Leaving the EU without a deal would cost northern Scotland an extra £7.45billion over a “soft” Brexit, fresh analysis from the London School of Economics shows.
Aberdeen’s economy alone would take a hit £1billion bigger, losing £3.79billion over five years compared to a loss of £2.44billion.
Brexit minister David Davis is expected to set out how a no deal scenario would work to Theresa May’s Cabinet today.
Liberal Democrat leader Vince Cable said the analysis, which shows a no deal Brexit would cost the UK £430billion over five years, must not go ahead.
He said: “The damage to cities such as Aberdeen and Edinburgh will hit the whole of the UK because they are central to Britain’s prosperity.”
Scottish Labour European spokesman Lewis Macdonald said: “Nothing could send a worse signal about the future of the British economy than for ministers to plan to fail in their negotiations with our largest single market.
“The consequences for Aberdeen would be even worse, precisely because we are an outward-looking, exporting city and region. Tory Ministers should commit to getting a deal, and they should resign if they don’t.”
Aberdeen North MP Kirsty Blackman, SNP economy spokeswoman, said: “£3.79billion is absolutely stomach-churning and will be devastating to businesses across the north-east.
“Even in the event of a soft Brexit, Aberdeen is still set to take a hammering to the local economy, but a ‘no deal’ outcome now looks unforgivable.”
