SCOTTISH trade unionists warned that “strict adherence to EU competition rules” following Brexit would “endanger the future prospects of the Scottish economy.”

A majority of delegates at the Scottish TUC in Aviemore backed a composite motion that called for “the best possible access” to the European market.

But the motion also pointed out that single market and customs union membership would prohibit an interventionist economic programme involving “a state investment bank, public ownership of utilities [and] state aid to industry.”

Moving on behalf of South Lanarkshire Trades Council, former RMT officer Phil McGarry called for “government assistance as required by the use of government money for any ailing industries, public ownership of our railways, the ferry sector and the offshore sectors.

“Let’s renationalise the energy companies who are ripping us off and build social housing under local authority control.”

Mr McGarry said this programme, as well as new rules on public procurement ensuring companies winning government contracts engage in collective bargaining and are not blacklisters, was “incompatible with membership of the single market and customs union.”

He praised Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn for recognising that anti-union rulings of the European Court of Justice such as the Viking, Laval, Ruffert, Luxembourg and Holship judgements needed to be “binned” as part of any exit settlement.

“Let’s have a progressive exit from the European Union on our terms. If we don’t, then Davis, Johnson, Gove and Fox will do some dirty trade deal.

“The Tories will ensure they look after the interest of capital and the City of London to our detriment.”