Brexit trade barrier across the Irish Sea gets higher today
Most small Scottish and UK businesses have had to stop selling to Northern Ireland, as well as to Europe, because they can’t comply with new EU customs rules introduced today (Dec 13).
This is an important moment - despite the comparative lack of press coverage - because it signifies the shape of things to come - the trade barrier Boris Johnson promised would not exist across the Irish Sea very much does and it is getting higher as time goes on.
New Brexit import controls will hurt Scottish businesses and families
From tomorrow – and again in April – the UK Government will start imposing a battery of border controls on agricultural trade with the EU. Fierce protests from businesses have delayed these controls five times but they will go ahead this time in order for Rishi Sunak to appease the right wing of his party. The Guardian reported recently that they will cost the economy £330m a year.
Scotland’s EU trade slowly strangled by Brexit red tape
For 16 months in a row, exports from the UK have fallen, due to Brexit. Businesses say they are losing their EU customers. They prefer to avoid the Brexit-related customs checks, delays and uncertainty that dealing with Scottish business now entails, by switching to suppliers in the single market.
No honesty in Budget about Brexit's economic damage
When the Chancellor of the UK Exchequer Jeremy Hunt delivers his budget on Wednesday, he will trumpet whatever sticking plaster measures he and his team come up with - but don't expect any honesty about the damage that Brexit is doing to the UK economy.
SNP leadership candidates respond to Business for Scotland's 10 key questions
Last week Business for Scotland wrote on behalf of our members to each of the candidates for the SNP leadership asking them to answer ten key questions about the economic policy, relations with business, EU membership, and independence. We would like to thank the candidates not only for their time and effort to respond within a tight deadline but also for calling to discuss our priorities in detail whilst also traversing the country attending hustings after hustings.
Scottish business leaders angered by Brexit - as at least £2.5bn is lost in investment
Scottish business leaders are speaking out in ever stronger terms as they count the cost of a hard Brexit Scotland didn't vote for. In one example, the President of the National Farmers Union of Scotland told their annual conference last week that the post-Brexit chaos could “write off” the Scottish farming industry.
Brexit three years on - still an unmitigated disaster for Scotland
It has now been almost seven years since the UK voted to leave the European Union and three years since the UK left the EU in direct conflict with the stated democratic will of the Scottish people. The Scottish electorate was ignored and Scotland was ripped from the European community against what has now been proven to have been Scotland’s better judgement.
Independence offers Scotland alternatives to the chaos at Dover
Images of lorries backed up for 23 miles at Dover over the last few days have made news bulletins all over Europe, with drivers forced to stay in their cabs without access to toilets or meals. Many Scots were among those stuck in the chaos - because Dover is currently the main route for freight between Europe and Scotland.