Hosie: Trident Billions are Unthinkable

SNP CONDEMNS “ASTRONOMICAL” NEW TRIDENT TOTAL AS TORY AUSTERITY AGENDA CONTINUES
In response to reports that the cost of renewing four new Trident submarines has dramatically risen to more than£167 billion, far more than the ludicrous £100 billion already proposed, the SNP’s Deputy Leader Stewart Hosie said the sum is “unthinkable”, especially against a backdrop of Tory austerity cuts.

Commenting, SNP Deputy Leader Stewart Hosie said:

“This is truly an unthinkable and indefensible sum of money to spend on the renewal of an unwanted and unusable nuclear weapons system while thousands of people across the UK are struggling to afford basics like food as a result of the Tories’ obsession with austerity.

“The UK Government is facing a United Nations probe over its cuts to support for disabled people and yet the Government’s own figures reveal that they are prepared to spend an astronomical £167 billion dumping four new Trident submarines on the Clyde.

“It was already ludicrous to consider the renewal of Trident when the cost was £100 billion but these figures show just how dangerous the Tories’ obsession with nuclear really is.

“How can Tory MPs expect to be able to look their constituents in the eye when on the one hand they are taking thousands of pounds from hard-working low income families who rely on tax credits and with the other they plan to pour money into brand new weapons of mass destruction?

“And at a time when Scotland’s conventional defence capabilities have shrunk dramatically with base closures and less than 10,000 personnel it is alarming that there seems to be an endless amounts of money seems to be available for abhorrent nuclear weapons.”

Labour Confirms Cuts Plan for Scotland

MURPHY LEFT FLOUNDERING ON NHS FUNDING
Jim Murphy has confirmed that a Labour Government will deliver cuts to key policies as part of their pursuit of austerity.

Asked to confirm that despite his claims to the contrary in recent Leaders’ debates, Labour was planning cuts Jim Murphy said “that’s right, further cuts than what we’ve already identified.”

Despite being asked repeatedly last night, Jim Murphy was also unable to reveal whether Labour plans to invest more in the NHS than the Tories are proposing.

In contrast, the SNP has set out plans for an increase in NHS spending across the UK of £24 billion by 2020/21, £9.5 billion above the rate of inflation. Such an increase will deliver a total boost to the NHS Scotland budget of £2 billion by 2020/21.

Commenting, SNP Depute Leader Stewart Hosie said:

“Jim Murphy last night made clear beyond any doubt that Labour is committed to further spending cuts, despite the damage that further austerity will inflict on communities in Scotland and across the UK.

“It renders the posturing he has tried to engage in on this issue utterly hollow and confirms that it is only the SNP who will deliver a progressive alternative to austerity.

“The fact that Jim Murphy was also left floundering when it came to trying to explain why even the Tories are now proposing more money for the NHS than Labour speaks volumes.

“Labour is so fixated on an austerity agenda that they are apparently happy to see the NHS lose out on the funding it needs.

“In contrast, the SNP has set out plans to ensure that the health service in Scotland and the rest of the UK gets the funding it needs to carry out its vital work.

“A strong team of SNP MPs will work with progressive voices from across the UK to pursue an alternative to austerity and stand up to support and protect the Health Service at every turn.”

Poll Shows Nicola Sturgeon Most Popular Leader Across UK

A poll showing that SNP leader Nicola Sturgeon is more popular across the UK than any of the Westminster party leaders has been welcomed today.

A YouGov poll in today’s Sun makes clear that the First Minister has a net approval rating across the UK of +7, compared to David Cameron’s net rating of -5, Ed Miliband’s net rating of -39 and Nick Clegg’s net rating of -47.

Amongst respondents in England alone, Nicola Sturgeon is the only party leader who has a positive approval rating – with a net rating of +5.

Commenting, SNP Depute Leader Stewart Hosie MP said:

“These are remarkable ratings for Nicola Sturgeon - she is the only political leader in the UK to have positive approval figures in England, as well as north of the border.

“While David Cameron, Ed Miliband and Nick Clegg are all viewed negatively south of the border - the three identikit representatives of an out-of-touch Westminster system - Nicola has positive ratings in every region of England.

“These figures underline that the SNP providing a strong voice for Scotland and helping deliver progressive policies across the whole UK is a winning formula among people in England as well as Scotland.”

Labour Commit to Tory Budget

The Scottish National Party has warned only a strong team of SNP MPs in Westminster will mean a strong voice for Scotland as Labour confirms they would keep Tory cuts.

