Snp economics

I can recall the reaction of SNP grandees to the news that the growth figure for the second quarter was a higher-thanexpected 0.8 per cent. Great was the crowing from the likes of Keith Brown that Scotland had outperformed the rest of the UK.

The reaction to the latest figures was somewhat more muted – perhaps because the paltry 0.3 achieved by the rest of the UK was still three times that achieved by Scotland.

I hasten to add that my comments are accompanied not with glee but despair. Who can be pleased that the trend of the Scottish economy for the last ten quarters has been downwards? Even the 0.8 figure referred to above has now been revised down to 0.6 per cent. What are the SNP doing about this, other than jumping up and down and trotting out the catch-all excuse of Brexit for every failing? What recommendations, I wonder, are being proposed by the socalled “Growth Commission”? Its report was due at Christmas – last Christmas, that is. Does it have nothing to say or, more plausibly, would its proposals prove to be unpopular and therefore anathema to the SNP?

A case in point is air passenger duty. For once the SNP has decided to use one of the “levers” at its disposal. Or has it? We now learn that they are dithering and prevaricating – a typical precursor to a U-turn. The general feeling seems to be that reducing APD would be unpopular. Just as with fracking, therefore, will we see a decision being reached not on economic but populist grounds?

No doubt all the answers will be forthcoming at this week’s conference. Oh, I forgot – the economy is not on the agenda.

COLIN HAMILTON Braid Hills Avenue, Edinburgh