Brexit risks break-up of Union if citizens are angered by different rules across UK, warns former civil service chief
Anything from agricultural subsidies to food labelling could trigger major disputes, top mandarin predicts
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.Brexit risks the break-up of the UK if citizens are angered by different rules and regulations in the four nations, a former civil service chief is warning.
Anything from higher agricultural subsidies to variations in food labelling – once outside the EU’s single market – could trigger major disputes between London and the other capitals, Philip Rycroft said.
Asked if such changes sowed the seeds for the end of the Union, Sir Philip replied: “It doesn’t automatically, clearly.
“But it is out of all of those little disputes that characterise the relationship between the Scottish government and the UK government – people’s perception of how interests of Scots are being carried forward in the Brexit enterprise.”
Sir Philip, the permanent secretary at the Brexit department until March this year, warned the problems were looming when the Union was “already under stress”.
“People in Scotland will need to be convinced that the UK government is respecting the interests of Scotland in all those many post-Brexit domains – and the same thing applies, of course, to folk in Wales and Northern Ireland.”
While the UK is in the single market, it must obey commons regulations – but, once it leaves, the four nations will be free to go their own way in devolved areas.
Sir Philip pointed to both sheep subsidies and food labelling as potential flashpoints, despite being apparently minor issues in themselves.
“If the Scottish government is giving bigger subsidies [on sheep], that would put Cumbrian farmers at a disadvantage,” he warned.
And, on food labelling, he added: “That would require manufacturers to produce different labels for supermarkets north of the border, compared to south of the border.
“These things would disrupt the internal market of the United Kingdom.”
The warning comes amid inflamed tensions between Westminster and Holyrood, with Nicola Sturgeon, Scotland's first minister, having accused Boris Johnson plotting an “anti-democratic move” to “shut down parliament”.
The SNP leader has also insisted she has a “clear democratic mandate” for a second independence referendum, with the government hell-bent on a “catastrophic” no-deal Brexit.
Mr Rycroft worked for the Scottish Office and the Scottish Executive, before taking over as permanent secretary at the Brexit department in 2017.
He provoked controversy by taking early retirement on 29 March this year – the date the UK was originally scheduled to leave the EU.
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments