COTTISH GOVERNMENT RESEARCH SHOWS LEAVING EU COULD COST ECONOMY £11.2 BILLION A YEAR
 
SNP MSP for Midlothian North and Musselburgh, Colin Beattie, has raised concerns about the economic impact of Brexit to Scotland – after Scottish Government analysis drawing on research from a range of external organisations showed that leaving the EU could cost the Scottish economy as much as £11.2 billion per year by 2030.
 
The figures, which also showed Scotland’s public finances could fall by as much as £3.7 billion per year, are further evidence that in order to protect jobs and livelihoods across Midlothian and East Lothian, Scotland’s position in the EU must be maintained. The analysis points to damage to exports, reductions in investment and reduced economic growth as major concerns.
 
Commenting, Mr Beattie said:
 
“This analysis by the Scottish Government makes it perfectly clear why it is absolutely imperative that Scotland’s position in the EU is secured. If not, then it is obvious that jobs, investment and growth will be threatened.
 
“To see that up to £11.2 billion could be lost from Scotland’s economy every year is very worrying indeed – and shows how unbelievably misguided the Tory government’s plans are.
 
“My constituency benefits massively from Scotland’s membership of the European Union, opening up markets and making it easier for businesses to invest in our skilled workforce. This research has shown that the only way to protect the economies of Midlothian and East Lothian is for Scotland to protect our relationship with the EU.
 
“The Scottish Government is quite rightly exploring all options in order to keep Scotland in the EU and to ensure that we are not dragged out against our will. It would be intolerable for this to happen, and the Scottish Government analysis shows the deeply damaging impact this would have on jobs, investment and prosperity in the constituency and across Scotland.”

SNP MSP ‘HIGHLY CONCERNED’ AT LOCAL TORY MSP’S WELFARE REMARKS
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Colin Beattie, MSP for Midlothian North and Musselburgh, today raised his concerns at remarks made by regional Conservative MSP Jeremy Balfour on the welfare system.

Mr Beattie had written to Mr Balfour to ask if he supported the stance of his Conservative MSP colleague Brian Whittle, who had previously stated that the system of benefits sanctions “needs to be overhauled”.

In his response to Mr Beattie, Mr Balfour stated that he was ‘…unaware of Brian Whittle’s position… but my own view is the system in principle is correct and fair.’

Mr Balfour went on to state, ‘… individual cases are not always dealt with appropriately but I believe that is more to do with individual training than the system in principal.’

Mr Beattie today said: ‘If this is really what Mr Balfour thinks, then I’m highly concerned by his comments.

‘Firstly, he doesn’t know the position of those in his own party. Secondly, and most importantly, he thinks the sanctions system is correct and fair.

‘Thirdly, he thinks that if someone has been unfairly sanctioned that’s not the system’s fault but merely a lack of staff training.

‘I fail to see how Mr Balfour can take this issue so lightly. I regularly have constituents writing to me desperate for help due to the appalling lack of fairness inherent in the system.

‘People are being let down at a time when they most need help and support. I know of constituents who have worked solidly for 25 to 30 years, and are claiming benefits for the first time in their life, only to find themselves sanctioned as they missed an appointment through illness.

‘If this is Mr Balfour’s idea of a ‘correct and fair’ system then I shudder to think what he expects an unfair system to look like.’