Local businesses across the Stirling Constituency have spoken out ahead of next week’s vote, when MPs will decide whether to back Theresa May’s withdrawal deal from the European Union.
The Deal has been met with criticism across the political spectrum on a number of fronts. The Scottish Government has slammed the contents of what has been agreed by Tory Ministers for committing to end Freedom of Movement of people, and taking Scotland along with the UK out of the European Single Market.
According to the UK Government’s own impact analysis, Scotland’s economy would be disproportionately impacted by leaving the Single Market and the Customs Union. A so-called Hard Brexit would see a reduction of 9% in the value of Scotland’s GDP. That figure for the City of London was 3.2%.
The EEA option where we would still have access to the Single Market would see lesser economic decline in Scotland of 2.4%. Again, that figure for the City of London is 0.3%.
Local Stirling businesses have spoken out, ahead of the vote taking place in the House of Commons next Tuesday, with concerns about what this could mean for their business.
Commenting, Stirling SNP MSP Bruce Crawford said:
“This constituency voted by more than two-thirds to remain in the European Union, and the UK Government’s own analysis shows that decisions made about the terms of Brexit will disproportionately impact this area compared to other parts of the UK.
“The deal that Theresa May has put on the table is a bad deal for Scotland. It is a false choice that it is this deal or no deal at all – next to nobody accepts that this is the case.
“The Scottish Government’s analysis shows that this direction of travel will cost families in Scotland £1,600 a year. All of the analysis shows that the least worst option for our economy if we are to leave the EU would be to stay in the Single Market and the Customs Union.
“Of course, the best possible outcome for our economy would be to remain a member of the European Union.”
Dale McQueen
McQueen’s Gin, Callander
As far as I can understand in ‘The Deal’, Scotland does not exist as having any relevance.
It has become clear that the UK is being stitched into terms of a Custom’s Union because the Northern Ireland Border issue is swept under the carpet, because no one knows how to deal with it now, and I don’t believe ever will.
So it would be control of the UK by the EU with no less money flowing into Brussels, and with many fewer benefits than what we started with. It looks like there would be a consequent negative impact on the economies of both the UK and Scotland.
I favour a second EU referendum – a Peoples’ Vote – with a number of options on the ballot, but now from a position of better knowledge, and of likely consequences.
On the plus side, I hope the Scottish electorate better recognise the incompetence and self-serving nature of Westminster, and that the First Minister can move swiftly to an Independence Referendum.
William Lindsay
The Broch Café, Strathyre
Vegetables and fruits are a necessary part of our menus and we know that some of these are imported from Europe. Being mostly fresh produce, stockpiling is not possible.
The cost implications of food shortages does give us cause for concern and price increases to our menus may have to be considered if prices rise significantly.
Our coffee brand of Lucaffe is imported from the Lake Garda region of Italy and our coffees, judging by the comments that we receive on a daily basis, are highly enjoyed by all our patrons for both quality and authenticity. It will be a major concern to ourselves if there was a problem to the supply of Lucaffe although alternatives could be hopefully sourced for a short period until supplies of Lucaffe resume. Our patrons would be advised accordingly. Hopefully our supplier in Glasgow will stockpile this as coffee has a reasonably long storage date. We may even stockpile a few boxes ourselves just in case.
Paul Waterson
The Golden Lion Hotel, Stirling
Much of the damage has already been done: we have already lost members of staff who are EU nationals and have moved away because they were worried about what the future held.
Ending Freedom of Movement will be catastrophic for sectors such as hospitality. We need a mix of migrants to this country who are both skilled and unskilled. We want to train up unskilled workers in the hotel industry.
I do not see how this deal will address any of these concerns, or make the situation anything but worse.”
