15 Jul 2020
Jim McColl, a member of the Scottish Government’s council of economic advisors, has today criticised the lack of business experience in the SNP government.
Speaking on BBC radio this morning Mr McColl said that criticism that Ministers do not have enough understanding of business was ‘valid’ and “There’s not the same background in business in Scottish Government.”
Mr McColl raised serious concerns that the economy in Scotland could struggle for up to 10 years and warned the country faces losing half its small and medium sized firms due to covid-19.
Dean Lockhart, Scottish Conservative shadow business secretary said:
“Jim McColl is not alone – the SNP government’s own Advisory Group on Economic Recovery led by Benny Higgins also concluded that after 14 years in government the SNP does not properly engage with stakeholders in the economy.
“This SNP government’s lack of business understanding has been highlighted severely during the Covid crisis.
“The SNP’s economic response to the Covid crisis has been roundly criticised as incompetent, weak and slow.
“Throughout this pandemic firms in Scotland have received less financial support than their counterparts elsewhere in the UK.
“This will simply result in even more job losses here in Scotland directly as a result of the SNP’s incompetence.
“The SNP must set aside their anti-economy agenda or even more Scottish jobs will be lost.”
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