Scottish and Welsh first ministers warn against no deal Brexit

The Scottish and Welsh first ministers have issued an urgent appeal against a no deal Brexit, warning it would be “disastrous for the economies within these islands and for the livelihoods of hundreds of thousands of people”.

In a statement released ahead of the final British Irish Council before the new prime minister takes office, first ministers Nicola Sturgeon and Mark Drakeford said: “A ‘no deal’ Brexit would deeply damage the reputation of the UK as a reliable international partner and undermine the Good Friday Agreement and the peace process on the island of Ireland”.

With the Tory leadership contest underway, the party’s members will choose between Jeremy Hunt and Boris Johnson to take over as prime minister on 23 July.

But with hard-line Brexiteers calling for the UK to leave the EU without a deal, amid growing concern from civil society and businesses, the leaders of the Scottish and Welsh governments said they were “increasingly alarmed by the increase in hard-line rhetoric about a ‘no deal’ Brexit and a debate focussed on policy proposals for leaving the EU which have no basis in reality”.

They said: “Severe economic damage is already being done as a result of Brexit uncertainty impacting economic opportunities as companies will be making decisions on their future on long-term competitiveness – as workers at British Steel, Ford, Honda, and elsewhere can witness.

“We believe leaving the EU without a deal would be disastrous for the economies within these islands and for the livelihoods of hundreds of thousands of people.

“The next Prime Minister must pull back from the brink of a ‘no deal’ Brexit and be honest with the public. If they continue on their current path, the UK looks increasingly likely to crash-out of the EU in just four months’ time.

“The EU will not simply cave in to demands to re-open the Withdrawal Agreement, and claims that we could both leave without a deal and still benefit from tariff-free trade with the EU have been disproved.

“The new Prime Minister must change course and rule out ‘no deal’ under any circumstances.

“It is now clear that, due to the deadlock at Westminster, there should be a new referendum on EU membership and both our governments would support remain. We will work together and with others who share that aim.”