We finally know what the UK's Brexit impact analysis says about Scotland – and it doesn't make for pretty viewing.
The Treasury has predicted that under all three scenarios – staying in the single market, a free trade deal and no deal at all – Scotland would be much worse off. The numbers were pretty much exactly what the Scottish Government's own analysis, released last month, showed.
READ MORE: The UK's Brexit damage report is even WORSE than the Scottish Government's analysis
The UK's leaked report says the Scottish economy would grow 9% SLOWER with no deal than it would if it stayed in the EU. With a free trade agreement, we would take a 6% hit, whereas if Scotland were to stay in the single market our economy would be dealt a 2.5% blow.
READ MORE: Tories must now explain why they dismissed Scottish Govt figures as 'scaremongering'
So surely confirmation of these awful figures means that it's now time for Labour, Jeremy Corbyn and Richard Leonard to wise up to the fact that the best thing for Scotland is no Brexit at all – or at the very least a deal which retains our place in the single market?
The leaked Brexit document confirms that we can’t trust the Tories to secure a good deal for Scotland and the rest of the UK. The sooner we have a snap election and elect a @UKlabour Govt and @JeremyCorbyn as PM the better for all involved.
— Richard Leonard (@LabourRichard) February 7, 2018
Ah. Despite the fact that the Treasury's analysis literally proves there is NO such thing as a good deal for Scotland, Leonard spectacularly missed the point again.
SNP Pete Wishart MP tweeted back immediately: "How about starting to lift a finger to stop this madness instead of just backing the Tories in taking us out? At least join us to secure single market membership?"
How about starting to lift a finger to stop this madness instead of just backing the Tories in taking us out? At least join us to secure single market membership?
— Pete Wishart (@PeteWishart) February 7, 2018
Our thoughts exactly, Pete.
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