NICOLA Sturgeon has warned a no-deal Brexit “disaster” could affect supplies of food and vital medicines, as she confirmed the Scottish Government will “intensify” contingency plans.
The First Minister said that if no agreement is in place with the EU on March 29, the day the UK is due to leave the bloc, “the availability and the price of food and drink are likely to be significantly affected”.
This would have the greatest impact on the most vulnerable Scots, Sturgeon added, as she repeated calls for Theresa May to immediately rule out leaving without a deal in place.
Sturgeon spoke after the Scottish Cabinet and the Scottish Government’s Resilience Committee met in Glasgow to discuss Brexit preparations.
READ MORE: First Minister says May's latest Brexit talks are meaningless
She said the “reckless approach” of May’s government to Brexit negotiations meant leaving without a deal in place “increasingly appears to be the most likely outcome”.
In these circumstances she warned: “There will be severe impacts on Scotland – on food supply, on medicines, on transport, on jobs, for our rural communities, all of which are completely unnecessary if the UK Government acts now.
“It is expected that the availability and the price of food and drink are likely to be significantly affected, with a disproportionate impact on the most vulnerable in our society.”
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The First Minister added: “With less than 50 days to go until Brexit, there is still no clarity whatsoever about the future relationship with the EU.
“We will continue to call on the UK Government to immediately rule out the possibility of a no-deal Brexit and extend the Article 50 process.
“However, as a responsible government, we will also continue, and indeed intensify, our work to prepare for all outcomes as best we can.”
A UK Government spokesman said: “The best way to avoid no deal is for Parliament to agree a deal.
“Our deal is the best deal available for jobs and the economy across the whole of the UK, allowing us to honour the referendum and realise the opportunities of Brexit.”
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