Brexit

Brexit mismanagement

Stephen Richard — Thu, 28 Oct 2021 11:38:15 +0000

Brexit mismanagement Stephen Richard Thu, 10/28/2021 - 12:38

Author or Creator

The National

There were a number of huge mistakes made before an arrangement was imposed on Scotland against its will.

The Westminster government made mistake after mistake as the clock ticked on the prospect of a No-Deal Brexit:

1. Ignoring the wishes of Scotland and the other devolved nations The UK voted to leave the EU in the 2016 referendum by 53.4% to 46.6% but Scotland voted by 62% to 38% to stay. Northern Ireland also voted to stay, by 55.8% to 44.2%. Wales opted to leave by 52.5% to 47.5% and England by 53.4% to 46.6%. Thus England always gets what it votes for in big decisions. Scotland only gets what it votes for if England agrees. The arithmetic makes any other outcome impossible.

But that doesn’t mean Scottish votes have to be completely ignored. If the Westminster government had wanted to fulfil the promises it made to Scotland just before the independence referendum in 2014 it would have paid attention to our votes and made some compromises. The Scottish Government made its position very clear after the EU referendum. It thought the best outcome would have been to remain in the UK but recognised that would be impossible without independence. It was, however, determined to maintain Scotland’s position in the European Single Market.

There were a number of huge mistakes made before Boris Johnson cobbled together an arrangement in the closing days of 2020 which would be imposed on Scotland against its will and which would turn out to be a disaster for key industries such as fishing and the food sector overall.

The Westminster government made mistake after mistake as the clock ticked on the prospect of a No-Deal Brexit:

2. Sticking so rigidly to “getting Brexit done” that it made an acceptable trade deal impossible. An increase in paperwork and red tape has stopped lorries from getting produce to European markets on time. The Scottish fishing industry has been the hardest hit, with produce rotting in lorries taking twice or three times as long to reach their destinations. Losses have been estimated to be as high as £1m a day and some firms have been close to closure. Figures from the Office for National Statistics report a 63% slump in Scottish exports to Europe. Fish and shellfish alone were down by 83%.

3. Underestimating just how big a problem taking Northern Ireland out of the EU would be The EU referendum vote dictated that although it had voted Remain, Northern Ireland would have to leave while neighbouring Republic of Ireland would remain. That caused significant headaches, not least of them the need for a hard border between the two parts of Ireland to recognise the different trading rules.

4. Using Brexit as an attack on devolution and to reduce the powers of the Scottish Parliament Immediately after the EU referendum vote, the Scottish Government argued that in light of the removal of the rights and protections provided by EU law, the powers of the Scottish Parliament should be fundamentally revisited. It wanted existing powers protected and new powers over employment law and immigration, to give just two examples. Instead, Westminster has taken away the Scottish Parliament’s right to spend money that once came from Europe. It has set up the ludicrously titled “levelling up” fund and planed to use it without considering priorities set by our own parliament.

5. Breaking promises to keep Scotland involved and informed in negotiations with the EU Before she became prime minister, Theresa May put forward a vision of the UK “in which Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland and England continue to flourish side-by-side as equal partners”. Following the Brexit vote, she said that the Brexit progress would not be triggered until there was a UK approach and that Scotland would be “fully engaged” in the process. In fact, Scotland was kept entirely out of the negotiations and at no stage agreed that any aspect of Brexit should proceed.

Keywords

Brexit

Devolution powers

How Brexit affects support for independence

Stephen Richard — Tue, 19 Oct 2021 11:57:31 +0000

How Brexit affects support for independence Stephen Richard Tue, 10/19/2021 - 12:57

Author or Creator

Queen Mary School of Law

The 60+% who voted to remain in the EU are supposed in the main to support independence in the EU. There is a proportion of independence supporters who do not wish to re-join the EU. These two groups may cancel each other out. Until the pandemic, increasing support for independence seemed to increase as the problems of Brexit were revealed. Since then Brexit has not been the major force for supporting independence.

