Scots jobless rate is worse than rest of UK
SCOTLAND’S unemployment rate rose above the rest of the UK’s yesterday as the SNP Budget was rubber-stamped by MSPs.
Official figures showed 14,000 more Scots became unemployed in the final months of 2017. This took the jobless rate up to 4.5 per cent, compared to 4.4 per cent across the UK.
The figures came as SNP and Green MSPs united to vote through the 201819 Budget – sparking fears of economic turmoil as Scotland becomes the highest taxed part of the UK.
The Office for National Statistics figures showed unemployment in Scotland rose by 14,000 from October to December, to 124,000.
In the same period, the number of people in employment in Scotland fell by 20,000 to 2.63million.
Scottish Secretary David Mundell said: ‘These figures are worrying and show that the gap between Scotland and the UK is increasing.
‘The Scottish parliament has more powers than ever before to boost the economy and promote growth and it needs to use them.
‘It is troubling that, instead of focusing on improving Scotland’s prosperity, the Scottish Government is choosing to hike taxes for thousands of hardworking Scots.
‘It is a fundamental mistake to make Scotland the highest taxed part of the UK.’
Even SNP employability minister Jamie Hepburn described the figures as ‘disappointing’.
He said: ‘While unemployment and employment have improved over the year, the slight decrease in employment and increase in unemployment levels over the most recent quarter is disappointing – which is why we recognise the need for further investment in our economy and labour market.’
In order to secure the support of the Scottish Green Party, £170million of extra cash was handed to councils to wipe out cuts to funding, which were originally proposed in December’s draft Budget and provide extra money for pay rises.
But last night, Green co-convener Patrick Harvie suggested the party would only support the SNP Budget next year if the Government pledged further tax rises for Scots.