SNP Manifesto 2019

STRONGER FOR SCOTLAND
The best way forward is to stop Brexit and escape
from the chaos. If that isn’t possible, SNP MPs will
always act to protect Scotland’s place in the single
market and customs union.
The Tories have placed uncertainty upon Scottish
businesses resulting in the Scottish economy
already being £3 billion smaller than it would have
been without the Brexit vote. Having got us into
this mess, Westminster must give firms the legal,
accounting and technical advice they need to
continue doing business.
SNP MPs will therefore press for a fit-for-purpose
support service for small and medium sized
businesses, to help firms navigate Westminster’s
Brexit mess.
Whilst Scotland has a strong labour market,
crippling Brexit uncertainty is putting jobs at risk. To
lower the cost of employment at this time, SNP MPs
will back a rise in the National Insurance discount
businesses receive – the Employment Allowance –
when they increase employment from £3,000 per
business per year to £6,000 per business per year.
Increasing Productivity
Despite Westminster’s Brexit mess, Scottish
firms continue to export more and more to the
world. Scottish business is not standing still and
Westminster must now do its part by supporting
measures to boost productivity.
SNP MPs will press the UK Government to introduce
fit for purpose sector deals – including manufacturing
– focussed on supporting productivity improvements
right across the economy.
A key lever of improving productivity comes
from city and region deals which can improve
connectivity, innovation and productivity. However,
Westminster has underfunded Scottish deals to
the tune of £400 million – failing to match the
level of investment being made by the Scottish
Government. SNP MPs will demand the UK stops
short-changing Scotland on city and region deals,
urge the UK Government to deliver for all of
Scotland through an early agreement to deliver
Growth Deals for those areas of Scotland yet to
receive them, and make up the shortfall in their
investment in existing deals.
We support the call from the Shetland Islands, the
Orkney Islands and the Outer Hebrides for a much
more ambitious Islands Growth Deal which will allow
the tremendous potential of the Islands to be realised.
The SNP will continue to lead the campaign
to ensure Westminster protects the funding
Scotland has benefited from through EU Structural
and Social Funds. We will stand up against the
Westminster power-grab and demand that the roles
of the Scottish Government and Scotland’s local
authorities in dispersing these funds is protected,
so they are invested in Scotland’s priorities not
Westminster’s.
Boosting Infrastructure and Investment
Investment in modern physical and digital
infrastructure is vital to a thriving, productive economy
in the 21st Century. In Government, the SNP has
recognised this through the National Infrastructure
Mission which will see an additional £7 billion invested
in Scotland over the period to 2026.
The creation of the Scottish National Investment
Bank will provide £2 billion of long term, patient
capital to businesses and infrastructure projects
that will help transform the Scottish economy and
reduce our carbon emissions.
To ensure public projects serve the public
interest we are currently conducting work on the
establishment of a National Infrastructure Company
– an idea that puts fair working conditions at the
heart of public infrastructure projects.
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