SCOTLAND’S Brexit secretary Michael Russell has warned that as many as 100,000 Scots could lose their job if the UK crashes out of the EU without a deal.
The warning came as a fellow SNP MSP accused Michael Gove of letting “the cat out of the bag” by admitting that Brexit will seriously harm UK agriculture.
Russell said that, according to a Scottish Government estimate, a no-deal Brexit could result in 100,000 Scots losing their jobs. He added that the Conservative Party is "a real danger to Scotland".
READ: Mike Russell's full speech warning that 100k Scots could lose their jobs
Scottish Finance Secretary Derek Mackay will publish a new paper on the economic cost of a no-deal Brexit later this week.
Earlier in the day, the Office for National Statistics (ONS) published figures which showed the unemployment rate in Scotland had dropped to a record low of 3.5%.
Data covering the last three months of 2018 showed a drop of 0.3% in the jobless rate over the quarter – with the figure for Scotland below the overall UK unemployment rate of 4%.
In a statement at Holyrood, Russell said: "A no-deal Brexit could, we estimate, result in an increase in unemployment in Scotland of around 100,000 people, more than doubling the unemployment rate."
READ MORE: EU in fresh warning to Theresa May over withdrawal agreement
"We would go from a record low to a level not far off that at the depths of the last recession, with all the human costs which that would entail."
He added: "Whatever we as a government do, and we will do everything we can, we simply could not avoid that sort of damage being done to our economy and our country.
"But one person could – the Prime Minister could."
Scottish Conservative constitution spokesman Adam Tomkins insisted that Theresa May was "working harder than ever" to prevent a no-deal Brexit from happening.
The Brexit Secretary responded: "It is now clear beyond any doubt the Conservative Party and the UK Conservative Government pose a real danger to Scotland.
"The only sensible solution now available is a delay to Article 50, a ruling out of a no-deal and a people's vote."
Tomkins disagreed, saying that it was the likes of Russell that were risking leaving the EU with no deal due to their refusal to back Theresa May's deal.
"In the real world the Prime Minister is working harder than ever across parties, and with newly independent MPs, and with our European partners to ensure that we leave the European Union with a deal," he said.
"It is manifestly in no-one's interests for us to leave without a deal. So when is the SNP going to grow up, quit the grandstanding and work with us to get a withdrawal agreement we can all support."
But Russell said it was "time for the Conservatives to accept responsibility – both in London and here [in Scotland] – and to recognise they are causing this disaster, they could avert it".
He went on to tell the Tories that Scotland "will judge them harshly" for removing the UK from the EU.
Russell's comments came as his colleague Stewart Stevenson hit out at the UK Environment Secretary after he told the National Farmers’ Union (NFU) Conference that there was “no absolute guarantee” that British farmers could export to the EU under a no-deal scenario
Gove also confirmed that those in the industry would face crippling tariffs even if they could.
With just 38 days until Brexit, Gove said that such a disastrous outcome would lead to delays at Channel ports, jeopardising Scottish produce en route to European markets.
“Michael Gove has let the cat out of the bag,” said Stewart Stevenson.
“As an arch-Brexiteer he used to trumpet the pie in the sky benefits of leaving Europe. But now, with less than 40 days until we’re set to leave the EU, reality is hitting home.
“Our farmers have no certainty that they’ll even have access to the European market whatsoever in just a few weeks’ time. And those exporting top-quality fresh produce from Scotland to the continent could see it going rotten on the back of lorries after lengthy customs delays at channel ports.
The Banffshire & Buchan Coast MSP added: “If this is allowed to happen, the Tories will never be forgiven.
“We need to extend Article 50 as a matter of urgency, and get sensible options back on the table before we lose more jobs and our economy takes a hammering."
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