Tories say their economic policies are ‘perfect antidote’ to the SNP

A new economy paper from the Scottish Tories is the “perfect antidote” to SNP policies which have resulted in Scotland’s economy “stagnating” and “lagging behind” the rest of the UK, the party has claimed.

Scottish Conservative business and economy spokesperson, Murdo Fraser, said his party had set out “ambitious plans” – with proposals including more funding for apprenticeships and a cap on business rates rises.

It was launched as the Tories claimed that “Scotland’s economy is stagnating and lagging behind the rest of the United Kingdom on the SNP’s watch” – with the Scottish Fiscal Commission (SFC) forecasting  productivity growth of less than 1% in each year until 2030-31.

In light of that, Mr Fraser claimed that the Tories would “ensure economic growth is always a top priority”.

He added: “John Swinney and the SNP cannot be trusted to be in charge of Scotland’s economy for another five years with their high-tax agenda.”

Mr Fraser insisted that the SFC “downgrading of Scotland’s projected productivity growth in the coming years is a damning indictment of the SNP’s failure to prioritise economic growth over their two decades in power”.

The Tory MSP added: “These dire forecasts confirm the need for a new, dynamic, economic approach in Scotland.

“That is why our bold, new, policy paper is the perfect antidote to everything that the SNP have got wrong since 2007.

“We have set out ambitious plans to deliver the apprenticeships Scotland is crying out for based on demand as well as capping rate rises for businesses who are set to face eye-watering increases in a matter of weeks thanks to the SNP’s disastrous revaluation rates scheme.”

The Tory paper proposes retaining all the money raised from the Apprenticeship Levy paid by firms to provide “demand-led training”.

In addition, the Tories would also scrap the age cap of modern apprenticeships, so that “age will not be a barrier to aspiration”.

Business support would be revamped, so that instead of 100 public bodies delivering some 750 schemes, firms would instead have single-entry-point business support through Business Gateway.

A single body, to be called Growth Scotland, would be focussed on skills, with responsibilities in this area transferred to the new organisation from both the Scottish Funding Council and the Student Awards Agency for Scotland.

The Tories also said they would cap rises in business rates between revaluation cycles as well as exempting improvements from revaluations for a longer period to help businesses get a return on their investment.