SNP’s Ian Blackford demands Brexit economic analysis papers from Boris Johnson

The Scottish politician claimed at Prime Minister’s Questions that the Tory government was inflicting “economic vandalism” on Scotland.

“In the last few hours, the president of the European Commission said that the next few days are going to be decisive in the Brexit negotiations. With just two weeks to go, it is a disgrace that businesses and people have been left with this crippling uncertainty and the real threat of food and medicine shortages come the new year.

“One year ago at the general election, Scotland rejected this prime minister, rejected this Tory government and rejected their extreme Brexit. People in Scotland now need to know the price that we’ll be forced to pay.

“Ahead of any vote in parliament, will the prime minister commit to releasing a detailed economic impact assessment of the cost to the UK of his extreme Tory Brexit plans?”

But Johnson dismissed the demand, telling MPs that the UK will prospect whether there is a deal or not.

Johnson responded: “There’s every opportunity, not withstanding the slight air, uncharacteristic air, of gloom from (Blackford). There’s every opportunity, every hope that I have, that our friends and partners across the Channel will see sense and do a deal, and all that that takes is for them to understand that the UK has a natural right like every other country to want to be able to control its own laws and its own fishing grounds.”

He added: “Whatever happens in the next few days, I know that this country will prosper mightily on the terms that we agree with our European friends whatever they may be, whether they’re Australian or Canadian, he can go forward with a high heart and confidence into 2021 knowing that there are great opportunities for Scotland and the rest of the UK.”