Independence Only Way to Protect Scotland’s Economy
SNP MP for Stirling Alyn Smith has said the Tory government must perform an urgent U-turn over its reckless decision to withdraw support for jobs – after more companies in Stirling voiced fears of redundancies after the furlough scheme ends next month.
Bakery chain Greggs, which has 25,000 workers across Scotland and the UK, is the latest company to indicate it may have to cut staff hours or jobs when the scheme ends, warning “with the Job Retention Scheme planned to end in October we are taking steps to ensure that our employment costs reflect the estimated level of demand from November onwards.”
Greggs has three bakeries in the Stirling area: Springkerse, Pirnhall Services, and Thistles Shopping Centre.
It comes as a new survey revealed four in ten (42%) small and medium businesses think they will have a smaller workforce in December than they did in September, and a quarter think they might go out of business next year if there is a second wave of Covid-19.
Alyn Smith said:
“The devastating impact of the UK government’s decision to withdraw support for jobs in the middle of a pandemic is starting to hit home, and add to growing fears of job losses in Stirling, and this latest announcement from Greggs further demonstrates the reality of the UK government pulling its support from the economy.
“Boris Johnson was repeatedly warned that thousands of people could lose their jobs unnecessarily as a result of Tory cuts – and those warnings are now starting to become reality.
“The Tory government must perform an urgent U-turn, reinstate a full job protection scheme, and devolve financial powers to the Scottish Parliament so we can protect our economy,
“We shouldn’t have to wait for Westminster to act while the livelihoods of people in Stirling are on the line. If the Tories won’t act now to save thousands of Scottish jobs they will demonstrate beyond doubt that the only way to protect Scotland’s interests is to become an independent country.”
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