Civil society organisations continue to voice Brexit concerns
In the midst of Brexit uncertainty, many civil society organisations in Scotland and across the UK have voiced their considerable concern about the impacts of ‘no deal’ between the European Union and the UK by Brexit Day.
The Human Rights Consortium Scotland is a signatory to a joint civil society letter which states:
“With weeks to go until exit day and the process stalled, the likelihood of a no deal Brexit has increased. Attention is often centred on the economic impacts of a no deal, such as the analysis in your article ‘How ministers will try to protect UK economy in a no-deal Brexit’ (5 February). The human impact of leaving with no deal is often overlooked. It would have serious consequences for our rights, particularly for people in Northern Ireland and the Good Friday Agreement. It would also affect the current standards and regulations we live by; our democratic processes; and devolution.’
Mhairi Snowden from the Consortium went on to say:
‘Over 170 organisations are signatories to the Scotland Declaration on Human Rights which states that we all share profound concerns about the potential loss of equality and rights protections as a consequence of the UK leaving the European Union. It specifically calls for no going back on human rights and equality. If we leave the EU with no deal in place, we know that this could have a devastating impact upon the human rights of many in Scotland.’
Read more: www.humanrightsdeclaration.scot
SCVO’s Anna Fowlie said:
‘After two years, we find ourselves on the brink of exiting the EU without a withdrawal agreement that both the UK Parliament and the EU can sign up to. There is therefore no choice but to seek agreement with the EU to extend Article 50 to allow time for a second EU referendum to take place.”
Inclusion Scotland policy officer Susie Fitton said:
“A no deal Brexit could lead to chaos, privation and destitution for many people across the UK but disabled people are at heightened risk. They are more likely to be living in poverty, have been hardest hit by austerity which the UN has said has led to ‘grave and systematic violations’ of their rights and face specific threats from a no-deal Brexit.”
Read more at http://thirdforcenews.org.uk/tfn-news/no-deal-brexit-catastrophic-for-the-disabled#M9Kbo4yBFwWo0d21.99
Other organisations continue to highlight the impact that fewer EU citizens in Scotland will have upon their work. For example, Camphill Scotland relies on EU volunteers for its work but is already seeing reduced numbers of volunteer applications. Read more here: https://www.camphillscotland.org.uk/unsettling-times-for-camphill-aired-stv-news/
Scottish Care highlighted the impact upon the health and social care sector and those who rely upon it for their quality of life, to the Westminster Scottish Affairs Committee: https://www.parliament.uk/business/committees/committees-a-z/commons-select/scottish-affairs-committee/inquiries/parliament-2017/immigration-and-scotland-follow-up-inquiry-17-19/
Meanwhile the 3Million campaign are celebrating because MPs voted unanimously to negotiate a separate agreement with the EU about EU citizen residency rights, even if the other aspects of the draft Withdrawal Agreement cannot be confirmed. Find out more about this here: https://www.the3million.org.uk/
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