THE disastrous impact of Brexit on Scotland’s exporters has been branded “completely unforgivable” after the full extent of the staggering trade drop-off was revealed.
A survey of international hauliers has found the volume of exports travelling from British ports to the EU fell 68% last month compared with the same period last year.
The research by the Road Haulage Association (RHA) prompted demands for Michael Gove to take action, with the Cabinet Office minister urged to increase the number of customs agents from 10,000 to 50,000 to help firms with extra post-Brexit paperwork.
Chief executive Richard Burnett told The Observer the RHA also found 65%-75% of vehicles arriving from the EU were returning to the bloc empty due to a lack of goods, hold-ups in the UK and because UK companies had halted exports to the continent.
However, the concerns were dismissed by the Cabinet Office, which said it does "not recognise the figure provided on exports".
A spokeswoman added: "Thanks to the hard work of hauliers and traders to prepare for change, disruption at the border has so far been minimal and freight movements are now close to normal levels, despite the Covid-19 pandemic.”
Burnett said he found it "deeply frustrating and annoying that ministers have chosen not to listen to the industry and experts", who have consistently called for greater consultation by Government.
He explained Gove had not responded in writing "pretty much every time we have written over the last six months".
"He tends to get officials to start working on things. But the responses are a complete waste of time because they don't listen to what the issues were that we raised in the first place," Burnett commented.
READ MORE: Downing Street launches Brexit taskforce to amid fishing sector chaos
The Government spokeswoman insisted the Cabinet Office has "had intensive engagement with the road haulage industry for many months and we are still facilitating regular calls with representative groups”.
She added: “We will continue to work constructively with the RHA as we adjust to our new relationship with the EU and seize the opportunities of Brexit."
It comes as a new YouGov poll revealed the overwhelming majority of Scots (62%) think Brexit has gone badly since the transition period ended on 31st December, while just 17% think it has gone well.
Commenting, SNP shadow international trade secretary Drew Hendry MP said: "It is completely unforgivable that Boris Johnson's botched Brexit deal is having such a devastating impact on UK trade. Scottish firms are being hammered with a mountain of extra Brexit costs, red tape and barriers to trade with the EU – a market seven times the size of the UK.
"It's no wonder the overwhelming majority of people in Scotland think Brexit is going badly. We've had a month of devastating chaos, which has seen the Scottish fishing industry lose millions of pounds a day, families hit with extra charges for purchasing everyday products, and small businesses across the country losing out on the trade they depend upon to survive.”
The Inverness, Nairn, Badenoch and Strathspey MP urged Westminster to announce a bailout for Scotland.
He continued: "The only way to protect our place in Europe, and regain the full benefits of EU membership, is for Scotland to become an independent country. Until then, it is vital the Tory government mitigates this Brexit disaster with a multi-billion pound compensation package for Scotland and urgent measures to ease the problems our companies and communities face.
"Scotland has been completely ignored throughout the Brexit process. The Tories were repeatedly warned about these huge problems but they failed to listen. While the EU is giving Ireland €1.05 billion from its Brexit mitigation fund, Scotland has yet to receive a single penny in compensation from the UK Government.
"People in Scotland have the right to decide their own future. With the damage of Brexit growing, it is clearer than ever that Scotland’s future should be in Scotland’s hands – not Boris Johnson’s."
READ MORE: Brexit triggers spike in anti-Scottish sentiment in England, study finds
The UK Government offered a six-month grace period following Brexit, allowing the suspension of the full range of physical checks on imports until July.
On Thursday, former Tory chancellor Lord Lamont warned red tape linked to the Brexit deal had rendered most business between Britain and Northern Ireland uneconomic.
Two weeks earlier, the RHA said a 12-month grace period and urgent financial aid were needed to iron out problems with the post-Brexit Irish Sea trade border.
The UK Government insisted "goods are flowing effectively" between Britain and Northern Ireland.
But Burnett said on January 20: "This is a financial precipice haemorrhaging money.
"There needs to be financial intervention immediately."
Why are you making commenting on The National only available to subscribers?
We know there are thousands of National readers who want to debate, argue and go back and forth in the comments section of our stories. We’ve got the most informed readers in Scotland, asking each other the big questions about the future of our country.
Unfortunately, though, these important debates are being spoiled by a vocal minority of trolls who aren’t really interested in the issues, try to derail the conversations, register under fake names, and post vile abuse.
So that’s why we’ve decided to make the ability to comment only available to our paying subscribers. That way, all the trolls who post abuse on our website will have to pay if they want to join the debate – and risk a permanent ban from the account that they subscribe with.
The conversation will go back to what it should be about – people who care passionately about the issues, but disagree constructively on what we should do about them. Let’s get that debate started!
Callum Baird, Editor of The National
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules hereLast Updated:
Report this comment Cancel