Boris johnson must extend the brexit transition: here’s why

Despite Scotland voting overwhelmingly to remain, Scotland has been dragged out of the EU – against the clear wishes of the Scottish people – by a hard Tory Brexit. Brexit has already had a

damaging impact on the Scottish economy, but the worst is still to come – the UK is still in the transition period meaning that our businesses and economy haven’t yet faced drastic change.

But time is running out. The UK’s own chief Brexit negotiator admits that the UK government is not making any progress in trade talks, and a catastrophic no-deal on 31 December 2020 grows

ever more likely. Boris Johnson must stop gambling with people’s livelihoods by running down the clock. Here’s why the UK government must urgently extend the Brexit transition. CORONAVIRUS,

COUPLED WITH A NO-DEAL BREXIT, MEANS ECONOMIC DISASTER If the UK government drags Scotland out with a no-deal Brexit by the end of December 2020, it would only exacerbate the economic crisis

caused by coronavirus and make it much more difficult to recover. Latest economic analysis from the Scottish Government forecasts additional barriers to trade with the EU, a significant

disruption to supply chains, and plummeting business investment. The new modelling indicates that Scotland’s economy could save up to £3 billion by extending the Brexit transition – helping

us on the path to recovery from the most severe economic crisis in decades. > New economic analysis by @Scotgov suggests 2 year #Brexit extension > could save the Scottish economy up 

to £3 billion during that > periodhttps://t.co/gwlKcnxnLz pic.twitter.com/mjymcRyM9H >  > — Glenn Campbell (@GlennBBC) June 3, 2020 ENDING THE TRANSITION PERIOD WILL WEAKEN OUR

EFFORTS TO COMBAT THE VIRUS TOO Ending the transition in December 2020, especially without a deal in place, would mean lost opportunities to participate in EU-funded programmes – meaning the

UK could pay more for a future COVID-19 vaccine and be at the back of a queue. It would also mean Scotland is locked out of the EU’s proposed new health programme, which aims to assist in

recovery from COVID-19 and helps strengthen the health response to future pandemics. All this comes on top of the UK government’s dangerous obsession with cutting migration – at a time when

the contribution of EU nationals to our health and social care sector is so vital to saving lives. > Looks like Brexit could mean that the UK gets any #COVID19 vaccine > later than 

other countries, & for more money, due to us being out of > the EU’s joint procurement of medical countermeasures. I’m not > sure this divergence thing is all it’s cracked up to

> be.https://t.co/BoACp9PX8k >  > — Mike Buckley (@mdbuckley) March 10, 2020 SCOTLAND HAS BEEN SILENCED AND SIDELINED THROUGHOUT THE NEGOTIATIONS The UK government has shut Scotland

and other devolved nations out of any involvement in producing the negotiating mandate for the trade negotiations. The Brexit outcome will significantly affect Scotland’s devolved powers –

but despite the UK government promising the Scottish Government involvement and oversight, the Joint Ministerial Committee has only met once since January. Throughout the whole process,

Scottish ministers have barely even been kept updated on the negotiations that have so much impact on Scotland. > The UK Government has rejected a call from Scotland’s Constitution > 

Secretary to pause Brexit negotiations. https://t.co/nIJ2ffR2oA >  > — HeraldScotland (@heraldscotland) April 7, 2020 THE EU HAS ALREADY PUT EXTENSION ON THE TABLE – BUT BORIS JOHNSON

IS REFUSING OUT OF HAND In a letter to Ian Blackford and other opposition leaders at Westminster, the EU’s chief negotiator confirmed “an extension of up to one or two years can be agreed

jointly by the two parties” before the July 1 deadline. Just hours later, the UK’s chief negotiator talked to MPs about the “disappointing” latest round of talks, while flatly rejecting even

the idea of an extension to safeguard the economy. Experts and economists agree that the UK government’s arrogant refusal to extend the Brexit transition would cost livelihoods – with job

losses and further business closures causing a downward spiral of economic hardship. > EU open to two-year #Brexit extension, says Michel Barnier in > response to letter from 

opposition MPs https://t.co/lb7lPlFRWc >  > — ITV News Politics (@ITVNewsPolitics) May 27, 2020 IT’S TIME FOR THE UK GOVERNMENT TO FACE REALITY AND ACCEPT AN EXTENSION It would be

unacceptable to pile a Brexit crisis on top of the coronavirus crisis we already face. It is economic common sense to accept an extension and protect our economy from more damage. If the

Tories continue to refuse an extension, they will be directly responsible for every job lost, every income slashed and every business going under as a result of their intransigence. Boris

Johnson must now urgently agree a Brexit transition period extension. SHARE THIS IF YOU AGREE. > Thank you @MichelBarnier for your letter today confirming the EU is > open to a 

two-year extension to the Brexit transition period. >  > Time is running out. @BorisJohnson must put his responsibilities to > jobs and the economy first – agree an extension to 

prevent another > crisis. pic.twitter.com/b9NqjP1YwZ >  > — Ian Blackford (@Ianblackford_MP) May 27, 2020