SNP’s Blackford in vicious Brexit assault on Boris -‘Ultimate snake oil salesman’

Boris Johnson mocks Barnier for French border U-turn

We use your sign-up to provide content in ways you’ve consented to and to improve our understanding of you. This may include adverts from us and 3rd parties based on our understanding. You can unsubscribe at any time. More info

The Scottish nationalist accused the Prime Minister of being “the ultimate snake oil salesman” as he attacked Brexit as “a disaster”. He claimed the damage of Brexit was already possible to see and only independence would save Scotland.

The Ross, Skye and Lochaber MP’s comments came after Mr Johnson vowed to “unleash” the “spirit” of Britain as a confident, outward-looking nation on the world stage.

With Britain out of the EU, he pledged to turn the UK into a high-wage, high skilled economy with links all around the globe.

He pointed to the Aukus defence agreement and the taking back control of immigration as examples of how he was already making the most of freedom from the bloc.

“We are going to use our Brexit freedoms to do things differently,” he said.

“We are going to be ever more global in our outlook.

“We have done 68 free trade deals including that great free trade deal with our friends in the EU that they all said was impossible.

“And after decades of bewildering refusal, we have persuaded the Americans to import prime British beef a market already worth £66million.”

However, he warned changes to the economy after Brexit will at times be “difficult” as the country adapts to its newfound status.

He said: “That’s the direction in which the country is going now – towards a high-wage, high-skilled, high-productivity and, yes, thereby a low-tax economy.

“That is what the people of this country need and deserve.

DON’T MISS
Gibraltar row erupts as Boris issues warning to EU [REACTION]
We need to see ‘Made in the UK’ on the goods we buy, says TIM NEWARK [COMMENT]
That’s just not British! Frost rages at EU’s threats in fishing row [UPDATE]

“Yes, it will take time, and sometimes it will be difficult, but that is the change that people voted for in 2016.”

Attacking the speech, Mr Blackford accused Mr Johnson of a “shameless attempt to shift the blame onto anyone but himself”.

“For all the waffle and deflection, the Prime Minister cannot escape the fact that millions of families are poorer and worse off as a direct result of his government’s damaging policies,” he said.

“The Prime Minister is the ultimate snake oil salesman with empty promises of jam tomorrow, when in reality his Brexit deal has been a disaster – costing Scotland billions of pounds, causing UK exports to collapse, hitting businesses by millions a week, and resulting in rising prices, severe staffing shortages and empty supermarket shelves.

“Scotland will always be vulnerable under Westminster control.

He added: “The only way to keep Scotland safe from Tory cuts and the long-term damage of Brexit is to become an independent country, with the full powers needed to regain our place in Europe and build a strong, fair and green recovery.

“Under Boris Johnson, the UK has the worst levels of poverty and inequality in north west Europe, and the highest levels of in-work poverty this century.

“Real wages have fallen and Tory Universal Credit cuts and regressive tax hikes will push even more families into poverty.”

Source: Read Full Article