Parliaments should vote on Australia trade deal
The trade deal between the UK and Australia should be subject to a vote in the House of Commons and Holyrood, Nicola Sturgeon has said.
The First Minister has repeatedly raised concerns over the deal, which she says will hurt Scottish farmers and food producers as cheaper imports undercut them.
The agreement was announced on Tuesday following a Downing Street dinner between Prime Minister Boris Johnson and his Australian counterpart Scott Morrison.
But Ms Sturgeon said the final deal should be voted on by elected representatives.
Speaking during First Minister’s Questions at Holyrood yesterday, she said: “I would suggest it should be put to a vote not just in the House of Commons, but a vote in this Parliament as well, so that we can represent the interests of the farming community across Scotland.
“I am deeply concerned about the implications of this trade deal and future trade deals on our farming sector in Scotland.”
Ms Sturgeon went on to quote Australian deputy prime minister Michael Mccormack, who has said on Australian TV that his country’s farmers win from the deal.
“Thebigwinnersareaustralian producers, Australian farmers, indeed Australians full stop,” he said.
“This could mean $1.3 billion [about £705 million] of boost to the economy.”
Speaking in the House of Commons yesterday, International Trade Secretary Liz Truss said she does not agree with the “defeatist attitude” of those who are against the deal saying that British farmers “can’t compete”.