New figures highlight SNP economic success.
The SNP Government’s mission to create jobs and support Scotland’s businesses is working, according to recently published figures.
The Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales, which collects data on business confidence across the UK, published its latest report on the final quarter of 2024 at the end of January. The results were striking – with business confidence across the UK declining significantly after the UK Government’s disastrous decision to hike Employers’ National Insurance Contributions.
Figures showed the UK average settling at +0.2 – while in Scotland, under the SNP, business confidence remains high, and well above the UK average, at +13.1.
Under the leadership of John Swinney, Scottish businesses are the most confident in the UK about their prospects. The ICAEW cited strong export growth and domestic sales as a key factor behind this confidence, as well as faster growth in capital investment than other parts of the UK.
Indeed, the approach of the Scottish Government has meant that Scotland saw a record number of Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) projects secured in 2023. This confirmed Scotland’s position as the top performing area of the UK outside of London – for a ninth consecutive year.
The SNP Government also supports small businesses by investing over £320 million in the Small Business Bonus this year, helping local high streets in the face of changing consumer behaviour. This scheme of small business support is the most generous anywhere in the UK.
Locally in Angus, the SNP-led Council has committed to re-joining the local Chamber of Commerce to further boost ties with businesses and promote growth.
Angus unemployment more than halves
Recently published figures also show the impact of SNP Government decisions on the unemployment rate here in Angus.
According to the Scottish Government’s Sub-Scotland Economic Statistics Database, which measures economic statistics across regions and local authorities, unemployment in Angus has more than halved since 2007, when the SNP first took office.
Unemployment sat at 5.4% of the Angus population in 2007, peaking at 8% in the aftermath of the Financial Crash. Today, that number is 2.5% – less than half of the 2007 figure.
These figures clearly demonstrate the benefit of decisions being made in Scotland, for Scotland.
GRAEME
We are investing to stimulate growth and attract more capital investment, particularly in the renewables space. Under John Swinney, the focus of the SNP will continue to be building a more prosperous Scotland.
Of course, there is so much more we can do – with the full powers of independence and unrestricted access to the European market, we could harness Scotland’s vast resources to accelerate this progress.
