Brexit extension vital, Highland MSP Maree Todd insists, if Covid-19's economic impact is not to be made even worse; she warns it is also diverting resources and political attention which could be spent tackling the coronavirus pandemic
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A BREXIT extension must be negotiated to avoid making the Covid-19 economic impact even worse and to ensure all efforts are focussed on tackling the coronavirus pandemic, a Highland MSP believes.
Maree Todd has called on the UK government to extend the Brexit negotiation deadline to ensure that "every effort" is put towards tackling the pandemic.
The UK has formally left the European Union but is currently in a “transition period.” This means it is following EU rules and therefore has full access to the European market – which Ms Todd believes will be vital for the economy when the coronavirus crisis eases.
A two-year extension to this transition period is on offer but the Conservative government at Westminster Has publicly insisted it will be pressing on with complex negotiations during the crisis, which she fears will mean the UK leaving with either no trade deal in place or a very limited one at the end of this year.
According to a report by the UK's Chief Economist, the economic impact of the efforts to tackle the coronavirus pandemic could see GDP fall by around a third.
And Ms Todd warned that if the UK government continues to pursue its Brexit plans, Scotland's economy faces further economic damage - a loss, compared with EU membership, of up to £12.7 billion – the equivalent of £2300 for every person in Scotland by 2030.
The SNP MSP said: "For the Tory government to pursue its plans to impose a hard Brexit on the country, while we are facing a global health emergency, is reckless in the extreme.
“The Highlands & Islands voted to remain in the EU and it's clear that businesses here simply do not have the capacity to prepare for Brexit when they are fighting to survive the impact of the Covid-19 crisis.
"People and businesses in the Highlands & Islands will be understandably concerned about this, so it's imperative that the UK government does the responsible thing and requests an extension to the transition period to avoid even more economic and social damage.
“There is still time for the UK government to change course, listen to the public, and ensure that every effort is put to tackling the coronavirus pandemic."
