Tories unveil ‘Scotland First’ plan

A “Scotland First” approach is at the heart of the a new blueprint unveiled by Tory leader Douglas Ross to save the country’s battered economy from the worst impact of the coronavirus pandemic.

The Moray MP called for an end to the “constitutional wrangling” from the SNP, as he set out a wide-ranging blueprint that includes plans for a town centre regeneration fund and an overhaul of national economic development body Scottish Enterprise.

The plan, entitled “Power up Scotland”, will also see a “Scotland First” approach taken to procurement to ensure more cash is spent locally.

Mr Ross said: “In the biggest economic downturn of our lifetime, the UK Government stepped up and protected nearly a million Scottish jobs. Now the Scottish Government must match that ambition.

“My proposals won’t just protect jobs over the next few months, they will power up the Scottish economy and start creating the jobs of tomorrow, today,” The plan was unveiled at a manufacturing plant in Inverness and includes Swedish-style Job Security Councils for each sector to help laid-off workers transition and find skilled work.

A Town Centre Rescue Plan would see planning restrictions eased, while a Scottish education guarantee to age 18 would be introduced, along with an expanded adult learning programmes.

A “Scotland First” procurement strategy would also be established to have the government spend more money locally. The document also includes Community Right to Buy schemes for local pubs and other employers in fragile areas, while Scottish Enterprise would be reformed on regional lines. A yellow/red card system would also be adopted for businesses who make late payments and bid for public work.