Speaking to trade union representatives in Glasgow today, Grahame Smith, STUC General Secretary said:
“Three days into the election campaign and the parties have completely failed to address the issues that really matter to the Scottish economy. Instead, they continue to focus on economic irrelevancies such as cutting tax on small businesses and red-tape.
“As I predicted last month, the election campaign has turned into an auction of virtue on who can come in with the biggest cuts in this respect. Sadly it comes as no surprise that the parties have failed to link proposed tax cuts to job-related investment.
“Let us be clear, the case for cutting business rates and red-tape is not based on sound empirical evidence. The international comparative evidence is clear that Scottish businesses operate in a very favourable business environment.
“The race to establish arbitrary targets for reducing red-tape is simply absurd. Regulation exists to address market failure. To set arbitrary targets for its reduction is not only illogical; it is highly dangerous to the interests of workers, communities and the environment. Any party that sets out manifesto commitments to arbitrarily cut regulation alongside commitments to safeguard Scotland’s environment is being highly disingenuous with the voters”.
“Let us hope the campaign begins to address the many serious economic challenges facing Scotland: skills and skills shortages, a declining and ageing population, an appallingly low rate of R&D investment, retaining a manufacturing base in the face of global competition and tackling the legacy of the disastrous labour market policies of the 80s and 90s that have left us with pockets of persistently high economic inactivity”.
ENDS
Notes
1 The STUC published a discussion paper ‘Challenging the Red Tape Myths’ in December last year. The paper is based on sound empirical analysis – we would encourage members of the press to use this document to challenge manifesto commitments to reduce red-tape.
Contacts
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