THE SNP has said Boris Johnson is “recklessly piling crisis on crisis” – after the Institute for Government (IfG) warned the UK will struggle to deal with ending the Brexit transition period in the middle of a global pandemic.

In a new report published yesterday, the think tank warned of “inevitable disruption” from the Tory Government’s preferred outcome, and said the decision to end the transition period in December “despite the devastating effects of the coronavirus crisis” was “a high-risk bet, made riskier still with every week that passes without clarity on the outcome of the negotiations and in which the resurgence of coronavirus demands ever greater government and public attention”.

Among its key concerns, the IfG warned “Business readiness is the biggest problem for the end of 2020, with the Covid crisis leaving many firms less prepared than last year”, while “poor trader readiness and EU checks from January mean disruption is inevitable”, and “fully implementing the Northern Ireland protocol by January will be almost impossible”.

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It comes after the National Institute for Economic and Social Research warned on Monday that “the end of the Brexit transition period and the prospect of a No

Deal Brexit represent significant threats to the UK’s economic recovery” and said Brexit “on top of Covid-19 is likely to broaden the shock to growth and employment in the first quarter of 2021, weakening the UK’s recovery compared with other countries, and reducing productivity in the long run”.

Commenting, SNP Brexit spokesperson Philippa Whitford MP said: “Boris Johnson is recklessly piling crisis on crisis by imposing a devastating extreme Brexit in the middle of a worsening global pandemic.

“The Prime Minister was repeatedly warned to pause Brexit and extend the transition period – but instead he is taking the UK head-first towards a disastrous low deal or No Deal outcome at the worst possible time.

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“Either of the outcomes being considered by the Tory Government will leave Scotland, and the UK, worse off and cause lasting harm to our economy.

“The disruption and chaos will inevitably cause more job losses and could be the final straw for many businesses that are already struggling to survive.

“With just weeks left, this Tory Government has not been able to provide any reassurance regarding key imports, such as food supplies and medicines, while businesses which export to the EU are struggling to recruit customs agents and advisors.

“Scotland has been completely ignored by Westminster throughout the Brexit process. Whatever happens now, it is clear the only way to protect Scotland’s interests and our place in Europe now is to become an independent country.”