It is obvious that Scotland has great economic potential. It has some of the best universities in the world. It has a brilliant energy sector, with the skills and ingenuity to be at the forefront of the energy transition, and it has businesses for the future.
People across the world love Scotland. Brand Scotland is a brilliant brand. People all over the world buy Scotland’s great products – and in the modern economy its know-how and innovation.
Most importantly, in Scotland we value education, enterprise and hard work, immensely. We are aspirational and ambitious. I see this every day across my constituency of Glasgow East.
We have the perfect raw materials for a modern, strong economy.
Despite all this, Scotland’s economy has barely grown over the last 17 years and Scotland’s public finances are in a catastrophic state. The SNP was forced to fill a £1 billion black hole back in September, as a result of years of short-term, quick fix solutions to balance the books.
Raiding ScotWind receipts to plug the gap – money that was meant to be dedicated to the green energy transition critical to areas such as Aberdeen and Grangemouth – on top of £500 million worth of in-year cuts to vital public services, is not how a government in control of public finances acts.
After 17 years in power the SNP have failed to grasp the concept of proper budgeting and long-term thinking and have no ambition for a prosperous Scottish economy.
Our universities are facing significant deficits, with real term resources to teach Scottish students cut by 19%, the lowest investment in teaching across the UK and underfunding of research activity by ÂŁ328 million each year.
Our education attainment is declining, and 172 teaching posts have been cut from Glasgow’s state schools this year alone.
This failure to invest in education has real world consequences for the economy. We have a concerning skills shortage and often a lack of qualified candidates for roles across various sectors. This holds economic growth back.
And yet, the Scottish Government absolutely refuses to shoulder any of the blame or take any responsibility for their failures. There is always some other person, factor, or event to blame.
Scotland faces a fiscal and industrial crisis because of the mess the Tories and the SNP made of our economy. Just last week Scotland’s independent Auditor General warned the SNP’s approach to the public finances is unsustainable.
After 14 years of the Tories and 17 years of the SNP, this Labour government will take the steps needed to fix the foundations of our economy.
Labour will start the process of delivering the economic growth Scotland needs with an industrial strategy, GB Energy headquartered in Aberdeen, our National Wealth Fund to create jobs and the biggest upgrade in worker’s rights in a generation which will make work pay, give working people more security, reduce recruitment costs for employers and level the playing field on enforcement.
We are determined to bring outside investment into Scotland. Our International Investment Summit delivered ÂŁ63 billion of private investment commitments into the UK, creating tens of thousands of jobs.
This record level of investment, alongside our industrial strategy, are key steps to getting our economy growing, creating jobs and supporting working people. Our Employments Rights bill will make work pay and deliver the biggest reform of worker’s rights in a generation.
Throughout my 27 years working with Scottish businesses as a lawyer, I have never wavered in my belief that Scotland has the greatest of economic potential. I have never wavered in my belief that Scotland’s economy can grow and deliver good jobs, and the money needed to deliver the brilliant public services that Scotland deserves.
Next year is Glasgow’s 850th birthday. I am ferociously proud of Glasgow and Scotland. With investment and stable government Scottish Labour can deliver the change that Scotland needs. However, we have only got rid of one of the governments that is failing Scotland. The other, the SNP , remain in power. But it is time for change in Scotland.
What Scotland desperately needs is a government that is pro-worker, pro-growth, and pro-business. That is exactly what Scottish Labour will offer the people of Scotland in 2026.
