Scottish public figures in call to halt Brexit

More than 60 high-profile politicians, academics and leading figures from across Scotland have called for Brexit to be halted as its "disastrous consequences" become clearer every day.

They warn that Brexit has seriously damaged the UK's international reputation and call for a "UK-wide debate about calling a halt to the process".

The signatories include Lord Campbell of Pittenweem, former leader of the Liberal Democrats, the former first minister Henry McLeish, the SNP MEP Alyn Smith, the former Tory MEP Struan Stevenson, and the former defence secretary and ex-Nato secretary general Lord Robertson.

Leading figures from the fields of academia, business, arts and NGOs have also signed the letter, including Scotland's former chief medical officer Sir Harry Burns and the historians Sir Tom Devine and Chris Smout.

In the letter to The Herald they say: "We see our society, economy and politics becoming ever more undermined due to the impact of Brexit. We recognise that a narrow majority voted to leave the European Union, but the disastrous consequences are now becoming ever clearer - every day. Even before the UK has left the EU, we face falling living standards, rising inflation, slowing growth and lower productivity.

"Our international reputation has been seriously damaged, leaving the UK weak, with diminished influence, in an increasingly uncertain and unstable world."

The letter continues: "In a democracy, it is always possible to think again and to choose a different direction. We need to think again about Brexit, to have a UK-wide debate about calling a halt to the process and changing our minds."

It concludes: "We call for a national debate on Brexit. We ask our fellow citizens, and our politicians, to think again. It is time to call a halt to Brexit."

Mr McLeish told BBC Radio Scotland's Good Morning Scotland programme that Brexit was "tearing Britain apart".

He said: "Enough is enough because we see Brexit taking us towards a catastrophe, there are no perceived benefits, and in the meantime we see negotiations in Brussels going nowhere, we see a Cabinet and Government at Westminster shambolically handling affairs.

"And one of the big issues for me is that, over the next two years, Parliament in London will face seven Bills about exiting the European Union. What happens then to housing? What happens then to climate change? What happens to the big issues that Britain faces? They'll be in the cupboard while we pursue this pointless distraction."

The former first minister said it was "possible" that Parliament could overturn the Brexit vote, adding: "There will be a lot of opportunities over the next two years to derail and potentially reverse that decision."

The letter coincided with a new report warning that Brexit is having a negative impact on the economy and the housing market as growth in Scotland lags behind the UK.

The latest projections from PwC put Scottish growth at 1.2 per cent this year and 1.1 per cent next year, behind UK GDP growth of 1.5 per cent and 1.4 per cent respectively.

The economic outlook report attributes the figures to "slower consumer spending growth and the drag on business investment from ongoing political and economic uncertainty relating to the outcome of the Brexit negotiations”.

The figures mean Scotland should avoid recession, but put it at the lower end of the economic table over the coming two years, with Wales seeing growth of 1.3 per cent and 1.2 per cent. Only Northern Ireland is expected to fare worse.

The firm said economic growth held up better than expected in the six months following the Brexit vote, but slowed in first half of 2017 as inflation rose sharply.