THERESA May will mark the one-year countdown to Brexit with a day-long tour of the UK starting in Scotland – the nation most opposed to leaving the European Union.
The Prime Minister will begin her 15 hour-long tour at 7am on Thursday before flying to visit Wales and Northern Ireland, with the trip likely to end in the South East.
She is due to meet families, workers, farmers and EU migrants, though it is not known if she will meet Scottish fisherman. They are angry that the UK will have to abide by EU rules and fishing quotas until the start of 2021, despite May’s promise the UK would be leaving the Common Fisheries Policy after March 29, 2019.
READ MORE: Scottish Tories have had no contact with Brexit department
Scotland voted by 62 per cent to remain in the EU with opinion polls suggesting support for staying has increased since then.
A report published earlier this year by the Scottish Government warned Scotland’s economy could contract by £12.7 billion a year by 2030 under a hard Brexit, the equivalent of the loss of around £2,300 a year for each household.
The Prime Minister’s visit also comes amid an ongoing stalemate over the EU Withdrawal Bill and the wishes of the UK Government to keep 24 powers in devolved policies areas coming from Brussels at Westminster until UK rules are set. The Scottish Government has described this as a power grab and passed its alternative EU legislation to protect the devolution settlement.
Downing Street sources told the Daily Telegraph the PM would use the tour to set out how she will “strengthen Britain’s bonds as a nation” by “bringing the benefits of Brexit to every part of the UK”.
The tour will take place on March 29, exactly a year before Britain formally leaves the European Union on Friday, March 29, 2019.
It will be followed in coming weeks by a series of visits by Cabinet ministers. Philip Hammond, the Chancellor, will travel to financial services communities in Leeds, Edinburgh, Bristol and London.
Michael Gove, the Environment Secretary, will meet fishermen on a coastal tour and travel to farming communities.
Chris Grayling, the Transport Secretary, will talk to those working in aviation, rail and the haulage industry about how Brexit will work for them.
READ MORE: Here’s what you can expect from May’s visit to Scotland
A Downing Street source said: “It is equally important that we spend the months leading up to Brexit strengthening our own union of nations.
“In 12 months we will be leaving the EU and as that becomes real for people it is right that they will be asking what Brexit means for them.
“That is why Cabinet ministers will go out across the country, meeting people from all walks of life, listening to their views and explaining how we can secure a new deep and special partnership with the EU that will strengthen our union, bring communities together, grow our economies and keep our people safe.”
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