Asked by the Today programme what he would reverse from Osborne’s Budget, Labour Shadow Chancellor Ed Balls replied that there was nothing, saying "From yesterday to be honest… there's nothing I'm saying to you from yesterday I would reverse.”

Commenting, SNP Depute Leader and Treasury spokesperson Stewart Hosie MP said:

“Labour have now confirmed there would be no respite for Scotland by agreeing with the proposed Tory cuts.

“Those hoping a Labour government would offer an alternative to the Tories will be disappointed- but we already knew a majority of Labour MPs voted recently in the House of Commons hand in hand with the Tories for £30bn of extra cuts in the next government.

“Meanwhile Danny Alexander has failed to distance himself from the Tories with his feeble statement in Parliament today. Danny Alexander himself voted with other Lib Dem MPs for £30bn of additional cuts, and people will not easily forget that the Lib Dems voted for the bedroom tax and tripling tuition fees- and they are facing political annihilation as a result.

“Under Osborne's plans- and now Labour’s plans- there will be additional cuts to welfare, tax credits and public sector pensions, with overall cuts set to be far larger than anything we have seen over the past five years.

“A strong team of SNP MPs in May will mean a strong voice for Scotland - to win the powers promised to Scotland, reverse austerity cuts in favour of investing in growth and jobs, and stop the waste of tens of billions of pounds on a new generation of Trident nuclear weapons."

Trouble for Labour as Scottish MPs Warn Milliband to Stay Away

Claims in the Sunday Telegraph that Labour MPs have warned Ed Miliband to stay away from Scotland are a clear sign of a party in deep trouble.

One Scottish Labour MP is quoted saying "does Ed Miliband bring me votes? Absolutely not. If Ed wanted to campaign in my seat would I agree? I'm not sure... You wouldn't want him out campaigning in a shopping mall".

Other MPs have reportedly told the Sunday Telegraph that Ed Miliband will not feature on their campaign literature and that they do not want Labour HQ to send him to their seat.

Last month a Panelbase poll for the Sunday Times put Ed Miliband’s approval rating in Scotland on -46 per cent, even lower than David Cameron’s rating of -42 per cent.

Commenting, SNP Depute Leader Stewart Hosie said:

“This latest sign of infighting within the Labour party shows the scale of the panic that is gripping their MPs in the face of poor polling results.

“If Labour cannot even sell Ed Miliband’s leadership to their own MPs, why on earth do they expect people in Scotland to vote for him?

"As far as the SNP is concerned, the more times Ed Miliband comes to Scotland the better. The only people who don't want him here are those in his own party.

“The fact is that people across Scotland want MPs who will put their interests above all others and stand up for Scotland – something only the SNP can unequivocally promise.

“Electing a strong team of SNP MPs in May will be a force for change and will let Scotland gain the powers we need to create jobs and build a fairer, more prosperous country.”

Independent Scotland "Would be Higher in Development Table than UK Even Without Oil"

The Scottish National Party has welcomed comments from the author of a Credit Suisse report ‘The Success of Small Countries,’ who said this morning “small countries are successful and in general better off than bigger countries.”

The report, which was inspired by the referendum debate, found Scotland would outperform the UK’s HDI rating – a composite measurement of life expectancy, education and wealth in a population- even excluding any allocation of oil output.

Speaking on BBC Good Morning Scotland, Michael O’Sullivan from the Credit Suisse Research Institute also explained small countries are one of the “leading geo-political trends of the last fifty years.”

Commenting, SNP Treasury spokesperson Stewart Hosie MP said:

“These comments are very welcome. Using academic data, the report sets out Scotland’s potential and how our development rating would outperform the UK- even without oil- following a Yes vote.

“The report also found that smaller countries are better able to ‘effectively’ and ‘cheaply’ deliver public services, and most of the small countries mentioned do not have nearly as many of the resources we have here in Scotland.

“This highlights once again that Scotland is perfectly positioned to flourish as an independent nation. We would be able to concentrate on our talents, grow our economy and build a better and fairer society following a Yes vote."

Norway's Oil Fund Shows Scotland the Way Forward

SNP Treasury spokesman Stewart Hosie MP, has drawn attention to a news report that every person in Norway became a millionaire yesterday – and contrasted the success of Norway’s oil fund with the mismanagement and ‘squandering’ of Scotland’s oil resources by successive UK governments since oil was first discovered.

