CLUELESS FARCICAL INSULTING
SNP’s Robertson blasts the Tories on single market chaos
Theresa May has been accused by the SNP of “breathtaking incompetence” over her handling of Brexit.
SNP Westminster leader Angus Robertson said the Tory government were “utterly clueless” and in “complete disarray” over plans to quit the EU. May again refused to say if the UK will be a full member of the sing le ma rket after Brexit at Prime Minister’s Questions last week.
She insisted she would not provide a “running commentary”.
Days earlier, Brexit secretary David Davis suggested continued membership of the free trade zone was “very improbable”.
But he was slapped down by May, whose spokeswoman said his comments were “his opinion” and “not policy”.
Robertson said: “The response from the Prime Minister that she will not provide ‘a running c omment a r y ’ is a ludicrous insult to businesses, universities, farmers, EU nationals resident in the UK and many others besides who are al l waiting for her – or anyone in her Government – to explain how they are going to proceed.
“This has confirmed what many of us feared – that an increasingly right-wing Tory government is utterly clueless about how to fix the mess it has created and is now in complete disarray about what it is doing.
“Their incompetence is all the more breathtaking as the situation is entirely of their own making.
“They have had ample time and opportunity to come up with the barest of bones of a plan – but every time one of her ministers speaks on the issue, confusion reigns. It is another Westminster farce.
“The concern and worry about the impact of leaving the European Union is real, especially in Scotland where voters overwhelmingly voted to stay.”
Robertson’s attack came as British passport holders were warned they face having to apply for a visa to travel across Europe after Brexit.
A scheme being debated by the executive body of the EU suggests the 26- nation passport- free Schengen zone, which does not include the UK, could operate a visa programme similar to the US waiver.
British passport holders can travel throughout member states without having to apply for short-term visas – but the decision to leave has left question marks over future arrangements.
Lib Dem leader Tim Farron said: “Theresa May said ending freedom of movement was her priority but presumably this was not what she had in mind.
“We laid out a plan about what the Government should prioritise in any Brexit negotiation. One of those priorities was travel rights.
“The Government need to drop the empty mantras and secure free travel for British holiday and business travellers.
“Liam Fox, Boris Johnson and David Davis simply aren’t getting their heads round the hard detail of Brexit negotiations.”
Former Labour minister Pat McFadden, of the Open Britain campaign, said: “Reality is setting in. Introducing visas would hurt British businesses and families going on holiday.
“The Leave camp said visas wouldn’t be introduced but it looks like another of their main promises is being broken.
“Britain should be open to business, travel and talent and the best way to do that is for us to be a member of the single market.”