Brexit 'continuing to hammer' north-east, says Adam
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A NORTH-east MSP has claimed businesses and households in the region are suffering due to the effects of Brexit.
Karen Adam, the SNP MSP for Banffshire and Buchan Coast was speaking after a top business leader slammed the decision to leave the EU, saying there is "no evidence" of the promised dividend to businesses across the country.
New data illustrates that households in Moray face a shortfall of £1024 a year while those in Aberdeenshire would on average lose £1069 annually.
The figures have prompted renewed calls from Ms Adam for Scottish independence as a means to escape what she called the "chaos" of remaining part of the UK and subsequently re-join the EU.
Shevaun Haviland, director-general of the British Chambers of Commerce, told Bloomberg that Rishi Sunak should pursue a veterinary agreement to remove checks on food products, something that has damaged Scotland’s world-class food and drink sector.
Ms Haviland also called for changes to the visa system for skilled workers from Europe to work in the UK to fill the gaps in the labour market caused by exiting the EU.
Ms Adam MSP said: “Exiting the EU is continuing to hammer households and businesses at the worst possible time – with Scotland being hit by the UK’s self-inflicted cost-of-living crisis and rising food prices, increased paperwork and delays, and drop in exports.
“Again, we have even more confirmation that leaving the EU hasn’t worked, and that comes at the expense of households and businesses here in Banffshire and Buchan Coast constituency. Leaving the EU has been an unmitigated disaster for every area of Scotland, particularly in Aberdeenshire and Moray.
“Businesses in Banffshire and Buchan Coast have taken a hammer blow because of Brexit and continue to suffer as a result, the only way they and the rest of Scotland can flourish is by escaping Brexit and becoming an independent country back in the European Union.
“It has been estimated that businesses in Aberdeenshire and Moray have missed out on £120.5 million, which represents between £1024-£1069 per household in Aberdeenshire and Moray. This means residents across those local authority areas have missed out on a combined £164,741,511.
“Scotland’s economy has suffered twice at the hands of bad UK government decision making in terms of leaving the EU and the UK-made cost of living crisis. Last week we learned that Scottish exports had nose-dived by 13 per cent since leaving the EU.
“There is no way back to the EU under Westminster control with Labour signed up as a fully-fledged Brexit party. No matter the economic consequences, Labour will keep Scotland out of the European Union, a market seven times the size of the UK.
“Meanwhile countries of a similar size to us continue to outperform the UK. That is why it is only with independence that Scotland can unleash its full potential by re-joining the European Union.”
