Breathing space in Brexit debate

Sir, – The UK’S ability to extend the period for negotiating a comprehensive future relationship with the European Union runs out in six weeks.

Barring a breakthrough, this will mean this country will be leaving the EU without any trading deal with the world’s biggest economic bloc.

The European Union supplies 80% of our food imports and no deal further damages an already crippled economy.

If we are forced back on a US deal on damaging terms, Scotland’s agriculture industry could disappear overnight, our seafood industry perish, our universities go to the wall and the NHS begin to be sliced up into neat pieces for US companies to digest.

This will hit the United Kingdom at exactly the same time as we are struggling to recover from Covid-19, which is forecast to potentially lead to a 35% decline in UK economic output.

There is no need for this damaging double whammy.

Recent polling points to the fact that 77% of British people – 83% of those in Scotland – want a breathing space.

They want the UK to ask for an extension to the transition period, but the UK Government continues to rush towards the cliff edge.

At the very least we deserve this folly to be debated in Parliament.

A public debate is vital, ensuring that the Opposition can challenge this situation, exposing it for what it is and the damage it will inevitably lead to.

Mark Lazarowicz. Chair,

The European Movement in Scotland.