English Labour doesn't understand how to achieve economic growth for Scotland

Published in the 17th February edition of the Edinburgh Evening News, I wrote this in response to Ian Murray’s Thursday column where he claimed “Scottish Labour is going all-out for growth.” Of course he doesn’t understand the first thing about economic growth or how to achieve it. If he did, he’d repudiate austerity and Brexit because they’re accelerating the UK’s economic decline.

I hope people can see through Ian Murray’s latest weasel words about ‘growth’ and English Labour’s supposed commitment to generating it without spending any more money while remaining outside the Single Market. He’s identified 3 growth areas in Scotland– the green economy, tech and financial services, and Brand Scotland. 

Let’s take each in turn. Despite publicly claiming over 300 times that English Labour would stick to its £28 billion green spending pledge, it finally caved last week. There won’t be any money from Rachel Reeves. She’s deftly painted herself into a fiscal corner. But it won’t stop Labour’s plundering of Scotland’s renewable energy, from which hundreds of billions flow to our southern neighbour.

Regarding tech and financial services, Labour’s warm embrace of the City of London will ensure it retains its pole position as chief money launderer to the world’s criminal cabals, with Edinburgh as its northern satellite. Starmer and Reeves have ardently wooed bankers and chief executives and raked in donations. One City lobbyist revealed that “Labour leaders have spent more hours with business than they have in schools and hospitals.”

Brexit, which Labour backs, has pummeled Brand Scotland, our food, drink, creative and tourism industries. We’ve lost more than £3b a year in public revenues. Food prices are at a 45-year high with Brexit responsible for a third of the increase. Nearly half of Scottish businesses cite Brexit as the main cause of trading problems. Chronic staff shortages in hospitality and agriculture are the result of the loss of freedom of movement. 

So you’re wrong, Ian. Breaking up the UK is the only way to deliver more growth for Scotland.