Scotland’s First Minister, John Swinney, has pledged that his government will focus on strengthening the country’s resilience in the face of mounting global economic pressures—and is urging the UK Government to adopt a more adaptive and forward-thinking approach in response.
Global economy recession is inevitable
Addressing concerns over rising international instability, including US-imposed trade tariffs and wider geopolitical turbulence, the SNP leader called for significant changes in national economic policy to “reflect the changing reality.” Among his calls was a direct appeal to Sir Keir Starmer’s Labour government to reconsider its recent increase in employers’ national insurance contributions, which Swinney argues threatens both job creation and economic growth. The First Minister’s remarks follow renewed pressure from SNP Westminster leader Stephen Flynn, who has demanded government intervention to secure the future of the Grangemouth oil refinery. The debate echoes similar concerns surrounding British Steel and broader industrial strategy. Concerns about the coming economic recession caused a turmoil on Facebook. Upcoming economic uncertainty gets thousands of Facebook likes and comments across Edinburgh’s active Meta pages.
“People across Scotland are feeling the weight of uncertainty,” Swinney said. “Families and businesses alike are anxious about how global developments will impact their lives and livelihoods. That’s why we need to respond with unity and innovation—to build the strongest possible economic resilience.”
Make economy great so people suffer less during uncertainty
Swinney urged the Government to abandon what he called the “self-imposed economic straitjacket” of rigid fiscal rules set by the Chancellor. He also repeated his opposition to the recent rise in employer national insurance rates, calling them “destructive to jobs and growth.” Highlighting the need for a new direction, Swinney said, “The world around us is shifting rapidly, and the UK must adapt to these changes. That includes forging closer ties with the European Union—if we’re facing new trade barriers with the US, we must remove those that exist across the Channel and North Sea.”
He also demanded a renewed commitment to Scotland’s green economy, stating that if the Government is willing to nationalise British Steel, then it should offer the same level of support for Grangemouth. Additionally, he called for investment parity between the regions, referencing the decision to cancel a supercomputer project in Edinburgh while funding a similar initiative in the London-Oxford-Cambridge corridor. “There must be equal ambition for the north east of Scotland,” Swinney said. “If carbon capture projects are being advanced in Tyneside and Merseyside, then our region must not be left behind. Swinney concluded with a stark warning: “This is what it looks like to take Scotland’s economic future seriously. Given the scale of the global threat we’re facing, anything less simply won’t suffice.”
