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London - Brexit will hit the Scottish economy and cut the semi-autonomous government’s tax revenue by as much as 13% by 2030, First Minister Nicola Sturgeon’s administration said.
Depending on the post-Brexit trading arrangement adopted by the UK government with the remaining 27 European Union nations, Scottish gross domestic product could be as much as £11.2bn a year lower in 2030 than it would have been if Britain remained in the bloc, the Scottish government said in a report citing analysis by a range of research groups. In turn, that would reduce tax income by as much as £3.7bn a year.
“The only way to protect Scotland’s economy – and the clear benefits which come from being part of the world’s biggest single market – is to work to ensure we protect our relationship with the EU,” Sturgeon said in a statement on the Scottish government’s website.
“My government is absolutely committed to pursuing every possible avenue and option to do that.”
Sturgeon has raised the prospect of a second referendum on Scottish independence in an attempt to keep Scotland within the EU following the June Brexit referendum. Her government is readying legislation to pave the way for another plebiscite. Last time in September 2014, Scots voted by 55% to 45% in 2014 to stay in the UK.
They backed remaining in the EU, in contrast to voters in England and Wales.
