Nicola Sturgeon accuses May of a ‘dereliction of duty’

Nicola Sturgeon today accused Theresa May of a ‘dereliction of duty’ for planning to take Britain out of the single market.

The Scottish First Minister joined a renewed Project Fear as she became the latest to publish her own impact assessment on Brexit.

She insisted the research showed the ‘least damaging option by far’ was staying in the EU single market after Brexit. 

The SNP leader insisted Scotland’s economy would be hammered by a no deal Brexit, according to her research.   

Nicola Sturgeon (pictured today in Edinburgh) accused Theresa May of a ‘dereliction of duty’ for planning to take Britain out of the single market

Theresa May (pictured yesterday in Maidenhead with husband Philip) has said Britain must leave the single market and customs union to deliver on Brexit 

Theresa May (pictured yesterday in Maidenhead with husband Philip) has said Britain must leave the single market and customs union to deliver on Brexit 

Ms Sturgeon’s report follows an impact assessment published by London Mayor Sadiq Khan last week which also backed staying in the single market as the least painful for the economy.

The UK Government has already made it clear it will seek to take Britain out of the single market and pursue a bespoke trade deal with the EU.

The Scottish Government’s study, launched by Ms Sturgeon in Edinburgh today, looks at the impact of three different Brexit outcomes on GDP, trade and immigration.

These include staying in the single market and customs union, a preferential trade agreement or reverting to WTO (World Trade Organisation) terms.

Brexit Secretary David Davis told MPs last month that the UK Government had not carried out any impact assessments of leaving the EU on the UK economy.

He said ‘sectoral analysis’ of different industries had been drawn up, but not a ‘forecast’ of what would happen after Brexit.

Ahead of today’s publication, Ms Sturgeon said: ‘More than 18 months on from the Brexit vote, it beggars belief that the UK Government is not only still unable to say what kind of relationship it wants with the EU, but has also failed to produce any meaningful economic assessment of the different possibilities.’

She added: ‘It will be a fundamental dereliction of duty as Prime Minister if Theresa May continues to pursue her red lines without providing information on their impact, and publicly discussing the options available.

Ms Sturgeon's report suggests Scotland's economy shrinks under all Brexit scenarios considered but does better if Britain stays inside the single market (left hand bars) than it does in a no deal scenario (right hand bars)  

Ms Sturgeon’s report suggests Scotland’s economy shrinks under all Brexit scenarios considered but does better if Britain stays inside the single market (left hand bars) than it does in a no deal scenario (right hand bars)  

‘Of course, there is no alternative arrangement that can deliver the jobs, people and economic benefit that come from remaining members of the European Union but if the UK continues down the path of leaving the EU, it is the Prime Minister’s duty to do as little harm as possible to the economy.

‘The Scottish Government is absolutely clear that, if the UK is indeed leaving the EU, then it must stay within the single market and customs union to prevent needless job losses and cuts in living standards.’

The SNP administration has previously called for a ‘differentiated deal’ for Scotland, allowing it to remain in the single market even if the rest of the UK leaves.

The Scottish Conservatives urged Ms Sturgeon to make it clear she is no longer pursuing such a deal, and called on her to back UK-wide trade and immigration rules.

A UK Government spokeswoman said: ‘We are seeking a deal that works for the whole of the UK, that delivers on the result of the EU referendum.

‘Rather than trying to undermine the result of a democratic referendum, we urge the Scottish Government to work with us to ensure, as we leave the EU, we protect the UK’s vital internal market.’ 



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