Scottish Secretary of State, Ian Murray, will warn this week a “lost decade” of division between the Scottish and UK governments which he will explain cost the Scottish economy £10 billion.
Mr Murray is to make a major speech about economic growth and will outline that if Scottish growth had matched UK growth for the last decade, the Scottish economy would be £10 billion larger.
He will also speak to his experience as a small businessman before entering politics and highlight the way the new UK Labour government has reset the relationship with The Scottish Government. He will mention that this includes bringing the Commonwealth Games to Glasgow.
He is critical of previous Tory governments and the current SNP government for fighting each other rather than working together to deliver better results for Scots.
The Secretary of State is expected to say: “The single most important outcome that Scotland’s two governments should be seeking is economic growth. Growth with a purpose.
“Economic growth to raise living standards, improve public services and tackle the unacceptable levels of poverty that scar our communities.
“But I’m afraid delivering economic growth for Scotland is not something either of Scotland’s governments can do alone. It requires partnership and co-operation.
“Because not working together just costs Scotland in the long run. The past decade has been one of division between Scotland’s two governments. They were more interested in fighting each other than fighting for Scotland.
“The result? Scottish growth lagged behind UK growth. If Scottish growth had simply matched UK growth in the last decade our economy would be nearly £10 billion larger.
“A decade of lost growth has cost Scotland billions. We can’t have another lost decade. We need a decade of national renewal.”
Founding Editor of The Edinburgh Reporter.
Edinburgh-born multimedia journalist and iPhoneographer.
