THE Tories have been accused of “peddling half-truths” after Andrew Bowie “misrepresented” the views of several top Scottish organisations.
In an article published by The Scotsman on Sunday, Bowie said it was disappointing only his Conservative party had voted for the Internal Market Bill (IMB) at Holyrood as it had such widespread support among Scots industry.
The MP for West Aberdeenshire and Kincardine claimed that the bill, branded a “power grab” by the SNP, had “been welcomed by the National Farmers Union of Scotland, the Scottish Retail Consortium and the CBI [Confederation of British Industry]”.
However, Drew Hendry, the SNP’s business spokesperson, said the Tories were peddling “half-truths” as “leading organisations” had voiced concerns over the bill and expressed a preference for an “approach based on common frameworks”.
READ MORE: Andrew Bowie caught repeating 'false nonsense' at Prime Minister's Questions
While the CBI, National Farmers Union of Scotland (NFUS), and the Scottish Retail Consortium (SRC) all support the underlying principle of a seamless UK internal market operating without barriers, not one has expressly supported the Internal Market Bill.
The CBI said that, “while the aims of the IMB could be beneficial for UK business, the impact of undermining the Withdrawal Agreement and potentially putting the UK/EU negotiations at risk is far more problematic”.
Carolyn Fairbairn, the director-general of the CBI, said the international law-breaking IMB will not help the UK on a global stage, and that a No-Deal Brexit must be avoided.
The NFUS supports “maintaining the integrity and competitiveness of the UK Internal Market”, saying it is “extremely important”.
However, it has also expressed concerns around the IMB, saying “improvements” could be made which “would ensure the prominence of common frameworks negotiations by putting them on a statutory footing”.
A spokesperson told The National it is the “NFUS’ clear view that whilst future agricultural support systems must diverge across the UK, in order to support and enhance the productivity of the very different agricultural systems across the UK, the underpinning regulatory framework must converge, as it does currently through the EU regulatory framework”.
“This fine balance of divergence in application, but convergence in regulation, should be managed by commonly agreed frameworks.”
The SRC agrees it is “essential there is a legal basis for market access for goods and services once the EU transition period ends”.
However, a spokesperson told The National: “We would prefer to see an approach based on common frameworks between the UK and devolved governments.”
READ MORE: Brexit: 'Internal Market bill is supported by Scots farmers', Tory MP claims
Hendry, who has previously clashed with Bowie at Westminster over differing interpretations of the NFUS’s views, said: "Not for the first time have Scottish Tory MPs been found to have misrepresented the views of organisations to justify their policy positions.
"The Tories’ law-breaking Internal Market Bill - backed by Scottish Tory MPs - will override the decisions of the devolved Parliaments and rob them of powers over devolved matters, and it will signal a race to the bottom in food and environmental standards.
"Despite leading organisations voicing concerns over the Internal Market Bill and seeking an approach based on common frameworks agreed between the UK government and the devolved governments, the Scottish Tories continue to peddle half-truths.
"Just this week, the Scottish Parliament decisively rejected granting consent for the deeply damaging Bill and the unprecedented threat to the Scottish Parliament’s powers. The Scottish Tories are completely isolated.
“Given the fact that the Tory government are carrying on with this bill despite being explicitly refused consent by the Scottish Parliament, only serves to further prove that this is not a partnership of equals and they have no real desire to work with the Scottish Parliament."
A Scottish Conservative spokesperson said: "Stakeholders have been unequivocal about the need to protect the UK's internal market.
"It supports 545,000 jobs in Scotland reliant on UK trade, and ensures the unrestricted movement of goods across this country.
"But it can only be protected via legislation as power is taken back from the EU.
"This is in opposition to the SNP, who would put half a million jobs at risk in the middle of a pandemic."
The Ferret's non-partisan fact check service found the claim "that voting against the UK Internal Market Bill would mean 545,000 jobs were scrapped is incorrect".
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