Shetland among most vulnerable to Brexit, says MSP Todd
MSP Maree Todd says new analysis shows just how “devastating” Brexit will be for Shetland.
The SNP member has demanded that Brexit is halted and claims half of Shetlanders live in vulnerable communities.
Ms Todd is basing that on Scottish government analysis which led to the publication of “The Local Level Brexit Vulnerabilities in Scotland Report” this week. It states that rural and remote areas, especially those in The Highlands and Islands, have significant populations at risk from the fallout of leaving the EU – with or without a trade deal.
The report considers community access to services, working-age population, income deprivation, workers in “Brexit-sensitive” industries, EU worker migration and how many EU payments are received.
Highlands and Islands representative Ms Todd said: “We always knew that Brexit would be damaging to Scotland but this new analysis really hits home the devastating impact that Brexit will have here in the Shetland Islands.
“Families across Shetland will feel the impact of Brexit, with up to 50 per cent of the local population most vulnerable to the potential economic shock.
“The SNP government will continue to do what it can to mitigate and minimise the impact on our most vulnerable communities, but this study lays bare the recklessness of the Tories in their blind determination to pursue Brexit at any cost.
“Scotland never voted for Brexit and certainly not for the reckless extreme version now pursued by the UK government. It’s essential that we stop Brexit and go back to the people.”
Ms Todd added that a report by the Institute for Fiscal Studies (IFS), also published this week, “found the UK is already £60 billion worse off as a result of Brexit before we have even left the EU – with the UK economy 2.5-3 per cent smaller than it otherwise would have been.”
John M Scott
Over a million voters in Scotland voted for BREXIT, 43% of Shetlanders voted to leave, are their votes to be ignored?
As a UNITED Kingdom we operate as a single unit; well we did during two world wars.
I find that Maree Todd’s concern about the potential economic effect that BREXIT could have upon Shetland; a bit of a cheek, coming from a party that currently has chalked up a deficit of £12 billion for Scotland, due to irresponsible spending policies.
David Spence
Brexit, is nothing more than for the Tories to distance themselves from the EU, and to have a trade deal with the USA, and the, most likely, mass privatisation of most government responsibilities and duties of care going to US companies, where the Tories will benefit as shareholders of such companies.
It is so typical of the Tories to put themselves first regardless to the devastating consequences of their policies and selfish agenda’s onto the people of the UK, especially those in society who struggle as it is.
It will be a society of those who have and those who do not have. Where profit is the dominating principle which governs and controls those in power.
Brexit, will make the UK, very much an unfair, unjust society for the majority of people.
It will also have a great impact on smaller communities where the work-force is from the EU, and the economic circumstances putting many jobs and businesses at risk.
Brexit, in all its forms, will cause more harm than good…………not to mention poking the fires of xenophobia and racism in its wake.
John Tulloch
If Shetland is “among the most vulnerable to Brexit”, then presumably, it will also be “among the most vulnerable to Scexit” as we are guaranteed to be out of the EU with No Deal, should the SNP’s policy of Scottish independence ever become reality?
Peter Hamilton
Tulloch undermines himself. As a UNITED Europe we acted as a single unit. Why should leaving one Union be better than leaving the other?
He should reflect on the plain fact that it isn’t our European neighbours that are demanding we split from England against our stated will. “Take back control” my rear end.
Ian Tinkler
Peter Hamilton, we agree at last. You, at last, you admit to talking from your rear end!! Now it all makes sense.
David Spence
No Peter, it is the Tories. As I have previously mentioned, their agenda is nothing more than to privatise and hand control of the UK’s Health Care and and other Infrastructure(s) to US companies, where the Tories will benefit mostly.
The cost of living under Brexit, will most certainly increase, and the people most affected by it will struggle even more.
The Tories, as they have always done, have only thought of themselves (typical mentality of most Capitalists) and what they can gain regardless to the damaging consequences upon everybody else in society.
Their policies and political motives are highly divisive, and generally do more harm than good to society as a whole.
John Oakes
And Labour been a paragon of virtue when they were in power. Seem to recall PFIs for NHS building still crippling a few till this day. Not forgetting the computers. Oh the Iraq war Afghan war. Signing the Lisbon Treaty which joe public never had a say. Thanks to Labour we have divided Kingdom since the Devolution.
If all of Scotland wants to remain part of EU, then declare yourselves a Republic and pay your dues to EU Fully.
Bad enough we have London Europe bleating how they will suffer if we leave EU, when frankly none of them venture beyond the M25 wall to see England. I would be an idiot if I didn’t think we will not suffer first but most of the problems stem from weak MPs and woeful spending.
Peter Hamilton
Perhaps the turning point was Thatcher and the Poll Tax. The capture of the Conservative and Unionist Party, one nation and pragmatic until then, by monetarist, neo-liberal ideologues is now all but complete.
They just don’t make Tories like they used to. It is as if they have by and large decided that seizing England will be enough for them and sod the rest of the U.K.