Both sides have to work towards a flexible Brexit

HE chances of a bespoke Brexit deal for Scotland have never looked particularly promising. The UK Government keeps saying it is prepared to listen but the message of its Brexiters has been that a separate deal is out of the question. There are also questions about Nicola Sturgeon’s motives: the suspicion must be that she is suggesting a deal that she knows will be rejected as part of an attempt to manoeuvre towards another independence referendum.

In an attempt to apply some pressure on the issue, the Scottish Government has now published its paper on Brexit and has laid out its case for Scotland remaining in the single market as well as gaining new powers, including on immigration.

There is no doubt the Scottish Government has a mandate to suggest such a plan, more than 60 per cent of Scottish voters having supported remaining in the EU. But the Government paper also lays out a well-argued case for Scotland remaining in the single market.

There are several models from Europe that demonstrate how a separate arrangement for Scotland might work and the paper mentions several of them, including Denmark, which is an EU member state even though parts of its territory – Greenland and the Faroe Islands – are outside the EU and the European Economic Area. The paper also mentions the Channel Islands, Liechtenstein and Switzerland, all of which have different arrangements that suit their circumstances.

The Government’s point is that something similar could work for Scotland, and give the economy a boost by attracting businesses interested in tariff-free access to the EU. Given our demographics, it is also vital Scotland has the option of separate immigration arrangements.

It is now up to UK Government to give the plan serious consideration and it is certainly a good start that both sides are willing to listen. The long-term aim of their talks must be a flexible Brexit that works for Scotland and the UK.