By Tony O’Riley-
Shadow Scottish secretary Ian Murray has called for an “immediate” extension to the Brexit transition period due to the coronavirus outbreak.In a comprehensive letter to Scottish Secretary Alister Jack, Mr Murray made several requests pushing for accountability and demanding greater government intervention in this period of crisis.
Uk Chancellor Rushi Sinak at Tuesday’s press conference expressed confidence at the British government’s ability to strike a trade deal by the December deadline, but Murray finds that impractical. His Spokesperson told The Eye Of Media.Com: The government can ask for an extension until June about. The government needs to direct all its attention to tackling the coronavirus and all matters related to it”.
Mr Murray letter states:
“I note that Scottish Conservative and Unionist leader Jackson Carlaw MSP has called for a ‘pragmatic response’.
“The pragmatic response for the UK Government is to urgently apply for an extension to the transition period.
“This is not a time for constitutional politics and business do not need any more uncertainty.”
He added: “The entire focus of all Governments in the UK must be on working together to tackle the coronavirus outbreak and then dealing with its aftermath to ensure our economy recovers.
“I therefore hope you will support your party leader in Holyrood, and business leaders across the UK, and address this issue with your Cabinet colleagues at the earliest possible opportunity.” Mr Murray wants assurances that MPs would return to Parliament in some form after the Easter recess, as well as the extension of the job retention scheme to those who have started a new job and concerns about people who are self employed.
The South Edinburgh Mp has called for the Scottish Secretary to push for full transparency on how financial support sent from Westminster to Scotland will be spent by Scottish ministers. He also called for assistance in helping local media, citing declining sales and advertising revenue during the crisis.
He said: “Without newspapers to hold those in power to account, our democracy will be fundamentally weakened.“Would your office consider engaging with the Scottish Government to discuss what financial support can be offered to ensure Scotland’s local newspapers survive this crisis?” The interesting about this particular request is his expectation for the government to finance a media to hold them to account. Every government is most likely confident in their ability to self regulate and not be held to account by a newspaper whose views they may not share.
He said: “I do believe the UK Government can increase its efforts to get people home. Many airlines that are still operating are charging exorbitant fares which means commercial travel is not affordable for most.
The Prime Minister’s chief negotiator is expected to have a virtual meeting with Michel Barnier, his EU counterpart, ahead of next week’s negotiation round on the trade talk workers are falling through the cracks” across the UK Government’s employment assistance schemes, as he called for more help to be given to new-start employees, firms which just miss out under the current rules and warns Scottish firms with multiple locations are not receiving the same level of help as their English counterparts.
Transparency
Mr. Murray called for “full transparency” from the Scottish Government on how it is spending the entire £3.3 billion received from the Treasury during the coronavirus crisis, including the financial support for business. Murray suggested to get stranded Scots abroad back home. He also called for a financial aid package to ensure newspapers survive the crisis with c
The Labour Mp stressed the need for continued parliamentary scrutiny, as he called for Mr Jack to lobby Jacob Rees-Mogg, the Commons Leader, to stress the “absolute” importance of using technology
Image:labour.org.uk