SNP Finance Minister Derek Mackay yesterday launched a scathing attack on Theresa May’s government, saying it has “sold out” Scotland during the Brexit process at the same time as other parts of the UK have been “bought off” with “bungs”.
Mackay accused the UK Government of “shortchanging and ripping off Scotland”, claiming the Scottish Government should have received more than £3.3 billion when more than £1bn was given to Northern Ireland as a result of the Democratic Unionist Party agreeing to support May’s minority Tory administration in 2017.
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Mackay spoke out after warning MSPs at Holyrood about the possible consequences of a no-deal Brexit, saying it could push Scotland into “deep recession”. He said: “Frankly, all forms of EU exit will harm Scotland’s economy, but leaving the EU without a deal could lead to a potential shrinking of our economy by up to 7%, a drop in exports by up to 20% and a reduced business investment by £1bn in 2019.
“Such profound economic impacts could result in an increase in unemployment of around 100,000 in Scotland, more than doubling the current record low unemployment rate, and push the Scottish economy into a deep recession, similar in scale to the financial crash of 2008.”
Mackay, who was updating Holyrood in the wake of Chancellor Philip Hammond’s spring statement, added that “the DUP are probably heading for another bung”.
He went on: “While other parts of the UK are being bought off in terms of the Prime Minister’s vote, Scotland is being sold out.”
In addition to the extra cash for Northern Ireland, the UK Government has also set aside £1.6bn to help support communities across England in the wake of Brexit as part of its Stronger Towns fund.
Scottish LibDem leader Willie Rennie criticised SNP politicians at both Holyrood and Westminster for not getting more cash from the UK Government. But Mackay insisted it was “Unionists who have put us in this position, nobody else”.
READ MORE: Kevin McKenna: Why it's time for the SNP to put the screws on McEleny
Meanwhile, Jeremy Corbyn left Westminster’s other opposition leaders dismayed by asking them to back a Labour Brexit. At an emergency discussion, just 10 days before the UK is due to leave the EU, the Labour leader met the SNP’s Ian Blackford, and the Westminster chiefs of Plaid Cymru, the LibDems and the Greens.
After the meeting a Labour spokesman called on the other parties to back Corbyn’s soft Brexit policy. He said: “Should there not be a majority in Parliament for Theresa May’s deal or a public vote, Corbyn called on the other parties to engage constructively to find a parliamentary majority for a close economic relationship with the EU that can work for the whole country.”
The spokesman added: “The party leaders discussed efforts to ensure May’s deal would be put to a public vote if she is able to force it through with threats and phony bribes.”
In a joint statement, Blackford, Vince Cable, Liz Saville-Roberts and Caroline Lucas said Corbyn and Labour must now “move to back a public vote, which includes the option to remain, before the window of opportunity closes”. They added: “We hope that we can now work collaboratively and move swiftly to ensure the best possible chance for a fresh referendum to take place.”
Blackford said he and the other opposition leaders were “united in pressing home” to Corbyn “that there is no such thing as a good Brexit” and called on the Labour leader to back a new referendum on Britain’s membership of the EU.
He added: “We were clear that the best and most democratic way forward has to be putting the decision back to the people in a second EU referendum, with Remain on the ballot paper. That must be the overriding priority for all parties that want to prevent the damage of Brexit.
“We welcome the gradual movement from Jeremy Corbyn but time is running out. If there is to be a hope of giving the people a choice over their future, Labour must stop prevaricating, start fulfilling their duty as the official opposition and prioritise a second EU referendum, with the option to Remain, before it is too late.”
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