Vow to ‘level up’ UK as SNP rejects plan

BORIS Johnson has pledged to ‘unite and level up’ the UK after Brexit.

The Prime Minister vowed to bring the country together, while the Chancellor Rishi Sunak said this can be a ‘unifying moment’.

Scottish Secretary Alister Jack also yesterday rejected Nicola Sturgeon’s claim that promises to fishermen had been broken.

Last night the SNP said its MPs will vote against Mr Johnson’s trade deal with the EU, saying Brexit is ‘economic vandalism’.

But a senior SNP minister admitted businesses will be able to ‘adapt and find new ways to thrive in international markets’.

In an upbeat interview with the Sunday Telegraph, Mr Johnson vowed to focus on ‘levelling up the country’ and ‘spreading opportunity’ after Brexit. He said: ‘This government has a very clear agenda to use this moment to unite and level up and to spread opportunity across the government.’

The SNP has used Brexit to push its case for another independence referendum.

However, Mr Sunak argued that the Brexit deal could boost the Union. Writing in the Mail on Sunday, he said: ‘This is a deal which works for all nations of our Union – for Welsh farmers, for Scottish distilleries, Northern Irish fishermen and English cheesemakers.’

When the deal was agreed last week, Miss Sturgeon said ‘it appears major promises made by the UK Government on fisheries have been broken’. The agreement sets out that there will continue to be ‘full access’ to waters during an ‘adjustment period’ which runs to the end of June 2026. Following claims from the National Federation of Fishermen’s Organisations that i t was a ‘betrayal’, Mr Jack said: ‘Outside the EU, the UK can sign our own trade deals around the world, bringing new opportunities for exporters and some of Scotland’s most iconic products.

‘For our farmers, the deal avoids tariffs on their world-beating Scotch lamb and beef. For our fishermen and coastal communities, the deal delivers what we promised.

‘We are regaining control of our waters, we are restoring our status as an independent coastal state and, even during the five-year adjustment period, there will be a big overall increase in our share of the catch in our waters. The deal is good news for Scotland.’

He added: ‘The people of Scotland will expect their MPs to do the right thing on Wednesday and vote for the deal. They will not easily forgive those who reject this Free Trade Agreement or throw their weight behind a no deal Brexit.’

Ian Blackford, the SNP’s leader at Westminster, said the deal will be a ‘disaster’ for Scotland, and the ‘extreme Tory Brexit’ is an ‘unforgivable act of economic vandalism’. But SNP Economy Secretary Fiona Hyslop said that after the transition period ends, she has ‘every confidence that our innovative businesses will adapt and find new ways to thrive in international markets’.

Labour ridiculed the SNP’s stance, saying it was a vote for no deal.

Meanwhile, MSPs were told last night they would be recalled from their holidays to vote on the Brexit trade deal on Wednesday.