Lack of hope led to Brexit vote, says Nicola Sturgeon

NICOLA STURGEON has claimed the Brexit vote was partly due to a lack of hope across the UK.

In a keynote address, the First Minister will tomorrow call on the Tory Government to end austerity, saying the policy led to many disillusioned and hard-up voters backing Leave.

Miss Sturgeon’s speech in Sheffield – the first of several planned for south of the Border to get across her anti-Brexit message – will set out her own economic vision ahead of the crunch Autumn Statement.

The first post-Brexit budget will be crucial for economic confidence amid the current Brexit uncertainty with Chancellor Philip Hammond already hinting he will prioritise investment in infrastructure and housing through borrowing.

Miss Sturgeon, who has called for the UK to retain its membership of the single market, is expected to say: “Austerity has already caused huge social harm and brought no economic benefit – it has failed, categorically and comprehensively, on its own terms.

“We know that people on low incomes were more likely to vote to leave the European Union, as were areas with low employment rates.

“UK economic policy has just not given enough people, enough grounds for hope.

“While the UK Government may have abandoned its original debt reduction target, the pain for working people is set still continue – the Resolution Foundation estimates working families on low incomes will be worse off in the years ahead as a direct result of both austerity and Brexit.

“So the Chancellor needs to change course in his Autumn Statement, offering hope for the future rather than playing on the fears of the present.”

Just days after ex-Health Secretary and SNP MSP Alex Neil revealed he voted Leave, former SNP deputy leader Jim Sillars yesterday claimed Miss Sturgeon had “got the SNP into a Brexit fankle”.

Mr Sillars, a staunch critic of the EU, said: “Nicola’s position is a mix of confusion and delusion. She harps on about the single market and does not seem to understand that there is a difference between that and access to the market.”

Meanwhile, Deputy Scottish Labour leader Alex Rowley has called for the EU debate to move on to how to make Brexit work. Mr Rowley said: “The result is not going to change – we need to move forward.

“Fishing, agricultural policy, VAT and employment rights are some of the areas which could come under the control of Holyrood, but where is the debate?

“The only one who recognises this in the SNP is Alex Neil.

“It is a political and economic necessity that we need to start setting out what Scotland should get from this situation.

“These powers going to Whitehall is unacceptable.”

Meanwhile, Lord Chancellor Liz Truss last night broke her silence following a High Court decision over Brexit, saying the independence of the judiciary was the “foundation upon which our rule of law is built”.

Miss Truss made the comments following calls for her to condemn attacks on the judiciary by MPs and the media.

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