Scottish Government single market plans ‘not deliverable’

Scottish Government plans to stay in the single market after exiting the European Union (EU) would “not be deliverable”, the UK Brexit Secretary has said.

Responding to the Scotland’s Place in Europe proposals, David Davis wrote there were “clear barriers” to plans for Scotland to join the European Free Trade Association (Efta) and then the European Economic Area (EEA).

Mr Davis, writing to his Brexit counterpart in Scotland Mike Russell, said the options outlined in the paper could create internal trade barriers in the UK, leading to “significant disruption”.

He said: “Scotland’s accession to Efta, and then the EEA, would not be deliverable and, importantly, would require the consent of all Efta and EU member states.

“Any divergence between EU and UK law – as a result, perhaps, of new EU regulation – could lead to the creation of new barriers to trade within our union, which could take the form of additional controls and checks on trade within the United Kingdom.

“Given that trade with the rest of the UK is worth four times trade with the EU, I do not believe that such significant disruption to the internal UK market is in Scotland’s, or the UK’s, best interests.”

He was “disappointed” the Scottish Government called for a second Scottish independence referendum before officials could complete work on responding to the white paper.

Mr Davis’s letter was sent on March 29, the day the Prime Minister triggered Article 50 to start the formal process of the UK leaving the EU but was not published by the Scottish Government until yesterday.