Ukip leader’s relationship with model, 25, revealed

Morale among smaller firms has sunk to a near record low with a “long-term optimism gap” widening between businesses in Scotland and the rest of the UK.

The poor performance of the Scottish domestic economy is seen as a “barrier to growth” by a majority of firms, as they also voiced concerns over the Scottish Government’s income tax hikes unveiled in the Budget, according to new figures from the Federation of Small Businesses (FSB).

Opponents have now urged the SNP to give businesses a “helping hand” with a greater focus on boosting growth.

The latest Scottish Small Business Confidence index saw a fall to -21.4 points in the final quarter of last year. This is down from -15.3 points over the previous three months and has only once been lower in the five years of the index.

The UK equivalent figures fell from +3.6 points to -2.5 points.

FSB Scottish policy convenor Andy Willox said: “The final months of last year saw Scottish and UK small business confidence slip to near record lows. Last year’s bruising trading conditions are most likely to blame, compounded with concerns regarding Brexit and worries about local economies.”

Scottish growth has trailed the rest of the rest of the UK in the aftermath of the global oil price crash of 2014, which decimated