The Press and Journal (Inverness, Highlands, and Islands)
MP Blackman warns of ‘nightmare’ of huge job losses if EU talks fail
SNP deputy Westminster leader Kirsty Blackman has warned against an “absolute nightmare” no-deal Brexit scenario.
Mrs Blackman argued businesses were lacking certainty and trust in the prime minister’s capability to strike a deal with five months until the UK is due to exit the EU.
Mrs Blackman, the party’s economy spokeswoman, said: “Businesses are implementing their plan B, some of them are on to plan C ... we are so close to Brexit day and nobody has any certainty.”
A no-deal Brexit, she cautioned, would cut incomes, have an impact on economic growth and result in “huge” job losses, adding: “A no-deal scenario is an absolute nightmare scenario, I can’t think of a country in history that has brought such foreseeable economic harm on itself.
“I genuinely think that it will create a huge number of redundancies.”
The SNP, she said, backed an Institute of Directors’ call for a fund that would allow smaller businesses to apply for grants to prepare for Brexit.
She said: “Businesses in Scotland would really like single market and customs union membership.”
The Aberdeen North MP also called for benefits overhaul Universal Credit to be halted and fixed, and the two-child cap and sanctions regime ended.
She said: “Universal Credit cannot be and should never have been an opportunity for the Government to cut social security spend.”
She also said the Government approving the oil and gas sector deal would make a “big difference” in ensuring continued exploration and research.