Keir Starmer is throwing Scotland under the Brexit bus
Scotland never voted for Brexit – 32/32 of Scotland’s local authority areas voted Remain in 2016 – but we’re all now paying the price for a damaging, costly Brexit.
Labour has now teamed up with the Tories to continue imposing Brexit in Scotland, as Keir Starmer confirmed that a future UK Labour government would not seek to rejoin Europe.
“Make Brexit work”
Keir Starmer has repeatedly used the line “make Brexit work” and talks of “taking advantage of the opportunities of Brexit”, in a clear message that his Labour Party now fully supports Brexit.
Speaking on BBC radio, Starmer said: “We have exited the EU and we’re not going back, and let me be very clear… there’s no case for rejoining.”
🥀 Labour are red
🌳 Tories are blue
🇬🇧 As long as they rule
🇪🇺 We’re locked out the EU✍️ Pledge your support for Scottish independence at https://t.co/LZLgRffbA0 pic.twitter.com/KZpL0Rqgpl
— Yes (@YesScot) February 14, 2022
Brexit exacerbates the cost of living crisis – but Starmer backs it anyway
Keir Starmer and the overwhelming majority of his Labour MPs voted for Boris Johnson’s Brexit deal, and now continue supporting it – despite clear evidence of its disastrous consequences for Scotland’s economy, jobs and communities.
The OBR has estimated that an average UK household pays £3,600 for the economic damage of Brexit over 15 years.
This equals to £240 a year, a significant amount when families are already struggling with rising energy bills, rising food prices and squeezed wages.
🚨 A new report from the ONS shows that the Scottish economy has fallen by 6% as a result of Brexit.
✖️In contrast Northern Ireland’s economy has prospered in the EU single market.
📣 The only way to secure a better Scotland is to become an independent country. pic.twitter.com/dNJrCH0CVs
— The SNP (@theSNP) December 2, 2021
The economy is hit hard by Brexit – but Starmer backs it anyway
The UK is the only country in north west Europe to have suffered a drop in exports since 2016, and the ONS showed that Scotland’s economy has already fallen by 6% as a result of Brexit imposed on us against our will.
For all the economic disruption that the Covid restrictions have caused, the OBR said that the economic impact of Brexit hits twice as hard.
The economy is hammered by the Tories’ hard Brexit, hurting jobs and livelihoods – and yet Starmer supports it.
🔎 Brexit caused exports to crumble – imposing a £9 billion hit on Scotland’s economy.
📉 In NW Europe, only the UK saw declining exports since 2016, while countries of Scotland’s size saw the biggest increase.
🏴 Let’s build a more prosperous Scotland with independence. pic.twitter.com/1voR3bzkze
— Yes (@YesScot) September 7, 2021
Scotland strongly opposes Brexit – but Starmer backs it anyway
While Westminster voted to drag Scotland out of the EU, the Scottish Parliament has repeatedly voted to refuse consent to the Brexit Bill.
Meanwhile, Scottish Labour’s only MP, Ian Murray, marched through the Westminster lobbies with Boris Johnson to impose Brexit on Scotland and his Edinburgh constituents – despite Edinburgh being the most pro-EU city in the whole of the UK, voting 74.4% to Remain.
Polls consistently show the overwhelming majority of Scots (around 75%) think Brexit has gone badly, but in a shoddy attempt to win back votes in England, Keir Starmer has completely abandoned Scotland.
🏴 Brian Cox: “We voted 62% to stay in Europe and we were ignored.”
🤦♀️ Labour’s Keir Starmer: “Respect and listening to Scotland has to be an essential part of this.”
🥀 Also Starmer: “Make Brexit work, don’t just say ‘get it done’, make it work.” pic.twitter.com/70kxgo1X1T
— The SNP (@theSNP) November 8, 2021
Brexit goes against his own key pledges – but Starmer backs it anyway
Earlier in the Brexit process, Keir Starmer has set out his ‘six Brexit tests’ – saying that if one of them isn’t met, he won’t back a Brexit deal.
These include “exact same benefits as single market and customs union membership” and “delivering for all regions and nations of the UK”. It’s clear that Boris Johnson’s Brexit deal, which Starmer and Labour voted for, doesn’t even come close to meeting these criteria.
When he stood to be Labour leader in 2020, Starmer pledged to “defend free movement as we leave the EU” – but he since abandoned that commitment too, as Labour said they will no longer back the return of free movement.
🌹 2020: In his leadership bid, Keir Starmer pledges to “defend free movement as we leave the EU”.
🥀 2021: Keir Starmer drops Labour pledge to fight for return to EU free movement.https://t.co/G3Mvav833d
— The SNP (@theSNP) March 11, 2021
By backing a Tory Brexit at any cost, Starmer not only went against…
- Scotland’s will to remain in the EU
- Scottish Labour voters’ will
- Scottish Labour MSPs
- Welsh Labour government’s will
- Economic common sense
…but even his own pledges.
🔎 Labour’s newest MP has voted for a hard Brexit, a cut to Universal Credit, and a power grab on the Scottish Parliament.
🥀 He was warmly welcomed by Keir Starmer.
👇🏼 Labour and Tories are one and the same, and Scotland deserves better.https://t.co/PnHRYNVXAZ
— The SNP (@theSNP) January 19, 2022
Only the SNP supports Scotland’s place in Europe
While both Labour and the Lib Dems now supporting Brexit, only the SNP has consistently stood up for Scotland’s overwhelming vote to remain in the EU and stuck firmly to its principles.
Starmer’s position on Brexit also means that even if Labour were to win the next UK general election, Scotland would still be trapped in the cycle of Brexit damage.
Independence is now the only way for Scotland to regain our place in Europe – there is no way back under Westminster control.
🚨 Despite the overwhelming evidence of the damaging impacts, Keir Starmer backed Boris Johnson’s Brexit.
📉 Now, we’re all paying a heavy price.
🥀 While Labour turned their backs on Europe and ignored Scotland, the SNP stood by our principles. pic.twitter.com/Uadt8dhHSS
— The SNP (@theSNP) September 29, 2021