Keywords

Brexit

Opinion polls

Scottish opinion

Independent wellbeing economy offers hope rather than Brexit chaos

Stephen Richard — Fri, 05 Nov 2021 11:16:54 +0000

Independent wellbeing economy offers hope rather than Brexit chaos

Primary Author or Creator

Believe in Scotland

Stephen Richard Fri, 11/05/2021 - 11:16

Alternative Published Date

2021

Category

Economy

Type of Resource

Article

Fast Facts

Independence offers the only realistic chance of escape from a government seemingly hell bent on damaging our economy

More details

Get Brexit Done … three words which won the Conservative Party the 2019 UK general election south of the Border and the driving force which pushed Boris Johnson to desperately pull together a dangerous and disastrous trade ‘deal’ as the January 1, 2021 deadline approached.

Yet less than a year later Johnson’s government has moved from cheerleaders for the ‘deal’ – which decimated UK exports, particularly Scottish exports, and sparked chaos in supply chains leading to food and petrol shortages all over the country – to standing on the verge of a trade war with Europe.

We’ll soon find out just how serious that trade war threat is. Europe is due to respond to UK government demands that it agree to significant changes to the Northern Ireland protocol, ironically negotiated by UK ministers to avoid a hard land border between Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland.

But this rather begs the question: does Boris Johnson really want a deal at all?

Reports suggest it is unlikely the EU will move far enough on protocol changes to satisfy Johnson and his cronies, although European politicians are experts on compromise and may yet make more concessions.

But that rather begs the question: does Boris Johnson really want a deal at all? Certainly Irish foreign minister Simon Coveney recently tweeted his doubts on that, accusing the UK of setting out a new “red line” just days before the EU was set to offer “serious” concessions. He said: “Are we surprised? Real Q: does UKG actually want an agreed way forward or a further breakdown in relations?”

It’s certainly true that the Prime Minister has previously revealed a preference for chaos, which is certainly what his trade ‘deal’ has brought to the UK.

If the Northern Ireland protocol disagreement can’t be resolved a trade war between the EU and the UK looks likely and the consensus is that this would hurt Britain more than Europe. There has even been one suggestion that the EU response could include tariffs on Scottish salmon.

Whether or not that happens it is certainly true that Scotland is suffering from the Brexit catastrophe more than the rest of the UK. The latest figures released by HM Revenue and Customs reveal that in the quarter ended in June 2021 Scottish exports decreased by 14% compared to the same period the previous year. That compared with export declines in England, Wales and Northern Ireland of 2.2%, 13% and 6.1% respectively in the same period.

Independence offers the only realistic chance of escape from a government seemingly hell bent on damaging our economy

All this surely adds power to the case for Scottish independence. It would, after all, offer the only realistic chance of escape from a government seemingly hell bent on damaging our economy and stripping powers from our parliament.

But we need to beware an argument increasingly put forward by Unionist supporters: that Brexit has caused so much trouble that we cannot risk adding independence to an already chaotic situation.

The truth, of course is that the chaos is entirely the creation of a criminally reckless UK government. Independence is entirely normal in most countries in the world, where it works perfectly well.

It is even more essential in Scotland as we emerge from the pandemic and can seize the opportunity to rebuild our economy based on the principles of wellbeing and equality rather than the greed and naked self-interest guiding the actions of the Westminster government.

An economy which works for the benefit of the people of Scotland and reflects their values and priorities.

Over the months ahead Believe in Scotland will show exactly how we can create that economy and offer hope for the future rather than the despair which is the inevitable result of being part of the Union.

Resource Address (URL)

https://www.believeinscotland.org/independent-wellbeing-economy-offers-hope-rat…

Keywords

Brexit

Language English

Scotland the Brief

Stephen Richard — Tue, 26 Oct 2021 20:19:05 +0000

Scotland the Brief

Primary Author or Creator

Gordon MacIntyre-Kemp

Stephen Richard Tue, 10/26/2021 - 21:19

Additional Author(s) / Creators

Business for Scotland

Publisher

Business for Scotland

Alternative Published Date

2020

Category

Economy

Public Finance

Type of Resource

book

Length (Pages, words, minutes etc...)

