Meeting of the Parliament (Hybrid) 30 December 2020
We are not playing at anything. We are making a serious intervention in an important democratic debate, one that is about the future of devolution, of the Scottish economy and of people’s jobs and livelihoods.
Our exposure to internal investment and therefore to potential internal disinvestment is much higher than that faced by other parts of the UK. The treaty, which the Conservative party supports, guarantees freedom of movement for capital but does not guarantee that for people. When it comes to people, the treaty uses words such as “temporary”, “business visitors” and “independent professionals”. That is an abrupt end to the opportunity for people to live and work across the continent.
Erasmus is gone, ending opportunities for students to work and study across the continent. The commitments on labour and on environmental standards are weak—considerably weaker than the optimists expected.
We will support the motion, just as we hope that others will back our amendment. Our priority is to deal with the economic shocks, not to detonate more as the SNP intends. Our priority is to deal with the national emergency before us, in a spirit of co-operation and renewed determination, and to seek to repatriate powers from Europe to this Parliament, such as those on employment law, health and safety and public procurement. That is the best way to defend democracy and to stand up for Scotland.
I move amendment S5M-23815.3, to insert at end:
“; urges the Scottish Government to provide further mitigation to businesses and sectors impacted by this Agreement and the COVID-19 pandemic, and calls on the UK and Scottish governments to work together to ensure that the current rights of workers, and Erasmus, are protected and that the highest environmental standards are upheld.”
Motions, questions or amendments mentioned by their reference code.