Laird says union's report creates a lot of concerns

The GMB point to the fact that there are 3,500 manufacturing jobs in the constituency and 6,300 jobs supported by manufacturing in the area’s wider economy. This creates around £183m in manufacturing earnings.

The GMB argue that manufacturing industries across Scotland, and across the UK, rely on the membership of the EU customs union which ensures frictionless trade and zero tariffs with the EU.

Sectors of the economy most vulnerable from being outside a customs union are food and drink manufacturing, chemicals, automotive, aerospace, retail, transport and logistics.

Across Scotland 329,400 jobs are at risk, say the GMB. 183,000 manufacturing jobs in Scotland and 329,400 jobs supported by manufacturing in the wider Scottish economy. This creates around £9.6bn in manufacturing earnings.

Lesley Laird, MP for Kirkcaldy and Cowdenbeath commented: "Believe it or not, the deal the Prime Minister has negotiated with the EU is even worse than Theresa May's deal. It would lead to a decade of deregulation and put our manufacturing here in the constituency seriously at risk.

"For the past two years Labour has been calling for the Government to negotiate a Brexit deal centred around a customs union in order to protect jobs and the economy. This research proves how right we were to do that but we were roundly ignored by the Tories – and voted down by the SNP at a critical juncture in the direction of the Brexit debate."

She added: "Labour is clear that it’s time to let the people decide and they must be given the option to remain.

“I’ve been contacted by a business owner experiencing acute difficulty ordering goods from Europe right now; difficulties which the sending company puts down to Brexit uncertainty.

"If any business owners in the Kirkcaldy and Cowdenbeath constituency are experiencing similar problems, I would like to hear from them. Please email lesley.laird.mp@parliament.uk or call me on 01592 724129.”