The Scottish and UK Governments must step forward to support the North Ayrshire economy ahead of a potentially crippling No Deal EU exit.

That is the assertion of North Ayrshire Council Leader Joe Cullinane who has written to Governments at Holyrood and Westminster to highlight his concerns regarding the impact of a No Deal EU exit on the North Ayrshire economy.

The leader wants funding commitments to support fragile local and regional economies to counteract the impact of a No Deal EU exit.

It is feared that such an exit will send shockwaves through North Ayrshire’s economy – and set back the fight to eradicate poverty and inequality.

Councillor Cullinane, who heads the ruling Labour administration at the council has written to the Scottish Government’s Finance Secretary Derek Mackay and Local Government Secretary Aileen Campbell, as well as the Secretary of State for Scotland Alister Jack on behalf of the UK Government.

Councillor Cullinane adds: “As was illustrated after the 2008 financial crash, North Ayrshire’s economy lacks resilience and takes longer to recover from economic shocks, this has a longer-term negative impact on the wellbeing of our communities

“I have therefore written to the Scottish and UK Governments to prioritise any Brexit-related funding to places that need investment most including fragile local and regional economies like North Ayrshire and Ayrshire.”

A recent report from the Centre for Progressive Policy highlighted that North Ayrshire is lagging behind other regions in the UK – with North Ayrshire having the lowest inclusive growth ranking in all of Scotland.

The Council Leader also called on the UK Government to ensure North Ayrshire benefits from the proposed UK Shared Prosperity Fund, a post-Brexit replacement to the existing EU funding regime.

He added: “North Ayrshire has benefited hugely from European funding and we are extremely worried about the lack of detail regarding the UK Government’s proposed replacement funding."