SCOTTISH Borders Council leader David Parker has this week issued a personal invitation to Prime Minister Theresa May to come to the region to discuss the local impact of the UK leaving the European Union.

Three months on from the Brexit vote, Councillor Parker has written to Mrs May on behalf of the ruling administration at Newtown demanding “clarity” on a range of issues.

“While we respect the decision made by UK voters, there are very real challenges facing the Borders as a result of the referendum and there remains a number of unanswered questions,” said Mr Parker yesterday. “We want the Prime Minister to address these points.”

Mr Parker sets out his stall early in the four-page letter, telling Mrs May: “We have been assessing the impact of the result because we recognise the Borders has benefited significantly from the UK membership of the EU.”

He begins by highlighting the underlying fragility of the Borders economy, with its low GVA (value of goods and services produced) per head, its sparse population and its reliance on industries like agricultural and tourism.

He also stresses the lack of growth in sectors such as life sciences and IT and the slump in textile manufacture as a result of globalization.

Mr Parker says annual payments to farm business in the Borders through the EU Common Agriculture Policy (CAP) - currently £61.5m – are “absolutely crucial” to the agriculture sector and the wider regional economy, representing 3.2% of our Gross Domestic Product (GDP).

He notes that between now and 2020, the Borders had been due to receive £4m in LEADER rural development funding for community groups and enterprise projects, along with £450,000 to support fishing communities, £500,000 from European Regional Development Fund and up to £1.5m in European Social Funding.

In the past five years, LEADER and fishing funding alone has topped over £6m.

“EU funding has been very important to our further and higher education institutions [Borders College and Heriot-Watt University],” writes Mr Parker, adding “There remains a clack of clarity on whether these spending commitments are secure.

“There are significant number of businesses employing large numbers with a high dependency on exports with the rest of the world, including Europe, particularly in textiles and food and drink. They depend on continued access to the single European market.

“It is crucial that negotiations with key global markets are quickly initiated to ensure our exporting businesses are not disadvantaged.”

And on the future of the estimated 3,500 EU nationals currently living and working the Borders, Mr Parker has an emphatic message for Mrs May.

“They make a vital contribution to our local economy and our local communities and this needs to be appropriately recognised.

“We wish to continue to be an open and welcoming region which is able to welcome EU nationals and nationals from other parts of the globe in future.

“I ask you to ensure that freedom of movement and residency is put in place for present and future EU nationals living and working in the UK.”

Mr Parker ends his missive with an invitation to the Prime Minister.

“I would like to invite you to the Scottish Borders to meet myself, senior councillors and local business leaders to discuss our concerns and the steps the UK Government is taking in response to the EU referendum result.”