INDEPENDENCE IS THE ONLY WAY TO PROTECT SCOTLAND’S ECONOMY
Local SNP MP, Drew Hendry has said the Tories are “risking a winter of mass redundancies” by failing to deliver the investment and powers needed to save jobs and protect Scotland’s economy.
Mr Hendry, who has led calls for an extension to the furlough scheme, said the Chancellor has failed to deliver anywhere near the scale of investment needed to save jobs and is threatening Scotland’s economic recovery by refusing to devolve financial powers.
With the Tories also imposing an extreme Brexit at the end of the year, the Highland MP said the only way to protect Scotland’s economy was to become an independent country with full control over economic powers.
The latest ONS labour force survey revealed UK unemployment has risen to 4.1% and the number of workers in employment has fallen by almost 700,000 since March. Separately, analysis from the Scottish Government shows extending the furlough scheme by eight months could save around 61,000 jobs in Scotland.
Commenting, Mr Hendry, the SNP Shadow Business Secretary, said:
“Today the Chancellor could have put in place a plan to avoid risking a winter of mass redundancies, but instead he continues to withhold the investment and powers required to save jobs and secure a strong recovery.
“Yet again, millions of freelancers and self-employed people excluded from support have been ignored by this tory government. How exactly do they expect these people to continue to survive without money?
While any new measures are welcome, the Chancellors plan to scrap the existing furlough scheme will leave millions more without the financial support they need, especially in our vital tourism industry during the much quieter winter season. To make matters worse, the Tory Government continue to withhold powers which would enable the Scottish Government to invest in jobs and plug gaps in support.
“By withholding the investment and powers required, scrapping the Budget, and threatening an extreme Brexit, the threats from Westminster are growing. It is clearer than ever that independence is now the only way to protect Scotland’s economy.”
BACKGROUND https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/live/world-54273738
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