Measures Will Increase Food Costs & Risk Delays
Following warnings that post-Brexit import controls will raise food prices and risk supply delays, the SNP has said Scotland’s businesses and consumers are paying the price of broken, Brexit Britain.
SNP politicians have slammed the Tory government’s handling of Brexit as “chaotic” and criticised the Labour party for backing the Brexit deal, which has pushed up the cost-of-living and left businesses struggling in Scotland and the rest of the UK.
The import controls, which are set to come into force next week (31st January), have been delayed five times by the UK government because of fears that they will push up food prices in the middle of a cost-of-living crisis.
Businesses continue to raise concerns, and the Fresh Produce Consortium has warned that fruit and vegetable imports will face a price hike of £200 million as a result of import controls – costs that will have to be passed onto consumers.
The UK imports around 79% of its vegetables and just under 40% of its fruit from the EU.
The anticipated impact of these coming import controls, while we are still very much in the grip of the Tory cost-of-living crisis, is just the latest example of the harm an unwanted and chaotic Brexit continues to inflict on Scotland’s people and businesses alike.
GRAEME
It comes after a recent report found the average person has missed out on £23,370 in disposable income – £13,170 higher than the UK average – as Scotland faces an expected loss of £3 billion a year in public revenues due to Brexit.
Each person is predicted to face a cost of at least £2,300 by 2035, and we know there will be no change of direction under a Labour UK Government.
Unfortunately this is the cost of Westminster control – Scotland deserves better.
