One of Nicola Sturgeon ’s economic advisers has criticised a lack of business experience in her government and hit out at “career politicians”.
Tycoon Jim McColl said the problem is worse in Scotland and warned the country faces losing half its small and medium sized firms due to covid-19.
McColl, one of Scotland’s richest men, is the founder and chief executive of Clyde Blowers Capital.
Although he is a member of the Scottish Government’s council of economic advisers, he has been involved in a bitter dispute with the administration over a ferries project.
Interviewed by the BBC this morning, McColl was asked about the challenges faced by business as a result of the pandemic.
He said both the UK and Scottish Governments needed to focus on creating high quality jobs and invest in business and industry.
McColl said “handouts” were not the solution for businesses and instead suggested 25 year loans.
He warned: “We could lose half our small and medium sized enterprises in Scotland without help.”
Asked if there had been enough focus on manufacturing, he said: “I don’t think there’s been any real focus on that. You do see it in other European countries. Last week the Germans announced this additional support for their exporting industries. It’s things like that that we need here, that we havn’t seen either from Westminster or from the Scottish Government.”
On how long the economic recovery could take, he said: “I think it’s going to be a long time. Could be seven to ten years. But businesses will need support during that period, more support than they are getting just now.”
Asked about criticism that Ministers do not have enough understanding of business, McColl said:
“I think much of that criticism is valid, maybe more so in Scotland. There’s not the same background in business in Scottish Government. You have one or two in Westminster.
“It could do with more input from the private sector.”
He added: “There are too many career politicians now.”
Asked about the remarks, Sturgeon said: "I’ve not seen the comments but in general terms government has a range of expertise. We work very closely with business.
"We are looking to deepen our business engagement and SMEs like businesses of all shapes and sizes face a really difficult path ahead which is why the work we have talked about already is so important."
Dean Lockhart, Scottish Conservative shadow business secretary, said:
“Jim McColl is not alone - the SNP government’s own Advisory Group on Economic Recovery led by Benny Higgins also concluded that after 14 years in government the SNP does not properly engage with stakeholders in the economy.
“This SNP government’s lack of business understanding has been highlighted severely during the Covid crisis.
