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Daily Record
Daily Record
Politics
Andrew Quinn

Scottish independence is a lifeboat to escape Brexit, insists SNP Westminster leader Stephen Flynn

SNP Westminster leader Stephen Flynn labelled Brexit as a "sinking ship" during Prime Minister's Questions on Wednesday.

The SNP MP asked Rishi Sunak if he could blame Scots who wanted to jump upon "the independence lifeboat" because of the poor outcome of Brexit.

Tuesday marked three years since the united Kingdom left the EU.

Flynn said: "Take it together, 2022 and 2023 are expected to be the worst years for living standards since the 1930s and the economy is expected to perform worse than sanction-hit Russia.

"As the Brexit ship sinks with the Prime Minister and the Leader of the Opposition at the helm, does he blame those Scots who want to jump aboard the independence lifeboat?"

Sunak replied that the SNP should focus on "delivering for the people of Scotland" rather than the constitution.

He said: "Mr Speaker, the number the number one factor that is impacting people's living standards inflation caused by high energy prices as a result of a war in Ukraine.

"Mr Speaker, it's got nothing to do with Brexit and that's why the government is taking significant action supporting every family with £900 this winter.

"But what I would say to him is rather than obsess about constitutional arrangements focus on delivering for the people of Scotland. That's what we will do."

Flynn also asked if the UK could afford to remain outside of the EU.

He said: "We've just marked the three-year anniversary of Brexit... we have learned three things.

"The UK's trade deficit has grown. The economy has been hit to the tune of £100billion each year.

"And of course, we know that the UK economy is expected to be the worst performing of all advanced nations.

"Does the Prime Minister still believe that the UK can afford not to be in the European Union?"

Sunak replied: "Well, Mr. Speaker If you actually look at it, since Brexit, the UK has grown exactly the same as Germany has.

"But not only that, we are taking advantage of Brexit deliver for the people across the UK whether it's the fishing and farming communities of Scotland, whether it's through the two new reports that we've just announced.

"The difference between his party and ours is that we respect referendums."

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