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Scottish government warns against 'no deal' Brexit No-deal Brexit 'would not threaten UK' - Lidington
(about 2 hours later)
Scotland's Brexit secretary has urged the UK government to rule out a "no deal Brexit", arguing that it would be "deeply damaging and disruptive". Scotland will continue to benefit from being part of the UK even if there is a "no-deal Brexit", the prime minister's deputy has insisted.
Michael Russell was speaking ahead of a major speech by his UK government counterpart Dominic Raab. Cabinet Secretary David Lidington stressed that the UK remained confident of negotiating a deal with the EU before it leaves on 29 March next year.
Mr Raab set out the government's planning for the possibility of leaving the EU without an agreement. But he said the "strength of the United Kingdom" would continue regardless.
The government is also to publish the first of a series of papers aimed at preparing for the scenario. He was speaking as Scottish Brexit Secretary Mike Russell claimed a no-deal Brexit would be a "nightmare".
The 70 "technical notices", 25 of which will be published today and the rest by the end of September, will include advice for businesses, citizens and public bodies. The UK government has published the first 25 of its 70 "technical notices" which include advice for businesses, citizens and public bodies on what to do if the UK leaves the EU without agreement on how its future relationship with the bloc will work.
Today's papers will include guidance on nuclear safeguards and state aid rules. The papers include guidance for businesses who could face extra paperwork at borders and contingency plans to avoid medicine shortages, as well as a warning that Britons visiting the EU could also face extra credit card charges.
The UK is due to leave the EU on 29 March 2019, and the two sides are currently negotiating the terms of its exit and its future relations in a whole range of issues. Fundamental differences remain between UK and EU negotiators as they enter the crucial phase of Brexit talks, and recent weeks have seen an increasing focus on the possibility of no deal being reached.
Fundamental differences remain as they enter the crucial phase of talks, and recent weeks have seen an increasing focus on the possibility of no deal being reached. UK ministers say securing a deal remains their top priority and the most possible outcome, but that "short-term disruption" is possible if no agreement is reached.
The UK has insisted that "no deal is better than a bad deal", with Mr Raab dismissing what he has described as "hair-raising scare stories" of shortages and queues of lorries at ports. Speaking in Edinburgh, Mr Lidington said the publication of the technical notices should not be taken as a sign that the UK government now expects a no-deal outcome, and dismissed suggestions that such a scenario would make the possibility of Scottish independence more likely.
'Panic mode' He said the Scottish government had been consulted over the technical notices, with the text of some being changed as a result.
Labour has joined the SNP in claiming a no-deal outcome would be "catastrophic" and a "complete failure by the government to negotiate for Britain". Mr Lidington said the advantages to Scotland of staying in the United Kingdom were "profound" whatever the outcome of the Brexit talks.
The party's Brexit spokesman Sir Keir Starmer told Radio 4's Today programme the government was "now moving into panic mode" and its latest advice would not reassure anyone. And he said "fragmenting the UK single market" would mean "higher prices in the shops in Scotland and fewer jobs in Scotland because of the extra costs of business".
In his speech Thursday morning, Mr Raab insisted that he remains confident of striking a "strong deal that benefits both sides". 'Signs are encouraging'
But he pledged that the government will ensure the "smooth, continued, functioning" of the UK economy if that does not happen, and that it will take "unilateral action" to ensure continuity, for example on medical supplies. But he emphasised: "The UK government is absolutely determined of getting a good deal, and we're confident that we are.
Mr Raab said: "We must be ready to consider the alternative. We have a duty, as a responsible government, to plan for every eventuality. "We're 80% of the way now towards having negotiated the text of the withdrawal agreement, so we made really good progress and the signs are encouraging."
"These technical notices - and the ones that will follow - are a sensible, measured and proportionate approach to minimising the impact of no deal on British firms, citizens, charities and public bodies." The Scottish government has called for the UK to rule out the possibility of leaving the EU without a deal, with Brexit secretary Mr Russell stating that such an outcome would be "deeply damaging and disruptive" to Scotland, the UK and EU.
Ahead of the speech, Mr Russell urged Mr Raab to "immediately rule out" the possibility of leaving the EU without striking a deal, and repeated his calls for the UK to remain in the single market after Brexit. Responding to the publication of the technical notices, Mr Russell said they illustrated how Scotland was facing a "no deal Brexit nightmare".
He said: "A no deal Brexit would be deeply damaging and disruptive for Scotland, the rest of the UK and the EU. Indeed, it has been described as a "cliff-edge scenario" by the European Commission. And he said they "lay bare the risks facing Scottish businesses, the economy and public services".
"It is therefore time for the UK government to immediately rule it out and accept the Scottish government's strong case, if Brexit goes ahead, for remaining within the European single market and customs union." Mr Russell added: "From the bureaucratic burden that will be imposed on EU imports and exports to the need to strike a wide range of 'no deal' deals before the end of March, these notices only add to the uncertainty surrounding Brexit.
"People want to know if their medication will still be available and farmers and fishermen want to know if they will still be able to sell their products.
"While a responsible government must prepare for all exit possibilities, the UK government should rule out a disastrous 'no deal' and focus instead on securing the best outcome for us all - which, short of staying in the EU, is remaining part of the single market and customs union."
'Lack of clarity''Lack of clarity'
Mr Russell said the Scottish government was "preparing for all exit possibilities" but was being "constrained by the lack of clarity on the direction of negotiations with the EU and by uncertainty about the possible outcome of that". Mr Russell has previously said that the Scottish government is "preparing for all exit possibilities" but was being "constrained by the lack of clarity on the direction of negotiations with the EU and by uncertainty about the possible outcome of that".
He added: "For significant reserved areas, such as aviation and energy, we are at the mercy of the UK government's preparations.
"It would be far better for Scotland and the UK if, instead of putting effort into an undesirable no deal scenario, the UK government focussed on securing the least worst outcome for all of us."
Scotland's chief medical officer, Dr Catherine Calderwood, said earlier this week that the Scottish NHS was working with colleagues in England to ensure there were sufficient medical supplies, including crucial drugs such as insulin, in the event of a no deal Brexit.Scotland's chief medical officer, Dr Catherine Calderwood, said earlier this week that the Scottish NHS was working with colleagues in England to ensure there were sufficient medical supplies, including crucial drugs such as insulin, in the event of a no deal Brexit.
Labour has joined the SNP in claiming a no-deal outcome would be "catastrophic" and a "complete failure by the government to negotiate for Britain".
The party's Brexit spokesman Sir Keir Starmer told Radio 4's Today programme the government was "now moving into panic mode" and its latest advice would not reassure anyone.