LABOUR MUST EXPLICITLY BACK NEW REFERENDUM TO PUT DECISION TO PEOPLE
Gavin Newlands, SNP MP for Paisley and Renfrewshire North, has said Tory MPs have “betrayed Scotland” by voting to keep the threat of a devastating No-Deal Brexit on the table – despite knowing it could cost 100,000 jobs in Scotland and cause a recession worse than the 2008 financial crisis.
With just 30 days left until the UK is due to crash out of the EU, all thirteen Tory MPs with Scottish constituencies voted against the SNP amendment to rule out a No-Deal Brexit, which received cross-party support from Labour, Lib Dem, Independent, Plaid Cymru, and Green MPs. The amendment was defeated narrowly by 288 to 324.
Speaking after the vote, SNP Westminster Leader Ian Blackford MP said time is running out to prevent a disastrous bad-deal or no-deal Brexit – and called on Labour to “unequivocally and explicitly back a new referendum” to put the decision back to the people.
Analysis has shown that any form of Brexit will be damaging for Scotland’s economy. A report by the Scottish Government’s top economic adviser, published last week, revealed that a no-deal Brexit could result in a recession worse than 2008 – causing Scotland’s GDP to fall by up to 7%, and leading to unemployment rising by around 100,000.
Speaking after the vote, Gavin Newlands said:
“This week MPs had the opportunity to finally protect Scotland’s interests by agreeing to take No-Deal off the table, but Westminster voted against this- including thirteen Scottish Tory MPs
“We now face the real danger of crashing out of the EU, with a devastating hard Tory Brexit that could cost 100,000 Scottish jobs and cause a recession worse than the 2008 financial crisis.
“Time is running out to prevent a bad-deal or no-deal Brexit. Either outcome would be deeply damaging for Scotland – destroying jobs, and inflicting lasting harm on our economy, public services and people’s living standards.
“It is shameful that all thirteen Tory MPs with Scottish constituencies betrayed Scotland by voting against taking No-Deal off the table, against the clear interests of their own voters who will be left poorer as a result.
“It is now time for Labour to join the SNP in unequivocally backing a new referendum, with Remain in the European Union on the ballot paper.
“Scotland did not vote for Brexit and we should not be dragged out of the EU against our will. Whatever happens now, it is crystal clear that the only Scotland can protect its intersts is with independence.”