191pp

Fast Facts

All you need to know about Scotland's economy, its finances, independence and Brexit.

More details

Scotland the Brief began as a collection of illustrated Scottish economic facts published by Business for Scotland. Over two years, those graphics generated more than four million views and shares on our website and via social media. From that foundation, we’ve produced this book.

Scotland the Brief summarises an in-depth investigation into the breadth, structure and quality of Scotland’s economy. It is written in layman’s terms by Gordon MacIntyre-Kemp and colourfully illustrated by Stewart Bremner to make it easy to understand and absorb, as well as fun to read.

Scotland the Brief answers the burning question – would Scotland prosper as an independent nation?

We also take an in-depth look into the UK Government’s economic record, which we compare to other Western and Northern European nations – with frankly shocking results. The fact is that you cannot truly understand Scotland’s economy and its finances until you have read Scotland the Brief.

Regardless of how you feel about independence, Scotland the Brief will open your eyes, engage and educate you by supplying you with the facts you need to truly inform your opinion on Scotland’s future.

Scotland the Brief comes in two versions:

The standard-sized A5 book nicknamed the Maxi contains a lot more information across 190 pages, backed up with a numbered list of 418 sources for facts throughout the book. A reference copy for anyone who wants to understand Scotland economy – The Maxi book retails at £7.50.
The Mini, an A6 sized book is the quick reference copy (a 74-page abridged version of the full-sized book) it fits easily into a jacket pocket or handbag and most of the pre-orders are for people who intend to keep one to read and one give to friends and colleagues. The Mini retails at £3.50.

Resource Address (URL)

https://www.businessforscotland.com/scotland-the-brief/

Keywords

Language English

200 No to Yes voters tell us why they now believe in Scotland

Stephen Richard — Mon, 25 Oct 2021 08:08:14 +0000

200 No to Yes voters tell us why they now believe in Scotland

Primary Author or Creator

Believe in Scotland

Stephen Richard Mon, 10/25/2021 - 09:08

Date Published

Sun, 10/24/2021 - 12:00

Category

Independence

Type of Resource

Opinion poll

Fast Facts

A survey of 200 people who changed from "no" to "yes" showed multiple reasons. The main ones were:

The effect of Brexit
UK government incompetence
Better Together lied
Had come to have more belief in Scotland
Felt NHS was not safe as part of the Union

Resource Address (URL)

https://www.believeinscotland.org/200-no-to-yes-voters-tell-us-why-they-now-bel…

Keywords

Language English

Scotland’s European Relations: Where Next?

Stephen Richard — Thu, 14 Oct 2021 10:13:13 +0000

Scotland’s European Relations: Where Next?

Primary Author or Creator

Kirsty Hughes

Stephen Richard Thu, 10/14/2021 - 11:13

Additional Author(s) / Creators

Scottish Centre on European Relations

Alternative Published Date

2021

Category

European Union

Type of Resource

Policy Paper

Length (Pages, words, minutes etc...)

26pp

Fast Facts

This paper analyses the range of Scotland’s relations with the EU, and the Scottish government’s European strategy. The Scottish government’s European strategy aims to maintain and develop Scotland’s European relations in Brexit environment. And to Focus on issues of common interest, including the climate emergency, wellbeing, innovation and human rights. For now, Scotland’s European relations are rather positive despite the impact of Brexit. Yet they are also strongly affected by the state of EU-UK relations which currently are difficult and fractious – and UK-Scotland constitutional tensions

Resource Address (URL)

https://www.scer.scot/wp-content/uploads/Final-pdf-Scotland-Europe-Paper-15-6-2…

Keywords

European Union

Brexit

Language English

Only independence can fix damage of Brexit, Open Minds #13

Stephen Richard — Sun, 10 Oct 2021 07:23:56 +0000

Only independence can fix damage of Brexit, Open Minds #13

Primary Author or Creator

The National

Stephen Richard Sun, 10/10/2021 - 08:23

Additional Author(s) / Creators

Believe in Scotland

Date Published

Fri, 08/20/2021 - 12:00

Category

Economy

Type of Resource

News Media

Fast Facts

Scotland's economy benefits from a range of advantages that few other countries of similar size can match. Our natural wealth is a key foundation stone for a prosperous future as an independent country. It is reasonable to believe that a country as naturally wealthy as Scotland would thrive if it were to gain the power to manage for its benefit.

