Scotland’s growth ‘stagnated’, say Scottish Tories as new policies unveiled

Scotland’s growth has “stagnated” the Scottish Conservatives have said as they unveil a policy paper to support business.

The Scottish Conservatives’ proposals aim to overhaul apprenticeships and cap business rates rises.

Scottish Tory leader Russell Findlay will launch the paper, Growing a Productive Scotland, on Monday.

The party have said the paper will address business calls for more apprenticeships and will make it a demand-led service.

It aims to ensure funding provided by firms is ringfenced.

Scottish Conservative MSP Murdo Fraser said: “Under the SNP, Scotland’s growth has stagnated and business investment has lagged behind. Companies are going to the wall and jobs are being lost.

“That has to change, and the bold policies in our policy paper would deliver that.

“Under the SNP, the apprenticeship system is short-changing the businesses that fund it and the young people who rely on it to acquire key skills.

“The Scottish Conservatives would ensure that Apprenticeship Levy monies are ringfenced, and apprenticeship places are allocated in line with the demands of employers.”

On rates the paper suggests pausing the current revaluation and the Scottish Conservatives would put a cap on future increases to give businesses certainty to plan ahead.

It would also bring Scotland’s over 100 public bodies and schemes’ functions together, putting support, skills development, loans and grants under one umbrella.

Mr Fraser continued: “The nationalists are also crucifying hospitality businesses with enormous rates rises.

“We’d put an end to that by placing a cap on revaluations that would be fairer, give firms certainty and safeguard jobs.

“Establishing Growth Scotland would make the business landscape simpler, reduce red tape and boost productivity.

“The Scottish Conservatives are the party of business, and our plans would undo the damage done to economic growth by the SNP’s high taxes and over-regulation.”

Deputy First Minister Kate Forbes said: “The Scottish Government is working with businesses to drive economic growth and put more money in people’s pockets. There are encouraging signs with the latest Business Barometer showing companies in Scotland reporting higher confidence in January.

“However, we are doing this without the full economic powers needed to support Scotland’s economy. At the same time, the UK Government is taking decisions which are damaging to business, including increases to employers’ national insurance contributions.

“The Scottish Budget 2026-27 will support business and communities with a package of reliefs worth in excess of an estimated £870 million including support through transitional relief schemes and retail hospitality and leisure reliefs and the Small Business Bonus Scheme which remains the most generous of its kind in the UK.

“Over 39,000 modern apprentices are in workplace training thanks to the willingness of Scotland’s employers to provide apprenticeships. This is being backed by £198 million in Scottish Government investment, and a review of the help needed to deliver modern apprenticeships is under way to ensure they continue to meet the country’s economy priorities.

“We will continue to work closely with businesses to drive economic growth and prosperity.”