Brexit cost Scotland more than £3 billion last year alone, according to new economic research that will be presented to MSPs a decade after the UK voted to leave the European Union.
Europe Minister Stephen Gethins will tell Holyrood that restoring Scotland's place at the heart of Europe is key to the country's future, as the SNP argues an independent Scotland could rejoin the EU.
Research Findings
Research by the National Institute for Economic and Social Research (NIESR) estimates that UK GDP was reduced by 3.2% in 2025 as a direct result of Brexit. This equates to a reduction in public revenues of approximately £3.3 billion for Scotland last year alone.
Separate analysis by the LSE Centre for Economic Performance indicates that post-Brexit barriers on food imports have pushed up average household food costs by £250 between December 2019 and March 2023.
Political Response
Mr Gethins will tell MSPs that Brexit has exacerbated cost-of-living pressures. He will stress that Scotland is a proud European nation and that EU membership is vital for the country's security, prosperity, and people.
He will highlight that leaving the EU introduced friction where there was once fluidity, barriers where there was access, and uncertainty where there was stability for businesses across Scotland.
Mr Gethins is expected to say: "Scotland has suffered an estimated £3.3 billion cut in 2025 alone – that could have been invested in our NHS because of a Brexit that people in Scotland overwhelmingly rejected."
He will add: "Cost of living pressures have been exacerbated at a time when families can least afford it, with a £250 increase in food and drink bills due to leaving the EU."
Impact on Young People
The minister will describe Brexit as a "particular tragedy for young people," saying: "Every political generation should leave more opportunity than they themselves enjoyed. We cannot say that with the removal of the freedoms to live, learn and work across the EU."
He will conclude: "Scotland's future lies in restoring our place at the heart of Europe. This Parliament has the opportunity to offer the people of Scotland a fresh start with independence – and it is one that we must grasp."
