May’s Brexit White Paper ‘will harm economy’
PLANS for Britain’s future relationship with the EU revealed in Theresa May’s White Paper will harm the economy, the Scottish Government said yesterday.
External Affairs Secretary Fiona Hyslop said the proposals offer little reassurance for those worried about the impact of Brexit.
She renewed calls for the UK Government to back continued membership of the European single market and customs union.
The Prime Minister’s framework envisages the UK and EU having a “common rulebook” for trade in goods and continued payments for participation in shared agencies and programmes.
It sets out plans for an end to free movement, with rules allowing visa-free travel for tourism and temporary work.
The White Paper also proposes continued security co-operation and participation in Europol and a range of other EU agencies.
But Hyslop said: “Quite simply, these plans fall short and will harm our economy.
“As with the Chequers agreement, there is some evidence that the UK Government now realise the damage of leaving the EU, as well as the benefits that being in the EU, the single market and custom union have brought to the whole of the UK.
“Nevertheless, there is still a long way to go before those risks are mitigated.”
Hyslop said the proposals also fall short on employment rights and environmental protections.
She added: “There is still an opportunity in these final few months of negotiations to encourage the UK to adopt the only sensible position of remaining within the single market and the custom union and to put a stop to some of the damage that Brexit will do.
“The Scottish Government will continue to make that case – and to argue for much greater engagement with the UK Government to ensure Scotland’s interests are protected.”