SNP: UK policies have set back Scots economy

SCOTLAND is economically strong but its performance has been hampered by UK policies going back decades, the SNP Government’s new report says.

The 69-page document highlights growth sectors including life sciences, creative industries, green energy and information technology, worth a combined £15 billion per year – and rising – to the economy.

It also recognises the contribution of established sectors such as oil and gas, finance, manufacturing tourism and food and drink, worth at least £56bn between them.

It argues decisions by UK governments – from the failure to invest in an oil fund in the 1970s and 1980s to cuts to capital spending in the past few years – have undermined growth.

The paper stresses it is not a policy manifesto. Apart from established SNP proposals to cut corporation tax and air passenger duty, it includes no new specific economic plans.

But it argues that Scotland is economically healthy and could be stronger with control over tax policy and the welfare system.

Alex Salmond and Nicola Sturgeon launched the document at the Falkirk factory of bus builder and exporter Alexander Dennis, which the First Minister described as “a symbol and example of Scotland’s economic strength”.

He spoke of his confidence about the Yes campaign, despite it lagging in the polls. He said: “When you’re fighting a positive campaign then you realise that we are in a marathon to next September, not a sprint.

“The No campaign will lose strength, as negative campaigns always do, as their arguments are examined and dissolve in the sunlight. The Yes campaign will gain strength as we move towards September next year.”

The SNP’s opponents dismissed the report. Scottish Secretary Michael Moore said: “It is a contradiction to highlight how well our important Scottish industries are doing and blame it on the UK. Our oil companies, food companies and life science companies are doing well and they’re doing well inside a strong UK.”

Scottish Labour’s Ken Macintosh MSP said: “Instead of a serious assessment of Scotland’s economic future, the SNP have singled out a few short-term political decisions and packaged them as the case for independence.”

Scottish Conservative leader Ruth Davidson MSP said: “The irony seems lost on Alex Salmond that his economic booklet contains no actual detail on the economic consequences of separation.”