New figures show that the Scottish economy is growing at less than half the rate of the rest of the UK.
The official statistics from the Scottish Government report that in the third quarter of 2017, the Scottish economy grew by 0.2%. During the same time, the UK’s economy grew by twice as much.
The figures are the latest in a period of poor economic growth for Scotland. Compared to the same quarter last year, the Scottish economy has grown by just 0.6%. The equivalent UK growth over the year was 1.7%.
Murdo Fraser MSP said:
“Scotland’s economy continues to lag behind the rest of the UK and these figures show growth is now less than half of what it should be.
“The Brexit Bogeyman, often the SNP scapegoat for weak economic performance, looks even less plausible with the release of these latest growth figures.
“The constant constitutional carping in addition to the high tax, low growth agenda pushed by the SNP continues to be the sharpest brake on Scotland’s economy.
“Without serious action, the Sturgeon slowdown looks set to continue in Scotland.”