What is red, white and blue Brexit?

Last week, the Supreme Court held a four-day hearing assessing the UK Government’s attempts to use the Royal Prerogative to avoid parliamentary scrutiny of the triggering of Article 50 – the process which will see the UK leaving the European Union.

This is probably the most important case the Supreme Court has heard since it was formed in 2009 and will decide whether or not elected representatives have the right to hold to account the UK Government’s plan for exiting the EU – something that we have so far been denied.

Should the Supreme Court decide that Parliament must be consulted on its plan for leaving the European Union – for example, in the form of draft legislation – then the UK Government will have to be more forthcoming with what “Brexit means Brexit” actually means.

Even the Prime Minister’s recent inane comment that we will have a “red, white and blue Brexit” fails to tell us whether or not we will still have access to the single market, whether the UK Government will opt for a customs union, or if the Government are planning a “hard Brexit” with no trading agreements with the EU whatsoever.

Thus far, they have also neglected to tell us how EU citizens, who have moved to the UK and contribute to our communities, will have their status and rights protected. Proper parliamentary scrutiny would allow for elected representatives to fully debate major issues relating to trade, the economy, immigration, and human rights – all of which are related to our membership of the EU and will change significantly when the UK leaves the EU.

Last week, MPs debated the terms by which the UK would leave the EU, and although the Government was forced to make vague promises that further details of its plans to be revealed before Article 50 was triggered, their amendment committed us to Article 50 being triggered in March next year.

It was extremely disappointing that most Labour MPs, including the sole Scottish one, accepted the Tory amendment and thus the timetable for triggering Article 50. Although SNP MPs argued details of the Government’s plan must be provided to Parliament and voted against these measures, Tory and Labour MPs ensured the vote was carried with the support of 461 MPs.

The Labour Party finds itself in complete disarray over our future relationship with the European Union, and can offer no effective opposition or scrutiny to the Government, which continues to refuse to provide any detail of their plans to exit the EU.

The SNP will continue to press the importance of membership of the single market to Scotland. A hard Brexit is likely to be the most damaging option for trade, jobs and our universities sector, and we are determined to do all we can to mitigate the impact of Brexit and persuade the UK Government to retain single market membership.

I firmly believe that this position is in the interests not just of Scotland, but of the entire UK.

I look forward to a new year where my SNP colleagues in Westminster as well as our Scottish Government will continue to make the case for a successful, strong, and inclusive future with Europe and the rest of the world for Scotland.

And with this, I would like to wish everyone in my constituency and beyond, a very Merry Christmas, a very Happy New Year and all the best for 2017.

Constituents can always contact me by phone 01786 406375 or by email atsteven.paterson.mp@ parliament.uk.

The SNP will continue to press the importance of membership of the single market