Russell Findlay has accused John Swinney of snubbing Scotland’s struggling pubs following exchanges at First Minister’s Questions.
The SNP leader rejected the offer to meet with the Scottish Conservative leader and top businessman Sir Tom Hunter to discuss the worsening crisis in the hospitality sector over a pint.
Speaking after FMQs, Findlay said: “John Swinney has snubbed Scotland’s pubs – and the thousands of people who work in them.
“His refusal to join me and one of Scotland’s leading businessmen to discuss the pubs and hospitality crisis over a pint speaks volumes.
“He knows the SNP’s rates hikes are forcing pubs out of business.
“But our offer to discuss the crisis over a drink still stands. I’ll get the round in.”
Earlier, Findlay said the SNP’s failure to pass on £700 million in business rates relief since 2022, coupled with their “eye-watering” rates revaluation, was devastating the sector.
Stephen Montgomery of the Scottish Hospitality Group has accused the SNP government of “punishing” Scotland’s pubs.
Sir Tom this week described the SNP’s rates revaluation as “not fit for purpose”, adding: “Let’s ban every government minister and the rates assessor from their local pub until the business rates are fixed.”
Scottish Conservative leader Russell Findlay said: “Pubs are closing in Scotland at the rate of one every single week.
“A survey this week revealed that one in seven pub owners are thinking of calling time for the last time.
“John Swinney must act now to stem the tide of pub closures.
“My party is campaigning for 100 per cent rates exemption for all small and medium-sized hospitality businesses.
“But John Swinney has rejected our calls – so more jobs will go and more communities will lose their pubs.
“Scotland’s pubs are in the eye of a perfect storm from two anti-business governments.
“Labour is hammering them with a crippling jobs tax in the form of National Insurance increases, while the SNP fails to provide lifeline financial support through rates relief.
“And now they’re reeling after being hit with eye-watering new rates bills.
“One Glasgow pub has seen a rise of 576 per cent due to the SNP’s rates revaluation.
“These increases are inexplicable, unfair and will cost jobs.
“John Swinney must halt these devastating new tax rises or he will be calling last orders on Scotland’s pubs.”
Notes to editors
The Scottish Conservatives launched a campaign to pause the business rates revaluation process in December. We held a press conference with business groups from across Scotland in December 2025 calling for a pause in the non-domestic rates revaluation process that has hiked the rateable values of Scottish businesses. (Scottish Conservatives, 17 December 2025, link).
The Scottish Conservatives launched a Save our Pubs campaign earlier this week. The main call of our campaign is to exempt hospitality businesses from paying rates relief entirely for all companies with commercial property valued up to £100,000. (Scottish Conservatives, 2 February 2026, link).