Boris Johnson is facing pressure to extend the Brexit transition period by two years, after warnings the current exit plan will cause “damage to jobs, businesses, living standards and the economy”.
In a letter to Number 10 today, SNP Westminster leader Ian Blackford has said the prime minister must show leadership and ask the EU to delay the December exit date.
The Ross, Skye and Lochaber MP said to focus on anything other than the Covid-19 response at this time amounted to “foolishness and irresponsibility”.
Downing Street has so far remained firm on its path, only yesterday the prime minister’s spokesman said: “We’re quite clear that we’re leaving the transition period on December 31, we will work with the EU to try to do that with a deal but nobody should be in any doubt the transition period is going to end on December 31.”
The Brexit transition began when the UK left the EU on January 31.
The arrangement – under which the UK is outside the EU but continues to be subject to its rules and a member of the single market and customs union – was negotiated by both sides to smooth the UK’s exit.
The transition was also designed to allow the UK to continue much of its previous relationship with the EU while the fine details of a future trading relationship and security co-operation were negotiated.
Mr Blackford said: “Boris Johnson must put his responsibilities to the UK economy ahead of the demands of Tory hardliners – and urgently agree a two year extension to the Brexit transition period.
“Ploughing ahead with a hard Brexit deadline – and threatening the disaster of no-deal – in the middle of a global pandemic and economic crisis would cause unforgivable damage to jobs, businesses, living standards and the economy.”
In his letter to the prime minister, Mr Blackford warned: “Crashing out of the EU with a bad deal or no deal this year would be the final blow for many businesses that are already struggling to survive – and it would leave people even poorer and worse off at a time of greatest need.”