Commenting on the news, Stewart Hosie said:

“Set up in 1990, the Norwegian energy fund has now risen to a level where theoretically every citizen became a ' Crown ' millionaire yesterday, making Norway an example to other nations of what can be achieved by a small nation using the full powers of independence.

“Norway’s fund is now worth over 800 billion dollars and now owns around one percent of the world's stocks, as well as bonds and real estate around the world."

Mr Hosie added :

“The success of Norway’s management of their energy resources is in stark contrast to the squandering by Westminster governments of Scotland’s oil and gas resources over decades.

“While the Norwegians, using the full powers of independence, wisely invested and saved when they could, successive London governments blew the lot on illegal wars and building up weapons of mass destruction.

“Scotland can learn much from Norway and, when we are independent, strive to follow their example. Like Norway, Scotland has huge wealth in oil and gas, and astounding potential for renewable energy - we have a quarter of Europe's tidal and offshore wind capacity and a tenth of its wave power, but it is only with the full powers of independence that Scotland’s energy potential can be released."

Labour Increasingly Desperate on Economy

  WESTMINSTER PROMISES CUTS, CUTS AND MORE CUTS
Commenting on the speech by Labour's Shadow Chancellor Ed Balls this morning in which he endorsed Tory plans on austerity and severe cuts and confirmed he would use them as a starting point for any incoming Labour government, Stewart Hosie MP, SNP Treasury spokesman said:

"Ed Balls’ speech this morning is the clearest signal yet that Labour are going to end the sensible policy of universality. His speech is more about salvaging what little is left of his economic credibility and as each day passes it becomes clear that Labour are prepared to jettison their beliefs in a desperate attempt to boost their flat-lining in the polls . He was quoted this morning saying the coalition’s cuts would be the starting point for any incoming Labour government, so his plans will be if anything worse than the Tories. For a start it would mean pensioners who have paid into the system all their lives would lose winter fuel payment if Labour are re-elected .

“Against the backdrop of Johann Lamont’s cuts commission it is clear that any future Labour administrations in Westminster or Holyrood will extend austerity . It is no surprise Mr Balls talks about a ‘bleak future’. On one thing we can agree ‘Labour’s economic credibility is not quite there’.

“It doesn’t matter whether the Westminster government is Labour or Tory it means cuts, cuts, and more cuts. Labour and Tory are one and the same and the only way to improve Scotland’s economy and protect our social values is with independence.

“We now know that a Labour government means sticking with Tory cuts. The only way to escape this Westminster led austerity is with a vote for independence in 2014."

UK Triple-A Loss Result of Wrong Approach to Tackling Recession

"HAMMER BLOW TO CREDIBILITY OF 'NO' CAMPAIGN"
Reacting to the news tonight that Moody's have removed the AAA credit rating from the UK (with the other ratings agencies having the UK on "negative outlook"), the Scottish National Party pointed to the hypocrisy of the No campaign in the referendum, which asserted that this would only happen in an independent Scotland.

Last year, Chief Secretary to the Treasury Secretary Danny Alexander attempted to whip up fears over the credit rating of Scotland.

Almost two-thirds of the countries that now hold triple-A status have populations of less than ten million - including Finland, Sweden, Denmark, and Norway.

Scotland has stronger public finances than the rest of the UK, with the most recent GERS figures showing that Scotland contributes 9.6% of public revenues but receives 9.3% of public spending. The SNP Government has balanced Scotland’s budget in every single year since 2007 while the oil & gas sector boosted the UK’s balance of trade by £40 billion. On an internationally comparable basis, Scotland’s share of UK debt in 2010 would have been 64% of GDP, compared to the UK’s 76%, the EU’s 80% and the G7’s 114%.

Commenting, SNP Westminster Treasury spokesperson Stewart Hosie MP said:

“The UK government failed to learn the lessons of economic history, and has taken exactly the wrong approach to the recession.

“And now the ill-judged attacks that anti-independence politicians have made about Scotland have come back to haunt them - this is negative news for the UK economy, and also a hammer blow to the credibility of the No campaign.

"First, we heard from the UK Government how important it was to cut the deficit and pay off debt to avoid a downgrade. Now - with austerity in the UK projected to last at least six more years - they said that the AAA rating was unimportant.

“The No campaign can’t have it both ways - the scaremongering simply doesn’t stack up and has completely unravelled tonight.

