We must do what we can to stop Tory Brexit

Scotland’s Chief Statistician, the economy in Scotland grew by 0.5 per cent in the second quarter of 2018 while growth in the UK was at 0.4 per cent.

In the first half of this year, Scottish GDP grew by 0.8 per cent – ahead of the UK at 0.6 per cent over the same period, and already higher than the 0.7 per cent growth forecast by the Scottish Fiscal Committee for 2018 as a whole.

The last year has seen the Scottish economy grow by a total of 1.7 per cent, whilst the UK lags behind on 1.3 per cent.

This growth in Scotland should be very much welcomed, as it is against the back drop concerns ever increasing over the handling of Brexit negotiations, with Brexit potentially costing the Scottish economy £12.7billion a year – the equivalent of £2300 for every person in the country. Scotland’s economy continues to be reassured, and I am confident that the Scottish Government will continue to do all it can to create that environment into the future.

Locally, I am currently planning a forthcoming small business networking event in the South Lanarkshire area of my constituency. This event will bring together small businesses to engage with one another, share good practice and discuss the benefits and challenges of the sector in the current financial and political environment. I shall be publishing more information about this through the Hamilton Advertiser and social media in the forthcoming weeks. Please keep an eye out if interested.

This month also saw the end of the parliamentary recess, and therefore my return to the Scottish Parliament.

Business has resumed and we have hit the ground running with committee agendas busier than ever, but also crucially the First Minister, Nicola Sturgeon, and our Government publishing the Programme for Government for the year ahead.

A copy of the full programme for government can be found on the Scottish Governments website under documents “Delivering Today; Investing for Tomorrow.”

The programme outlines the Government’s ambitions for Scotland for the year ahead and includes proposals on increasing investment in Scotland’s infrastructure so it is £1.5 billion per year higher by 2025-26 than in 2019-20. This increased investment will help us support faster broadband, improved transport and more low-carbon energy as well as action on mental health through recruitment of 430 new school, college and university counsellors as