The Scottish Government’s new action plan, A Manufacturing Future for Scotland, is a welcome improvement on earlier papers. But it omits the key role of political leadership and of sustained funding via the financial sector. Above all, SG ministers need to mount an effective campaign against the follies of #Brexit.
George Osborne’s anti-industrial strategy
The Chancellor claimed in his recent autumn statement to be wholly committed to continuing the previous coalition government’s industrial strategy. But on at least three counts he’s plainly misleading the public.
Reshoring Scotland: the case for a manufacturing revival
In announcing her Programme for Government at the start of this month, the First Minister committed to publishing a Manufacturing Action Plan for Scotland in the autumn. But it begs the question: what does manufacturing require that isn’t already covered in the lengthy Government Economic Strategy published only six months ago?