“The record of our neighbours shows that small, well managed independent countries can have every expectation of enjoying the highest credit rating and more importantly favourable bond yields. Almost two-thirds of the countries that now hold triple-A status have populations of less than ten million - including Finland, Sweden, Denmark, and Norway.

“Scotland is in a stronger financial position than the rest of the UK, and that is a positive starting point from which to grow and develop the economy of an independent Scotland.”

One example of scaremongering by Danny Alexander on an independent Scotland’s credit rating can be seen here: http://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/news/uk-world-news/

SNP Responds to UK GDP Figures

The Office of National Statistics has published its quarterly report on economic activity in the UK for the last quarter of 2012 revealing worse than expected figures.

Stewart Hosie MP, SNP Treasury spokesperson commented :

"As widely predicted these GDP figures will make deeply unpleasant reading for the Chancellor and his colleagues - but they are worse news for families and businesses stuggling under the impact of Westminster's failed austerity agenda.

"A worse than expected 0.3% decline in the economy opens up the prospect of an unprecedented triple dip recession - which would mean more misery, belt tightening and austerity for Scottish families and businesses.

"Perhaps the alpine air of Davos will give Mr Osborne cause to think about the failure of his economic policies. We have seen this week alone borrowing up a hefty 7 percent year on year, almost zero growth last year, criticism from Nick Clegg of all people that the slashing of the capital budget was a disastrous mistake, and support from the IMF ebbing away as they line up to tell him he was wrong to cut so quickly -- and he needs to change course.

"George Osborne has told us since May 2010 that sorting the public finances and getting growth back into the economy after the great Labour crash of 2008 were his priorities. There is now not a shred of comfort for him. It's not happening.

The people of Scotland did not vote for these destructive and disatrous policies. Scottish families and businesses are all suffering from the Westminster coalition's dogmatic refusal to change course. What Scotland needs is a government that reponds to its economic priorities and needs, which is why a Yes vote in the independence referendum is so important."

Hypocrisy as Alexander Puts Case for Regional Pay

CHANCELLOR’S “HALF-BAKED” PLAN WOULD PENALISE PUBLIC SECTOR WORKERS

RIFT WITHIN LIB DEMS AS CLEGG RUBBISHES THE POLICY
The SNP has condemned Danny Alexander for putting forward the case for regionalising public sector pay – potentially meaning pay cuts for Scottish workers – in a local newspaper when the Chancellor’s policy is out for review.

In the Northern Echo, Mr Alexander backed the case for lower “local pay” for nurses and teachers in the North-East of England – only days after his Lib Dem leader Nick Clegg rubbished the idea.

Treasury spokesman Stewart Hosie, SNP MP for Dundee East, said:

“Why is Mr Alexander putting forward the case for regional pay when the policy is meant to be out for review? Has the decision already been made?

“This is total hypocrisy from Mr Alexander who should be helping public sector workers in this tough financial climate, not penalising them.

“This also highlights the rift within the Lib Dems as Nick Clegg very recently ruled out any changes to pay scales that would widen the North-South divide.

“Clearly Mr Alexander is becoming more Tory every day – it beggars belief that a Scottish MP appears to be championing a policy which could lead to unfair pay cuts for Scottish public sector workers.

“The UK government’s plan is a wrong-footed move which will further entrench the imbalance in jobs and investment towards London.

“Not only would this half-baked policy damage public services, it would also hinder efforts to share growth across all of the UK.

“George Osborne must think again. He must boost consumer confidence and get the economy moving again.

“The SNP’s current pay policy supports lower paid workers through the Living Wage of £7.20 per hour.

“But while the Scottish Government sets pay policy for devolved bodies, it does not do so for public sector workers employed by UK departments.

“That is why Scotland needs the full powers of independence. The latest GERS figures, published at the beginning of March, found that every man, woman and child in Scotland would have been £510 better off last year if Scotland had been an independent country.”

Boris Johnson Backs Devo-Max For London

TORIES SAY ‘YES’ TO FINANCIAL POWERS FOR LONDON BUT ‘NO’ TO SCOTLAND
Seizing on calls by Mayor Boris Johnson for ‘devo-max’ financial powers for London, the SNP said the Tories needed to explain why they were saying ‘yes’ to powers for London and ‘no’ to powers for Scotland.

SNP Treasury spokesperson Stewart Hosie MP said Mayor Johnson’s calls would create more confusion for the Scottish Tories – who even failed to put in a submission to the UK Government’s referendum consultation, the only party not to.

