The SNP has fully supported an online petition launched by Peter Packham, a member of Leeds for Europe, which calls on the UK government to hold a public inquiry into the impact of Brexit. This petition has reached more than 150,000 signatures and as a result, a debate will take place on Monday at Westminster.
Negative impact of Brexit
Brexit has caused significant economic disruption in the UK. The uncertainty surrounding our departure from the EU has led to a drop in investment, a decline in consumer confidence, and a decrease in trade. Businesses have been affected, with many having to make significant changes to their operations to adjust to the new trading environment.
Added to this, trade barriers have made it more difficult and expensive for UK businesses to trade with the EU, which is the UK’s largest trading partner. Some businesses have already relocated to the EU to avoid tariffs and other trade barriers.
The UK was a major recipient of EU funding, particularly for research and development, education, and infrastructure projects. With Brexit, the UK has lost access to this funding, which has had a negative impact on the country’s economy and its ability to innovate.
SNP supports calls for a Brexit inquiry
Alyn Smith, MP for Stirling and the SNP’s Europe and EU accession spokesperson, has stated:
“It is clear to see that Brexit has made the UK meaner, poorer and weaker. The Brexit campaign promised everything and unsurprisingly failed to deliver anything.
“The people of Scotland voted decisively to remain in the European Union yet have been forced out against their will. Brexit has been bad for our businesses, bad for our universities and bad for our communities. No wonder then that 72% of Scots want back in the EU!
“The SNP supports this call for a public inquiry into the impact of Brexit. We want to see the UK have a close, deep and functional relationship with our European friends. The UK being honest with itself about how it got into this mess would be a good start for how it gets out of it.”
Michael Russell, President of the SNP, former Scottish Government negotiator with the UK on Brexit and Hon President of the European Movement in Scotland, said:
“The truth about the massive Brexit con trick needs to be told. Scotland voted against and has been denied any say in the matter. A full rigorous and independent inquiry would reveal the mess of vested interests, dirty money and bare-faced lies that forced this through, and add more strength to the campaign for re-entry.”
Polling supports calls for a Brexit inquiry
An online poll carried out by Omnisis and shared with us exclusively, asked a number of questions about the impact of Brexit, our relationship with the EU, and whether people believe there should be a public inquiry. The headline results are shown below, with total numbers and SNP voters shown separately.
“Should there be an independent public inquiry into the impacts of Brexit on the UK economy, businesses and citizens?”
- Yes, definitely: 27%, SNP: 57%
- Yes, probably: 32%, SNP: 23%
- No, probably not: 17%, SNP: 8%
- No, definitely not: 8%, SNP: 0%
- I don’t know: 16%, SNP: 12%
“Do you believe that Brexit has caused problems with the UK economy which now need to be fixed?”
- Yes, lots: 34%, SNP: 74%
- Yes, a few: 38%, SNP: 15%
- No, not really: 16%, SNP: 10%
- No, definitely not: 5%, SNP: –
- I don’t know: 7%, SNP: 0%
“Would you say that our current relationship with the EU Single Market is”
- Too close: 8%, SNP: 3%
- Too distant: 44%, SNP: 49%
- Just right: 20%, SNP: 10%
- I don’t know: 28%, SNP: 38%
“Do you think our new post-Brexit travel & immigration relationship with the EU (both from the UK and back to the UK) is working well or not?”
- Working very well: 4%, SNP: –
- Working quite well: 21% SNP: 21%
- Not working very well: 36%, SNP: 13%
- Not working at all: 18%, SNP: 39%
- I don’t know: 21%, SNP: 26%
Brexit was a mistake
The Scottish government has repeatedly expressed its opposition to Brexit since the referendum and has sought to maintain Scotland’s relationship with the EU. The SNP has consistently argued that Brexit is against the interests of Scotland, and has called for a second independence referendum to be held in order to give the Scottish people the opportunity to choose their own future relationship with the EU.
Overall, and according to the figures above, it is fair to say that UK citizens feel that Brexit is a mistake and are concerned about the impact that it will have on the Nation’s economy, society, and international standing. The realisation of the empty promises from the Westminster Government is very clear.
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