaging impact of Brexit on communities across Scotland is exposed in a new map showing the areas set to be hit hardest.

Swathes of dark green patches show the damage will hit hard in rural areas and islands – which have benefited greatly from EU grants.

Cities such as Glasgow also face significant risks, mainly in poorer areas that were told by Leave campaigners they had the most to gain.

The map was put online by the Scottish Government to help people understand how their communities will be affected.

It splits Scotland into 7000 areas and gives scores from one to 10, where the lower numbers show biggest risk. Significantly, the analysis is not based solely on the worst case scenario Brexit.

Communities Secretary Aileen Campbell said: “We always knew that Brexit could be damaging to Scotland but this analysis lays out in stark terms how vulnerable BY ANDY PHILIP communities across the country – urban and rural – are to its impact.

“This study only underlines the scale of that task and the recklessness of the UK Government in continuing to pursue Brexit at any cost.”

Rural areas are at risk because of the reliance on EU funds, agriculture, access to services and in some places EU worker migration. North-east coastal communities and Moray, where there were relatively high votes to leave the EU, are also at risk.

Rural Economy Secretary Fergus Ewing said: “This report and analysis shows that rural and remote areas Scotland could be among the hardest hit by any kind of Brexit.

“Scotland’s people, economy and businesses will be especially impacted by a calamitous ‘no deal’ Brexit, and we urge the UK Government to rule it out now.”

The map can be accessed through the Scottish Government’s website.