THE SNP has called for the UK Government to boost support for the economy and jobs, warning the impact of a hard Brexit and rising Covid cases risk creating the “perfect storm”.

The party’s shadow Chancellor ­Alison Thewliss MP has challenged Boris Johnson and Rishi Sunak to take immediate action in the new year to protect businesses and ­incomes.

Among the measures suggested include extending the furlough scheme and other Covid income support packages for “as long as necessary” and delivering support for three million excluded from the schemes.

She said the Tories should also reverse the public sector pay freeze and make the £20 uplift to Universal Credit – which is due to end in April – permanent.

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Thewliss said: “Many of us will be glad to see the back of 2020, however, it is now absolutely critical that the UK Government takes immediate action early in the new year to ensure we can weather the perfect storm which is brewing due to rising coronavirus cases, restrictions and the impact of a hard Brexit.

“When Parliament returns from recess next week, I urge the Prime Minister and the Chancellor to step up to the challenge and heed our long-standing calls for a £98 billion support package – on par with other countries – to protect our economy, businesses, jobs, people’s incomes and to secure our economic recovery.

“They must also extend income support schemes for as long as is ­required, U-turn on their damaging public sector pay freeze, make the £20 uplift to Universal Credit ­permanent and to extend to all legacy ­benefits, and devolve financial ­powers to ­Holyrood so it can take the crucial steps needed.”

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She added: “Far too often the Tory government has found itself intent on prematurely pulling financial support for struggling businesses and households, only to be forced into a screeching U-turn at the very last minute – leaving it too late as jobs are lost and businesses forced to pull down their shutters.

“To add to the hardship caused by the health crisis, the Tories have also chosen to impose a hard Brexit – which analysis has shown will leave us poorer and worse off – at the same time. This is nothing short of an act of economic vandalism.”

According to an analysis by the Scottish Government, the Brexit trade deal which was reached on Christmas Eve could cut Scotland’s GDP by 6.1% by 2030 compared to EU membership – the equivalent of £1600 for every person.

On Friday, the first day of Britain’s new trading regime with the EU, there was little disruption with light traffic around the major ports such as Dover and Holyhead.

However there were reports of some hauliers falling foul of the new customs arrangements, with ferry operator Stena Line saying it had to turn away six lorries from a service bound for Dublin as drivers “did not have the correct references”.

Steve Cock, director of customs consultancy KGH Customs and a former customs officer, said the haulage industry had expected a quiet start in the first week of the year.

He said: “It will probably be fine for another week or so. If you are in the haulage business, you knew that most trade wouldn’t start until the

January 4, probably the 11th, while a lot of people we work with won’t be back until the 18th. So the roads will be quiet for a while.”

But in an interview with BBC ­Radio 5 Live yesterday, he predicted there could be a major issue with moving goods through France to ­other members states.

This is due to a backlog in approvals for community transit – a type of insurance policy which is used to move certain goods on which duty has not been paid.

Cock said: “If you want to go to Germany or somewhere else, you have got to use community transit and you have got to be approved by Customs.

“And they haven’t approved enough people. If you want to get an approval, it is months to get it.

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“I wouldn’t say the problems we had in the run-up to Christmas were minor, but that could be repeated on a long-term basis, simply because there are not enough community transits in place.

“If you are listening HMRC, you have got to get the team issuing those approvals to do them first thing on Monday morning, and get as many out of the door as you can. Otherwise Kent will turn into a car park.”

Meanwhile more than 20 new ­Covid-19 testing centres for hauliers heading to France are being set up in the next few days, Transport Secretary Grant Shapps said.

Restrictions were put in place on hauliers by the French government due to the new UK Covid strain.