Brock warns of Brexit threat to games industry in Scotland

Deidre Brock MP for Edinburgh North and Leith has warned that leaving the EU single market will severely damage Scotland’s world-leading games industry.

Attending a roundtable event in Edinburgh today, she will hear more about the sector and the concerns of representatives from a range of Scottish games studios. 

Deidre said:“We have a dynamic and diverse games industry here in Scotland. From the pioneering ‘Lemmings’ to the ‘Grand Theft Auto’ franchise, we are global leaders in this thriving sector.

“At a time when the economy is stuttering, the games industry in Scotland grew by a staggering 27 per cent in 2016-17. One of the main clusters of studios is in my constituency of Edinburgh North and Leith, where supportive policies from the council and the Scottish Government have helped nurture tech and creative start-ups. 

“But this growth in highly-skilled jobs could come to a stuttering halt if we allow ourselves to be pulled out of the EU. For such a competitive global industry the worst thing a government could do is to put blocks in the path of the free movement of goods, services and talent. Yet that is exactly what this Brexit shambles is doing. 

“The impact on such an international industry of leaving the single market will cut right across the sector –  with rising costs, paperwork and visa bureaucracy affecting its competitiveness. It’s also making the UK a less attractive place to live and work – with studios already reporting a fall in enquiries from global talent.

“Leaving the EU is a reckless piece of political vandalism. It’s being done against the will of the Scottish people and against the best interests of our businesses.

“If Brexit were a game then surely the Tory Government has used up all its lives by now. They need to hand back the controls to the people of Scotland to make our own decision on the future path we wish to take.”