Scots favour move on farming powers

Post-brexit: Survey suggests 59% of Scots think decisions about farming should be made by Scottish Government

A majority of Scots want decisions about fishing and farming to be made in Scotland post-brexit, a new survey suggests.

The report by Sir John Curtice for the National Centre for Social Research shows 62% of Scots think decisions about fishing should be made by the Scottish Government once powers have been repatriated from Brussels, with 59% believing the same for farming.

However, the survey of 859 people revealed a majority would also like to keep the same rules as the rest of the UK on reserved issues such as trade (67%) and immigration (63%).

The research found 59% of voters in Scotland back an end to freedom of movement with the EU, slightly lower than the 64% of voters across Britain as a whole.

Scots were more likely than those in the rest of the UK to prioritise free trade with the EU over control of immigration, with 63% of people in Scotland willing to accept free movement in return for free trade compared with just 53% across Britain as a whole.

Sir John, senior research fellow at Scotcen, said: “The UK Government’s proposal that EU responsibilities for devolved areas such as fishing and farming should in the first instance at least be given to Westminster appears to be out of tune with the public mood north of the border.

“Equally, the Scottish Government appears to have made little headway in persuading voters that Scotland should have a closer relationship with the EU post-brexit.”

Minister for UK Negotiations on Scotland’s Place in Europe, Mike Russell said: “I am pleased to see this research shows people in Scotland believe decisions on all devolved issues should continue to be made here in Scotland.

“The EU Withdrawal Bill must now be amended to ensure powers on issues such as fishing and farming come straight to Holyrood.”

A UK Government spokesman said: “We will continue to work with the Scottish Government as we put in place the necessary arrangements for Brexit, including ensuring we return powers from Brussels in a way that respects the devolution settlement.

“This will lead to a substantial number of powers transferring directly to Scotland and protect the vitally important UK internal market.”

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The EU Withdrawal Bill must now be amended . . . MIKE RUSSELL MSP

Picture: Getty Images/istockphoto. A survey suggests a majority of Scots want decisions about farming to be made by the Scottish Government once powers have been repatriated from Brussels.