Bad deal for UK

Michael Gove claims the Brexit deal "works for fishermen, farmers, distillers, sci entists, manufacturers, exporters and financial services” but will need to try harder to convince Scots who voted 62 per cent for Remain. Brexit works like a ball and chain around British businesses. No tariffs or quotas on trade in goods plays to EU advantage since EU annual trade surplus is £97 billion. The UK’S surplus of£18bn in financial services is left in limbo, as services lose the automatic right to trade in Europe. Trade won’t be frictionless, customs forms will be required. The UK need not follow EU regulator y standards, yet British exporters will if they wish to trade.

The government can now invest in industries as it pleases but this will confer no trade advantage. A new board will decide whether the “level playing field” on state aid has been breached. If so, it will impose tariffs. The UK once had a say in forming EU rules on state aid but now becomes a rule - taker.

British fishermen are currently entitled to around 50 per cent of the fish in British waters. From 2026 they will be entitled to 65 per cent. A bit underwhelming?

A points-based immigration system limiting immigration will only hurt Scotland as we need immigrants of all skill levels.

And whoopee, the UK government ensuring “no barriers to Scottish companies that do business in other parts of the UK”. This has only been the law since 1707. The UK’S Withdrawal and Internal Market Bills will, however, override Holyro od, “‘levelling down” any economic benefit, in an autocratic rollback of devolution. A UK Brexiteer government we did not elect will be able to nullify beneficial legislation of a Scottish government which we did vote for.

And UK influence will diminish globally as cooperation with the EU over defence, foreign policy and external security will cease at the request of the UK government.

MAIRIANNA CLYDE Merchiston Crescent, Edinburgh