Resource Address (URL)

https://www.thenational.scot/news/19191851.open-minds-13-independence-can-fix-d…

Keywords

Brexit

Exports

Language English

The UK’s Brexit mismanagement, Open Minds on Independence #11

Stephen Richard — Sun, 10 Oct 2021 07:06:16 +0000

The UK’s Brexit mismanagement, Open Minds on Independence #11

Primary Author or Creator

The National

Stephen Richard Sun, 10/10/2021 - 08:06

Additional Author(s) / Creators

Believe in Scotland

Alternative Published Date

2021

Category

Economy

Type of Resource

News Media

Fast Facts

There were a number of mistakes made in negotiating a Brexit arrangement.
This was imposed on Scotland against its will. It has turned out to be a disaster for key industries.

1. Ignoring the wishes of Scotland and the other devolved nations

2. Sticking so rigidly to “getting Brexit done” that it made an acceptable trade deal impossible. It was immediately apparent there were serious problems.

3. Underestimating just how big a problem taking Northern Ireland out of the EU would be.

4. Using Brexit as an attack on devolution and to reduce the powers of the Scottish Parliament

5. Breaking promises to keep Scotland involved and informed in negotiations

Resource Address (URL)

https://www.thenational.scot/news/19174983.open-minds-independence-11-uks-brexi…

Keywords

Language English

Brexit and Territorial Preferences: Evidence from Scotland and Northern Ireland

Stephen Richard — Tue, 05 Oct 2021 17:48:35 +0000

Brexit and Territorial Preferences: Evidence from Scotland and Northern Ireland

Primary Author or Creator

Lesley-Ann Daniels

Stephen Richard Tue, 10/05/2021 - 18:48

Additional Author(s) / Creators

Alexander Kuo

Date Published

Sun, 02/28/2021 - 12:00

Category

Independence

Type of Resource

Academic Paper

Length (Pages, words, minutes etc...)

26pp

Fast Facts

The paper analyses the support for Scotland's independence and support for Ireland's unification. The harder the border with EU, the more support in Scotland's independence is indicated. It follows the sentiment toward the EU closely. In Northern Ireland the support for unification follows religious lines.

More details

Publius: The Journal of Federalism, Volume 51, Issue 2, Spring 2021, Pages 186–211, https://doi.org/10.1093/publius/pjab004

Resource Address (URL)

https://academic.oup.com/publius/article/51/2/186/6154430?login=true#277537296

Keywords

Brexit

Independence from UK

Language English

Brexit and the Scottish Question

Stephen Richard — Tue, 05 Oct 2021 17:38:03 +0000

Brexit and the Scottish Question

Primary Author or Creator

Sionaidh Douglas-Scott

Stephen Richard Tue, 10/05/2021 - 18:38

Additional Author(s) / Creators

Queen Mary University of London

Date Published

Mon, 06/10/2019 - 12:00

Category

Independence

Type of Resource

Academic Paper

Length (Pages, words, minutes etc...)

19pp

Fast Facts

The 2016 Scottish vote for remaining in the EU received no consideration by the UK government for possible special arrangements. The prospect of a new independence referendum gains credibility as the paper shows the constitutional convention on consultation was considered irrelevant by the UK government.

More details

Queen Mary School of Law Legal Studies Research Paper No. 300/2019

Also published in Federico Fabbrini (ed), The Law & Politics of Brexit, (Oxford University Press, 2017).

Resource Address (URL)

https://poseidon01.ssrn.com/delivery.php?ID=39800201709408609111707601802811600…

Keywords

Brexit

independence

Constitution

Language English