Mr Hosie said:

“Boris Johnson has set the cat amongst the pigeons with his plans for devo-max for London. The Tories now need to explain why they are saying ‘yes’ to powers for London and ‘no’ to powers for Scotland.

“Mayor Johnson’s manifesto for London adds to the increasingly confused position of the Tories in Scotland. It’s no wonder the Tories could not even agree on a submission to their own government’s consultation on the referendum – leaving them the only party not to make a submission.

“Boris Johnson’s arguments for London are even stronger for Scotland – with the latest Government Expenditure & Revenue Scotland figures (GERS) showing that, last year alone, Scotland was in a stronger financial position than the UK as a whole to the tune of nearly £2.7 billion – or £510 for every man, woman and child in Scotland.”

Panic, Petrol, Pasties and Polling

After a week summed up by pasties, petrol and the politics of panic, poor polling has now added to the woes of both the Tories and Labour with Sunday Times YouGov leadership ratings showing that all three Westminster party leaders – Ed Miliband, David Cameron and Nick Clegg – have plummeting approval ratings in Scotland.

The latest YouGov polling on how well or badly the UK party leaders are performing shows that the UK party leaders’ ratings are worse in Scotland than the UK as a whole – with David Cameron and Ed Miliband equally unpopular.

The figures show that Ed Miliband has a negative rating of -41% across the UK – but an even worse -49% in Scotland.

David Cameron has a negative rating of -27% across the UK – and a much worse -49% in Scotland.

Nick Clegg has a negative rating of -53% in the North of England – and a much worse -68% in Scotland.

The most recent figures for Alex Salmond – the Panelbase poll published in the Sunday Times on 5 February – showed a positive rating of +17%: the only leader at Holyrood or Westminster to have a positive rating.

Commenting SNP Chief Whip Stewart Hosie MP said:

“After a week summed up by pasties, petrol and the politics of panic, the UK party leaders can now add poor polling to their list of woes.

“The latest figures from YouGov show that all three UK party leaders – Ed Miliband, David Cameron and Nick Clegg – are deeply unpopular in Scotland – much more than elsewhere in the UK.

“After this week's display of arrogance, incompetence mixed with malign intent there is surely no-one left who believes this dysfunctional Westminster government is fit to govern any aspect of Scottish life.

“The Tories were engaged in puerile politicking desperate to deflect attention from their unpopular Budget and sleaze ridden Prime Minister. Their Liberal lapdogs trailed in behind in whimpering and repeating each and every nonsense concocted by their Tory masters.

“The Bradford West by-election result was an unmitigated disaster for Labour – and a total embarrassment for Ed Miliband in a week when the Tories and coalition government are on the back foot over the granny tax, petrol and pasties.

“It is clear that the people of Scotland are rightly appalled by Labour agreeing ‘100 per cent’ with the Tories on Scotland’s future.

“Ed Miliband’s decision to join in a toxic pact with the Tories to stand in the way of job-creating powers and more responsibilities for the Scottish Parliament must be a key factor in his party’s dismal ratings.”

SNP Welcome North Sea Investment Boost

The SNP tonight welcomed a report showing investment in North Sea oil is to hit a new high this year and could generate an additional £5.5 billion in tax revenues.

The report by Wood MacKenzie shows that companies are investing in the untapped potential of the North Sea with companies like BP, Total, RWE Dea, BG Group, and GDF Suez developing new discoveries and bringing jobs to Scotland.

The UK Government already expects to take £13 billion in tax revenues from the North Sea.

The report suggests the total value of North Sea production in 2012 could be £27.5 billion.

Commenting on the report SNP MP and Treasury Spokesman Stewart Hosie MP said:

“The good news is that 40 per cent of reserves remain in the North Sea, with over half of the value still to be extracted – representing an asset base of a trillion pounds.

“North Sea revenues are set to generate £54 billion in the six years up to 2016/17 – as much wealth as in the previous six years and now this report suggests the value to the Treasury could be even higher.

"We already know the Treasury is set to take in £13 billion this year, relying on North Sea revenues to boost Treasury coffers at the same time as it seeks to punish the North Sea with unfair taxes affecting investment further down the line.

“An assessment of Scotland’s geographical share of the North Sea demonstrates clearly that Scotland is more than able of standing on our own two feet with access to our own resources.

“When all of Scotland’s resources are included in our nation’s economic output, an independent Scotland would be ranked sixth in the world league table of OECD nations in terms of gross domestic product per head – ten places ahead of the UK at sixteen.”

