THE number of Scots who are “very concerned” about the impact Brexit has soared, according to a new study.
More than eight in 10 Scots are worried about the UK leaving the EU in the next 12 months, Citizens Advice Scotland (CAS) has found.
In an online study, 82% of respondents expressed concern over the impact of Brexit while only 14% stated that they were unconcerned by the UK’s departure from the EU.
Half of those polled reported that they were “very concerned” about Brexit – up from 26% of people who expressed that view in a similar study produced by Progressive Partnership last year.
The main concern raised was the potential impact on the cost of food and essentials, with 72% saying they were worried about price rises.
A total of 63% said they were concerned about the general impact Brexit would have on employment in the UK, while just over half (52%) were worried it would affect trips to Europe.
“Headlines around Brexit tend to concentrate on the process and the political narrative, but our research shows people in Scotland are worried about the impact of Brexit on their day-to-day lives,” said CAS chief executive Derek Mitchell, pictured.
“From the cases that Citizens Advice Bureau see every day, we know that many people in Scotland are already struggling to make ends meet. Against that background, Brexit represents an additional insecurity.
“If only 14% of Scots are not concerned at all about Brexit, that suggests to me a very high level of Brexit stress in the general population, significantly higher than we found this time last year.”
The research follows a similar report last month that highlighted widespread fear about the impact Brexit could have on people’s lives.
The worries centred on how Scotland would staff the NHS and social care, whether human rights would be in jeopardy and fears over what would happen to savings and incomes. Health and Social Care Alliance Scotland said there was also concern that multi-national families would become isolated.
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