Time to call last orders on government
Many folks say the SNP couldn’t organise a bevvy session in a brewery – I disagree.
They’re worse than that – some Nat politicians would struggle to gather the empties at closing time.
Which is why everyone across Scotland urgently needs to know about their impending new deposit return scheme (DRS).
It may sound innocuous and, on the face of it, a smart idea to promote recycling.
But warnings from drinks producers and hospitality businesses are growing louder by the day.
From August 16, shops in Scotland will need to add up to 40 pence to the cost of every single drink container made from plastic, metal or glass.
This will apply to alcohol as well as soft drinks.
At a time of rampant global inflation, this is a foolish and painful burden to inflict on hard-pressed Scots consumers.
Instead of putting these items into your household recycling for council collection as happens now, you will instead have to return them to the retailer to get 20p back on each item.
Some retailers will accept used cans, bottles and cartons over the counter while some larger stores and shopping centres will operate reverse vending machines (RVMs).
You insert your empty and you get 20p in return.
Around 600 small and medium-sized businesses, including many in Renfrewshire who have contacted me in recent weeks, believe the cost and complexity of DRS could force them to close.
They say there are far too many unanswered questions and point to more simple DRS schemes operated successfully by other countries.
Despite these massive gaps in how it will all work; producers only have until the end of this month to register — at a cost of £365.
Recent media performances by Lorna Slater, the Green minister who’s supposed to be in charge, have only added to their concerns.
Some drink manufacturers situated elsewhere in the UK and further afield, are likely to stop selling their products in Scotland because the added red tape will make it too much hassle.
Incredibly, some based here in Scotland may be forced to withdraw from the Scottish market.
My Scottish Conservative MSP colleague Maurice Golden, a passionate believer in the circular economy, has led calls for the SNP-Green government to press pause.
But we know that ministers have a track record of arrogantly ignoring anyone they disagree with.
Look at the disregard shown towards women’s rights campaigners about gender self-ID by Nicola Sturgeon (remember her?).
The SNP also have a truly bizarre and deep-rooted antipathy towards private enterprise, which is the taxgenerating, wealth-creating, job-providing, beating heart of Scotland’s economy.
So, why the rush to impose such damage?
In a word, nationalism. A DRS that will operate seamlessly across the entire UK is a work in progress.
But, of course, the SNP are driven by a petty and pernicious desire to always find ways to diverge from the rest of the UK.
That they do so regardless of the economic damage this will inflict is shameful.
It’s time to call last orders on these absolute chancers.