15 Jan 2018
The SNP government has been told to focus on making a success of Brexit, instead of willing it to fail and using it to agitate for independence.
The nationalists released a paper today claiming a so-called hard Brexit would cost every Scot £2300 a year.
The findings in the re-hashed ‘Scotland’s Place in Europe’ document have been criticised by the Scottish Conservatives, who said Scotland could make a success of the UK’s decision to leave the European Union provided ministers in both governments work together.
Constitution spokesman Adam Tomkins said Brexit provided both challenges and opportunities, but there was a clear will from people in Scotland for the SNP to make the process work.
Last week, an acclaimed social attitudes survey revealed no real difference in what people north and south of the border wanted to achieve from leaving the EU.
And despite the warnings in today’s paper, no mention is made of the benefits of Scotland staying in the UK single market, something the SNP wants to end.
The report also fails to mention that EU migration to Scotland has increased since Brexit, and ignores the fact most Scots want a UK-wide position on immigration.
Scottish Conservative constitution spokesman Adam Tomkins said:
“The SNP government has gone completely over-the-top in its scaremongering here.
“As the nationalists proved with their independence White Paper, their financial forecasts simply cannot be trusted.
“No-one’s doubting that Brexit will pose challenges, but it will bring opportunities too.
“That’s why it’s vital the SNP works with the UK Government to achieve the best Brexit deal, and not will the process to fail in the hope of furthering its own constitutional obsessions.
“Only last week public opinion in Scotland was shown to be much the same as the rest of the UK.
“People are sick of the wrangling, and want this process concluded efficiently and successfully.”
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