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Prime Minister Rishi Sunak and Labor leader Sir Keir Starmer will suffer for their "lax" stance on the UK's economic relationship with the EU, the SNP leader warned in Westminster. Stephen Flynn has said that "the chickens will come home to sleep" and accused Sunak and Sir Keir of being "too scared" to deal with the "real damage" from Brexit. The Aberdeen South MP said it was "wishful thinking on the part of unionists" to suggest any weakening of the pro-independence cause following the announced departure of Scottish First Minister Nicola Sturgeon, adding that "if you think while the SNP waits to go quietly into the night, they have another thought ahead.
The next generation of the party, he said, "wants to do things now."
Speaking to the PA news agency about the UK's relationship with the EU, he said: "All roads lead to it, but the prime minister and the prime minister's candidate don't want to talk, despite of course the benefits obvious that it would bring". the immediate term and I think on this particular issue Keir Starmer was considered insufficient and quite bad.
He added: "What they don't know is the real damage this is causing to the economy and that is particularly the case in Scotland."
They are cowards, they are too afraid to accept the reality of the situation and to be honest with the public.
Flynn spoke of understaffing in both the public and private sectors, adding: "They are cowards, too afraid to face the reality of the situation and be honest with the public."
"I don't think I'm doing them a favor and I think the chickens will be home before the general election in that regard."
Ahead of Jeremy Hunt's spring budget next week, Flynn said the chancellor "not only needs to freeze energy bills, he needs to cut them", adding that Scotland was "fuel poor" under "Westminster's watch". .
Reviewing the SNP's position on removing non-dom tax status, expanding the windfall tax, increasing public sector wages and helping with energy bills, he said: "It's almost as if the Labor would have copied many of the successful policies of the Scottish government".
There is a huge gulf between us and the Labor Party when it comes to the EU. The most obvious way to grow the economy is to join the single market and the customs union.
He said: “There is a huge gulf between us and Labor when it comes to the EU. The most obvious way to grow the economy is to join the single market and the customs union.
His party's priority, he said, was to ensure Scotland was "able to grow our economy, but also protect households from the worst of the cost of living crisis".
He said: "There must be immediate action on energy bills to protect households," adding: "That's why we say the Chancellor doesn't just need to freeze energy bills, he needs to reduce them because the damage he's causing to the people in Scotland are real and impacting people on a daily basis.
On growth, he added: “There is a very simple answer to this. Keir Starmer is afraid to say it, there is no way Rishi Sunak is saying it, although he did, it slipped out on him last week when it comes to the NI protocol and they need to be in talks with the EU to join the single market. That's what companies want to see.
He added: "We need the government to take action in terms of protecting benefits and pensions in line with inflation, that is also very important."
Incumbent Scottish Finance Secretary Kate Forbes is up against Scottish Health Secretary Humza Yousaf and former Scottish Government Minister Ash Regan in the race to succeed Nicola Sturgeon.
During the SNP leadership race at Holyrood, Mr Flynn said: 'I haven't actually said who I'm going to support for leadership. I don't know if I'm necessarily going to disclose. I think it's important that party members be able to have a fair and frank discussion about these things.
To unionists who greeted Mrs Sturgeon's departure, he said: 'I think it's wishful thinking on the part of the unionists.
When you look at the polls, if you're under 30, if you're under 40, chances are you're going to support independence and that's something that unionists won't be able to break, because people my age and my ilk and my generation just has known a Scottish Parliament and we want this Scottish Parliament to have full powers
“Now if you think the SNP is waiting to go quietly into the night, you have another thought, because there is a large group of people my age and around, the next generation as we are often called, who want to get things done. . now and I think actually using the experience and wisdom of many of our established parliamentarians.
He added: "When you look at the polls, if you're under 30, if you're under 40, you're most likely to support independence and that's something that unionists won't be able to break, because people my age, my ilk and of my generation we have only known one Scottish Parliament and we want this Scottish Parliament to have full powers.
On securing independence, he said: “In terms of independence strategy, I don't think anything necessarily has to be ruled out at this point.
“I'm not going to try to tie the hands of a future party leader as to where we should or shouldn't go, but what I want us to do is focus heavily on why.
"Why is independence important and the process will come with it?".
PA wire
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