‘Brexit fears’ led to election call

Economy secretary Keith Brown has blamed the “desperate panic” for a general election on fear of Brexit damaging the economy.

Speaking to business and financial figures at a Brexit debate in Edinburgh, Mr Brown said there is a “clear consensus” that leaving the European Union would hit the economy.

He said: “I think the UK Government is seeing what is coming down the track and that’s why there is a desperate panic general election that’s happening.

“Many people in the business community have said to me that the approach of the UK Government has been utterly shambolic if you think about the lead ministers involved in this.

“There is a clear consensus that leaving the EU is going to be damaging to the UK economy.”

He said the Fraser of Allander Institute predicted Brexit would cost the economy £11 billion a year by 2030 and lead to the loss of 80,000 jobs.

Mr Brown said Scotland should have a separate immigration policy and stressed freedom of movement was crucial to the economy.

Speaking at the same event, Scottish Conservative finance spokesman Murdo Fraser said his party supported special deals for sectors of the economy rather than geographic areas, and questioned how a Scotland-specific immigration policy would work in practice.

He added: “I think going on and on and on about a second independence referendum is the most damaging thing for economic recovery in Scotland.”