Chair of the International Trade Committee, Na h-Eileanan an Iar MP Angus MacNeil is writing to Chancellor of the Exchequer Rishi Sunak stressing the need for the UK Government to set up a Fund to assist those adversely affected by Brexit.

Mr MacNeil is suggesting a Fund similar to the Brexit Adjustment Reserve set up by the European Union.

He said: “It has been long known that the worst impacted part of the whole of Europe by Brexit will be the Highlands andn Islands of Scotland.

“The impacts of Brexit are of course worse in the UK but there will be impacts on the European Union too obviously. There is no good Brexit, the economic story is bad for everybody.

“Realising this, the EU have set up a Brexit Adjustment Reserve worth about 5 billion Euros. The lion share of that is expected to go to Ireland whose economy will be impacted greatly.

“However, being impacted far more percentage wise will be the economy of the Highlands and Islands and perhaps most of Scotland.

“Therefore, I think the Chancellor of the Exchequer should set up a similar fund to what the Europeans are doing, commencing it with the economic damage Brexit is going to do to help those affected.

“We see already the effect on fish processors and fishermen who cannot get their catch to the valuable and lucrative market.

“Brexit was not the choice of Scotland but the choice of a Tory Government in a faraway Westminster.

“As a result, they should now ensure there is a Fund in place to compensate for the damage that they have started and continue to do as a result of the policies.

“If Europe can do it for the citizens of the European Union, surely the UK Government can do this for the citizens of this current Union.”