Balls “Caws The Feet” From Under Scottish Labour

LABOUR “CREDIBILITY DEFICIT” ON ECONOMY

Commenting on the speech by Shadow Chancellor Ed Balls today (Monday), SNP Westminster Treasury spokesperson Stewart Hosie MP said that Mr Balls had “cawed the feet” from under Labour in Scotland by admitting that Labour wouldn’t reverse Tory/Lib Dem coalition cuts.

Mr Hosie said:

“Labour have a credibility deficit on the economy as deep as the national deficit they created.

“Labour’s previous Chancellor, Alistair Darling, wanted to make even bigger cuts than those which were already ‘deeper and tougher’ than those of Margaret Thatcher – and their current Shadow Chancellor now says that he wouldn’t reverse the Tory/Lib Dem cuts.

“Ed Balls has just ‘cawed the feet’ from under Labour in Scotland, leaving them with no credible position on the Scottish Budget. Labour stand alongside the Tories and Lib Dems in having imposed cuts on Scotland, and now supporting these record cuts.

“What is needed is a clear path to economic growth - a coherent growth strategy as well as debt reduction.

“We need a proactive approach to kick-start economic recovery through a programme of capital investment, measures to boost economic confidence, and greater access to finance – exactly the policy pursued by the SNP Government in Scotland, which is the only part of the UK where unemployment is falling.

“Over the year, unemployment has fallen by 33,000 in Scotland compared with an increase of 44,000 across the UK as a whole – and Scotland now has the highest employment rate of any nation in the UK.

“That is why the UK Government should follow the Scottish Government’s ‘Plan MacB’ approach UK-wide.

“And it is also why the Scottish Parliament needs full financial and economic powers, so that we can sustain this position over the long-term and ensure that Scotland’s recovery is not blown off course by Westminster.

“It’s not just their dreadful record in government, but their record in opposition as well, that makes it impossible for people to trust Labour. Ed Balls talks about a VAT cut, but Labour abstained on a key vote to cut the tax just a few months ago.

“Labour have no credibility on the economy – north or south of the Border.”

Time Has Come For 'Plan MacB' As IMF Slash UK Forecast

The SNP has urged the UK Government to bring forward an economic ‘Plan MacB’ as the International Monetary Fund today (Tuesday) slashed its growth forecasts for the UK.

The SNP Scottish Government’s proposals – as outlined by First Minister Alex Salmond, including in response to last week’s labour market statistics –focuses on increased capital expenditure, improved access to finance for medium and small sized businesses, and the introduction of measures to boost consumer confidence and economic security.

Among all the nations and regions of the UK, Scotland is the only place where unemployment fell in the latest quarter, May-July 2011.

During this three-month period, unemployment in Scotland fell by 3,000 to 7.5 per cent, compared to a UK-wide increase of 80,000 to 7.9 per cent. Over the year, Scottish unemployment has fallen by 33,000, while UK levels increased by 44,000.

Scottish employment increased by 23,000 to 71.6 per cent in the latest quarter. Again, Scotland is outperforming the UK, where employment fell by 69,000 and the employment rate decreased 70.5 per cent during May-July 2011.

Over the year, Scottish employment rose by 36,000 – encompassing the entire 24,000 figure for the aggregate employment increase in the UK as a whole.

Commenting, SNP Westminster Treasury spokesperson Stewart Hosie MP said:

“The time has come for the Treasury to take action and follow the Scottish Government’s lead by implementing an economic ‘Plan MacB’ to build recovery and growth.

“The SNP Government are delivering a ‘Plan MacB’, which is cutting unemployment in Scotland while it rises in every other part of the UK, and it is vital that the Tory/Lib Dem coalition at Westminster follows the Scottish lead – otherwise there is a real risk that they will derail our recovery.

“Measures are needed to boost consumer confidence, especially critical to recovery at a time of inflation, fuel and food price pressures. We need to see a new focus on additional infrastructure investment, such as new transport and housing projects, to create new jobs and new capital assets for the long-term. And we also need the UK government to take action to ensure the banks improve access to finance to help good businesses grow.

“Our no compulsory redundancy policy for staff under Scottish Government responsibility is helping to boost consumer confidence, and our commitment to the social wage – including the council tax freeze, no tuition fees, free prescriptions, and free concessionary travel – is giving Scots households maximum protection at a time when other bills and inflation are on a sharply rising curve.

“We now need the UK government to follow this lead and introduce an action ‘Plan MacB’ to drive recovery.”