Lack of insight from the Tories

Dear Editor The First Minister’s announcement of a £100million package of investment to stimulate the Scottish economy in the wake of the EU vote is to be welcomed.

What however is deeply alarming is the failure of the UK Government to say that it will match the more than £5 billion in EU funds delivered in the latest funding programme (2014 to 2020), in future. This was something I, among others, warned in the run up to the EU referendum in June.

The vast majority of funding is through the Common Agricultural Policy, with massive financial gains for farmers. They are due to receive 4.6 billion euros (£3.9billion) to develop food, drink and wider rural business, especially in more remote areas.

The European Structural Fund includes 941million euros (£808million) of investment for communities to reduce poverty and boost skills development and economic activity. Seafood and marine sectors are due to receive 107million euros (£91million).

Previous programmes delivered around £49million to 1000 projects, generating around £214million of investment and supporting 8000 jobs. Scottish organisations have secured £186million in research and innovation funding since 2014.

The action of the Scottish Government in funding a stimulus package stands in stark contrast to the lack of a plan from the Tories at Westminster.

It is a simple fact that if we accept Brexit and are forced to leave the EU against our will, funding for Scotland will be left in the hands of a Tory Government in London who have never had Scotland’s best interests at heart. Alex Orr By email