No- deal Brexit will cause irreparable damage, MEP warns
A no- deal Brexit will cause “irreparable damage’ to the Scottish economy, the UK’S l o n g e s t - s e r v i n g MEP h a s warned.
A Labour Member of the European Parliament from 1984 to last year, David Martin has warned a failure to reach an agreement will hit Scotland across the economy, education and the fishing industry.
Mr Martin also accused the Ukgovernmentofleavingbusinesses less prepared than two years ago.
He said: “Covid has resulted in massive damage to the Scottish economy. The impact of this global pandemic could not have been foreseen, while the impactofano- dealbrexitispredictable.
“It takes a special kind of arrogance or incompetence to put theuk’sbusinesscommunityin a situation where 40- odd days from a momentous change in their relationship with their
most important trading partners, they have not a clue what to expect.
“Irreparable damage will be done to the Scottish economy unless they suddenly wake up and smell the coffee.”
Mr Martin said the country would be hit in a range of areas, including “Scotland’s fishing community, farmers, businesses and universities”.
He e x p l a i n e d S c o t l a n d exports around £ 30 billion of goods a year – almost half to the EU, but these were now all facing checks and delay.
Mr Martin said: “No deal wouldmeanthis full panoply of checksandformalitiesapplying immediately at significant cost.
“No deal would also mean tariffs andpossibly even quotas for some goods.”
A former vice- president of the EU Parliament, Mr Martin warnedofdisruption at the border, aswellassweepingdelaysto Scotland’s £ 6.6 billion of industrial exports.
Hewarnedthesedelayswould not just damage industry, but could even see some go under completely.
The University of Glasgow professor also claimed no deal would have “wide ranging consequences” beyondtheimmediately visible economic impact.
He said: “Scotland’s participation in European research will be severely damaged.
“Student exchanges like the Erasmus programme will end, police and security services access to Europol data will be disrupted and Scottish organisations will findit moredifficult to attract European citizens.”