Scottish Tory leader to unveil economy and jobs plan today

New Scottish Tory leader Douglas Ross will unveil a new economic plan today.

Early details of the proposals show a focus on transport and infrastructure investment and it will fulfil a pledge made during his campaign to succeed Jackson Carlaw earlier this month – which concluded with him being named leader after no other challengers emerged.

Mr Ross said he would outline his strategy to increase employment and recover economically from the coronavirus pandemic within the first month of his leadership.

Coming ahead of the programme for government – the Scottish Government’s legislative agenda for this parliamentary session – the Tory leader will push for an increase in spending on infrastructure.

He said: “The programme for government this week must focus on how we recover from this crisis, protect jobs and rebuild Scotland’s economy from the brink.

“It should be a programme to invest in infrastructure and connect communities across the country, leaving nowhere behind.”

The Tories will call for a fully integrated transport system, with an Oyster card-like payment method that would work across all public transport networks, as well as faster rail links between Glasgow and Edinburgh and Aberdeen and Inverness connections with the central belt.

Mr Ross added that improving travel links would result in Scotland being brought “closer together”.

He said: “Scotland has been too divided for too long, not only constitutionally but economically too. We need a massive acceleration of infrastructure projects to bring people across Scotland closer together.”