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Claims of People's Vote group about Brexit and Highland Council attract criticism from Inverness councillor


By Scott Maclennan

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Councillor Andrew Jarvie.
Councillor Andrew Jarvie.

A HIGHLAND councillor has hit out at “outrageous scaremongering” by the People’s Vote campaign group after apparently inaccurately claiming to have accessed a “secret” council risk register.

The document is in fact publicly available on the council website and does not support all the allegations by the group that leaving the EU would have a “devastating impact” on the region.

The People’s Vote said: “It highlights traffic jams, supply shortages and staff problems which, combined, could bring the Highland area grinding to a halt within weeks of the UK leaving the EU.”

Councillor Andrew Jarvie, who leads the Conservative group in the local authority, said: “I just cannot comprehend the absurd leap between us leaving the EU and traffic jams in the Highlands, this outrageous scaremongering only serves undemocratic political aims.

“The People’s Vote does not represent the people. Constituencies like Caithness, Sutherland and Easter Ross in Scotland voted to leave the EU.

“These are some of the most extraordinary claims, risk registers encompass all possible risks, so how can we trust these claims?

“It is not a question of democracy for remainers when they refuse to accept leave. So-called EU supergirl Madeleina Kay told Sky News that she would not accept a second vote if it was to leave, saying: ‘No, because that is democracy.’ Even businesses now say they would rather have a no deal, than the People’s Vote self-generated uncertainty.”

A council spokeswoman said: “This is not a secret document and is publicly available on the council website. Highland Council has an open, honest, and transparent approach to risk management.

“Brexit has been identified as a potential risk to Highland Council and has been on the Corporate Risk Register since 2017. Much of this risk relates to the potential uncertainty around the exit process. Mitigating actions are in place to minimise any disruption.”


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