Ross Thomson, the MP for Aberdeen South, has backed calls for the UK to leave the EU without a deal.
The Conservative MP joined 21 of his colleagues by adding his name to a letter in The Telegraph that claimed that if Britain left the European Union “as planned on March 29, ‘no deal’ will prove to be the precursor to a very good deal indeed.”
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The letter, coordinated by former minister Owen Paterson, argued that Theresa May’s deal was Brexit “in name only.”
Ross Thomson had hinted over the weekend that he would be unlikely to back the deal suggested by the Prime Minister.
The letter read “Brexit has been redefined as a ‘catastrophic no-deal Brexit’ and purportedly removed from the table by a Parliament of Remainers who hold a country with a majority of Leavers in contempt."
It went on to say that it was not their fault that MPs were “confronted by two unacceptable choices, but it will be our fault if we cast a positive vote in favour of either for fear of the other”.
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According to a report published by LSE in 2017, Aberdeen could be the city worst hit by a “hard” Brexit.
Researchers predicted that the northeast would see a 3.7% hit to output.
Local MSP Maureen Watt said the Aberdeen South MP was ignoring “the wishes of his constituents in Aberdeen South by supporting a no deal Brexit.”
She added: “It’s been reported for some time now that Aberdeen has the most to lose from no deal with jobs, businesses and livelihoods across the north-east on the line.
“Whether under Theresa May’s deal or a no deal, the impact of leaving the EU will be deeply damaging to the local economy.”
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