Wellbeing Economy at Business for Scotland

Westminster’s tax on jobs will hurt Scotland's economy

The Westminster government talks about growth - yet Westminster's tax on jobs will damage Scotland’s economic growth. It is also being put through in such a way as to hurt Scotland unfairly.

If Scotland was an independent country controlling its own taxes it would not put through a damaging last minute tax that seems calculated to wreck previous financial planning.

Three-quarters of Scottish farms to be hit by UK farm tax hammer

The UK government’s attack on the future of farming which is causing huge anger across the sector and saw tractors massing in London and Edinburgh recently was based on dodgy numbers.

UK Chancellor Rachel Reeves did not consult either the Scottish government or the UK Department of Environment, Food and Rural Affairs to check the numbers. There was no impact assessment or consultation.

Five ways Westminster’s 'growth' plan says Scotland would be better off independent

UK Chancellor Rachel Reeves produced a “growth” plan last week which was disappointing to say the least for Scottish business.

There was nothing in it to address the major challenges the UK has laid on Scottish businesses such as the rise in National Insurance contributions she introduced, or the heavy weight of paperwork that has been loaded onto Scottish businesses by a Brexit that Scotland never voted for.

Hydrogen backbone worth £26 billion a year to the Scottish economy

A ‘hydrogen backbone’ - a pipeline for Scotland to export green hydrogen straight to Germany could be worth billions to the Scottish economy and help boost Europe’s move to net zero.

A forthcoming report by the Net Zero Technology Centre, an industry-funded think tank based in Aberdeen, calculates that the hydrogen export market could be worth £26 billion a year to Scotland.

New Brexit import controls will hurt Scottish businesses and families

From tomorrow – and again in April – the UK Government will start imposing a battery of border controls on agricultural trade with the EU. Fierce protests from businesses have delayed these controls five times but they will go ahead this time in order for Rishi Sunak to appease the right wing of his party. The Guardian reported recently that they will cost the economy £330m a year.

The Hallmark of the UK Economy is Stagnation

A new paper released yesterday by the Resolution Foundation gives an in depth look at the depth of economic stagnation the UK economy has faced since the 2007/08 Financial Crisis. The paper offers a list of possible solutions to the UK’s frankly horrendous economic performance over the last decade and a half, including recommendations to increase public investment to levels more in line with other G7 countries. However, assumed Prime Minister in-waiting, Keir Starmer has said that anyone expecting Labour to “quickly turn on the spending taps” will be “disappointed”.

Business for Scotland reacts to Humza Yousaf’s first Programme for Government

Today, Humza Yousaf lays out his first Programme for Government since taking over as leader of the SNP and First Minister. Yousaf, who ran for leadership on a platform of continuity and synergy with the previous administration, has stated that he hopes to reset his government’s relationship with the business community. Business for Scotland has defined the Scottish Government relationship with business after years of strained and lackluster engagement as desperately in need of a complete root and branch overhaul.

20 minute neighbourhoods - a guide to local living

In April this year, the Scottish Government published a consultation paper titled ‘Local living and 20 minute neighbourhoods’. The paper lays out the Scottish Government’s plans to introduce ‘20 minute neighbourhoods’ in an effort to increase access to services, reduce carbon emissions, rejuvenate local economies and improve physical and mental wellbeing.