The SNP were today criticised for causing a £1.1 billion ‘economic performance gap’ with the rest of the UK.
At First Minister’s Questions, the Scottish Conservative leader Russell Findlay cited analysis from the independent Scottish Fiscal Commission showing that SNP tax rises generate £1 billion less than they ought to because of slow economic growth.
SNP tax hikes should result in £1.7 billion for the Scottish Budget, but, in reality, only just over £600 million is raised because of what the fiscal experts call an economic performance gap with the rest of the UK.
Over the last 10 years, the economic performance gap with the rest of the UK adds up to £5.4 billion.
Scottish Conservative leader Russell Findlay said: “The SNP’s economic incompetence is costing Scotland a fortune.
“The Nationalists’ anti-business policies have created a billion-pound black hole because of the economic performance gap with the rest of the UK.
“It’s scandalous that over the last 10 years, the SNP’s failure to keep up with the rest of the UK has cost Scotland around £5.4 billion.
“The SNP have raised taxes on Scottish workers to pay for their own blunders and incompetence.
“John Swinney’s government has made it even worse by wasting billions of pounds of taxpayers’ money on the endless ferry scandal, a National Care Service that treats no patients, a one-billion pound Barlinnie with bird and bat boxes, and an annual benefits bill that will soon top £9 billion.
"Unbelievably, Labour have looked at the SNP’s economic record and decided to copy them. Rachel Reeves is shafting businesses, workers, farmers and the oil and gas industry.
“Labour have already raised National Insurance but there are even higher bills to come. The Spending Review signals a return to tax and spend. It’s a spend-now-tax-later budget.”
Notes
The SNP’s failure to grow Scotland’s economy has cost public services more than £1 billion in this year alone. Recently published figures from the Scottish Fiscal Commission state that in 2025-26, the ‘economic performance gap’ between Scotland and the UK is £1.058 billion. Since 2016-17, this economic performance gap adds up to £5.432 billion. (Scotland’s Economic and Fiscal Forecasts May 2025, Figure S4.9, 29 May 2025, link).
The Scottish Fiscal Commission report is here: https://fiscalcommission.scot/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/Scotlands-Economic-And-Fiscal-Forecasts-May-2025-Summary.pdf