SNP MSP for Na h-Eileanan an Iar, Alasdair Allan has called on the UK Labour Government to re-assess their Europe policies, following a Holyrood debate today.

MSPs backed the Scottish Government’s motion recognising the continuing harm Brexit has put on Scotland’s rural economy. Western Isles industries such as hospitality, food and drink continue to bear the brunt of Brexit with, its new obstacles in the way of freedom of movement and trade.

The Scottish Government had argued for the incoming UK Labour Government to create a Scottish Visa scheme to address labour shortages. SNP MPs also sought to see immigration powers devolved to Scotland to help mitigate the continuing damage of Brexit. However, Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer dismissed both plans outright.

In light of the Prime Minister’s refusal to devolve immigration powers or to present new alternatives in the Autumn Statement, SNP MSPs reiterated that Scotland’s needs will be best met as an independent member state of the European Union.

Following the debate, Alasdair Allan commented:

“Labour, the Tories and Liberal Democrats are continuing to ignore and downplay the harms of Brexit in order to appease their Eurosceptic voters elsewhere in the UK. But sadly, it is island communities, like the Western Isles that have to the high price of these policies.

“Scotland’s rural economy is worth £39 billion, but island businesses continue to be hampered by labour shortages, high export fees and paperwork which result directly from a Brexit Scotland did not even vote for.

“Whilst I appreciate Labour are keen to repair the UK’s fractured relationship with Europe, they have yet to accept or propose a single measure that would reverse the damage of Brexit and benefit our island communities. Therefore, I would urge the Prime Minister to rethink its policies on Europe and the Scottish Visa scheme.

“Being a member state of the EU would give our islands and rural economy the best deal to prosper and allow the Scottish Government to reinvest in our local services. It’s only the SNP who will make the progressive case for Scotland to rightly rejoin the European Union as an independent member state for the benefit of our rural and island communities.”

ENDS