The Courier & Advertiser (Fife Edition)
Scotland’s interests are still being ignored
Sir, – To believe Theresa May’s deeply divided cabinet could go to the country for a day and come back with an agreed plan for the future of the nation was a stretch.
Particularly as the plan, as presented by the Prime Minister, suggested a much softer Brexit.
In addition, the plan as it was presented only covers goods, but not services, which may be good news for workers in the car industry, but not so good for workers in financial services, most of whose jobs will now move to Frankfurt, Paris or Dublin.
This separation of goods and services also presumably keeps the UK out of the jurisdiction of forthcoming EU legislation to tackle tax avoidance and money laundering, one of the key aims of the Brexiteers and their financial backers, who are up to their necks in this odious business.
It also leaves our precious NHS, coincidentally celebrating its 70th birthday this year, open to privatisation and exploitation by big global medical corporations, another of the main aims of the Brexiteers, most of whom have financial interests in this outcome.
And where lies Scotland’s interests in all of this?
The UK Government has already published a Trade Bill, which is currently going through the Parliament at Westminster.
This Bill offers no opportunity for our elected politicians in Scotland to have a say on post-Brexit trade deals.
The UK Government does, however, need the Scottish parliament to give its consent to the Bill before it becomes law, and Holyrood has the power to withhold that consent if it chooses.
Local members of Trade Justice Scotland met recently with Dundee East MP Stewart Hosie, who has recently been appointed SNP spokesperson for International Trade, and were reassured that Mr Hosie is very well aware of the issues for Scotland, and will do his best to make Scotland’s case.
But Westminster is no respecter of the Scottish Parliament and, ultimately, will do as it pleases.
Les Mackay. 5 Carmichael Gardens, Dundee.