THE UK Government must clarify what the rules are for trade between Northern Ireland and the UK, Angus Robertson has said.
Scotland’s Constitution Secretary said this would be pivotal to understanding how the port of Cairnryan, in Dumfries and Galloway, will operate as a key port which connects Scotland to Northern Ireland.
Robertson was asked about the Scottish Government’s response to the negotiations over the Northern Ireland Protocol.
Rishi Sunak’s new deal, known as the Windsor Framework, seeks to remove post-Brexit trade barriers, creating a new system for the flow of goods into Northern Ireland.
READ MORE: Roz Foyer: Energy companies rob people of Scotland's energy wealth
The PM was keen to stress the advantages of his new deal while at PMQs, the SNP’s Westminster leader Stephen Flynn asked why access to the single market had been denied to the rest of the UK.
Speaking in Holyrood, Robertson said he welcomed the progress announced this week.
He said: “Scotland is still left with Brexit and all the damage that comes with it. I urge the UK Government now to seize the opportunity to start the overdue work of repairing relations with our EU partners more widely, and rebuilding closer cooperation and partnership across the many areas in which Scotland’s interests have been harmed by Brexit.
“In addition, the UK Government must now clarify the policy on Northern Ireland to GB trade.”
Robertson said the Scottish Government is now carefully considering the deal.
He continued: “While Northern Ireland has been given preferential access to the huge European single market, Scotland – which voted overwhelmingly to remain in the EU – has been ignored by the UK Government and subject to the full damage of a disastrous, hard Brexit.”
However, Scottish LibDem MSP Willie Rennie said the history of conflict in Northern Ireland meant its situation is very different to Scotland’s.
“Forgive me if I get a little bit exasperated by politicians here, who seek to exploit the developments in Northern Ireland to advance their own narrow agenda”, Rennie said.
The Constitution Secretary responded: “It is going to become ever more apparent that Northern Ireland is an exceptionally privileged position – one that the Prime Minister himself described as being so – and Scotland is at a disadvantage."
Why are you making commenting on The National only available to subscribers?
We know there are thousands of National readers who want to debate, argue and go back and forth in the comments section of our stories. We’ve got the most informed readers in Scotland, asking each other the big questions about the future of our country.
Unfortunately, though, these important debates are being spoiled by a vocal minority of trolls who aren’t really interested in the issues, try to derail the conversations, register under fake names, and post vile abuse.
So that’s why we’ve decided to make the ability to comment only available to our paying subscribers. That way, all the trolls who post abuse on our website will have to pay if they want to join the debate – and risk a permanent ban from the account that they subscribe with.
The conversation will go back to what it should be about – people who care passionately about the issues, but disagree constructively on what we should do about them. Let’s get that debate started!
Callum Baird, Editor of The National
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules hereLast Updated:
Report this comment Cancel