South of Scotland MSP Emma Harper has highlighted the importance of membership of the EU single market to farming during a parliamentary debate.
The local MSP said that trade is the bedrock that the agricultural sector stands on, and that without the single market, tariffs may prove crippling to many producers in her region.
Absent from the chamber were D&G MSPs who are former farmers – including Galloway and West Dumfries constituency MSP Finlay Carson.
Ms Harper commented:
“The South of Scotland has benefited profoundly from membership of the single market in terms of agriculture and the food and drink sector. I am acutely aware that the best way to protect the interests of my constituents, and the rural economy, is to maintain that membership. I have spoken to several farmers and dairymen who tell me that the threat of a hard Brexit is very likely to damage their business.
“It beggars belief that Conservative MSPs like Mr Carson – who make so much about standing up for fellow farmers – were absent from the chamber during such a crucial debate.
“The bottom line is that without access to the single market, our farmers could face tariffs of over 22 per cent on agricultural products, and 42 percent on dairy products! That’s not my opinion, but the opinion of revered economists who have appeared before the European Committee, on which I sit.
“That could be crippling to many of my constituents – which is why the SNP has asked that the Scottish Parliament show a united front in backing Scotland’s continuing membership of the EU single market – so that Theresa May receives the message loud and clear that Scotland’s interests must be protected during Brexit negotiations.
