Brexit farce is having a real impact on us
In 2016 Scotland voted decisively to remain in Europe.
Since then Westminster has ignored the will of Scotland’s parliament at every turn.
This week has seen the publication of an opinion poll showing support for Scotland remaining in the European Union as having gone up by 11 percentage points to 73 per cent and it is no wonder.
The overwhelming majority of the Scottish Parliament has voted for Scotland’s place in the single market to be protected, for Scotland’s voice is heard in negotiations and to reject the EU Withdrawal Bill.
However, the UK Government is ploughing ahead with a job-destroying Brexit.
Worse still, they are using Brexit to rip up the devolution settlement.
Here’s a blow-by-blow account of what has happened.
June 28, 2016 - The Scottish Parliament votes to mandate the Scottish Government to discuss options to protect our relationship with the EU and our place in the single market.
September 14, 2017 - After Theresa May promises an agreed UK approach to Brexit negotiations the Scottish Parliament votes against Article 50 being triggered until there is such an agreement. Yet on March 29, 2017, Theresa May triggers Article 50 without any UK-wide approach.
January 17, 2017 - The Scottish Parliament votes to support the Scottish Government’s Brexit plan, including membership of the single market and customs union. On the same day rationing? Theresa May rules out UK membership of the single market.
February 7, 2017 - The Scottish Parliament calls on the UK Government not to proceed with their Article 50 bill in the absence of a clear plan and a joint approach. The European Union (Notification of Withdrawal) Act 2017 was railroaded through Westminster with no clear plan or any joint approach with devolved administrations.
May 15, 2018 - All parties in the Scottish Parliament, except the Tories, vote to refuse legislative consent for the EU Withdrawal Bill but the EU Withdrawal Bill is passed by Westminster on June 20, 2018.
The bill makes a grab for Holyrood’s powers, with the devolution sections debated in just 15 minutes.
Meanwhile we hear of fruit rotting in Perthshire fields because the toxic atmosphere created by Brexit has meant the seasonal labourers the industry depends on don’t want come here.
And it’s not just fruitpickers. Only 14 teachers from other EU countries registered with the General Teaching Council of Scotland in the first half of this year, as opposed to 186 in total in 2017.
There is even - would you believe? - serious talk of the government making plans for stockpiling food, blood and medicine in preparation for the impact of a hard, no-deal Brexit.
Luckily my mum kept my ration card from when I was a baby and I still have it.
I thought it was just an interesting memento. Now I’m beginning to wonder if it can be reactivated. Are we heading back to the age of