The First Minister Nicola Sturgeon has said that she will set out a common sense alternative to the UK Government’s Brexit proposals in a new Scottish Government paper.
This new document will emphasise her government’s desire for continued membership of the Single Market and Customs Union and will argue that the UK Government’s plans are unacceptable.
The First Minister will speak at the Royal Society of Arts in London on Monday when her speech will be streamed live.
The Scottish Government published analysis at the beginning of 2018 showing that leaving the EU could cost around £2,300 per person by 2030.
The First Minister said: “The UK is scheduled to leave the European Union less than six months from now – but both a Withdrawal Agreement and a clear, detailed statement on the future relationship must be concluded much sooner.
“As things stand, we still have no guarantee of a transition agreement or a detailed proposition setting out the future trading relationship between the UK and EU.
“The UK Government seems intent on presenting a false choice between whatever bad, possibly blindfold, deal they manage to conclude and a no deal scenario.
“However, The Scottish Government will this week set out our common sense, workable alternative and make clear why we believe there is now an opportunity to seize an alternative path.
“It is not too late for public duty and calm heads to prevail and for a no-deal or bad, possibly blindfold, deal outcome to be averted. MPs and the wider public should not accept the false choice that is being presented – there is an alternative, and our proposals are the only way to truly protect our businesses, people and communities from the worst effects of Brexit.
“Scotland voted overwhelmingly to remain in the EU, and our duty as a government is to work as hard as we can to ensure that vote is respected and for Scotland’s key interests to be protected.
“That means staying in the customs union and single market, which is around eight times bigger than the UK market alone.
“With time running short the UK Government must take stock and listen to our proposals which have the interests of the people of Scotland and the rest of the UK at their heart.”
Founding Editor of The Edinburgh Reporter.
Edinburgh-born multimedia journalist and iPhoneographer.
