Economic austerity across Scotland and the rest of the UK will last for at least another eight years, the Prime Minister has warned.

David Cameron stated in a newspaper interview on Thursday that he believed his government’s cuts programme will continue until 2020.

In the interview with the Daily Telegraph, Mr Cameron made the stark warning after it was confirmed Scotland had followed the rest of the UK into a double dip recession.

The country's economy has shrunk by 0.1% in the first three months of the year, returning the country to recession along with the rest of the UK.

On Scotland Tonight business commentator Alf Young said that many in the country must now be wondering when the economic uncertainty will end.

He argued that the double dip for the Scottish economy was not disastrous, although it could hamper businesses’ confidence in the future.

Colin Borland, head of external affairs of the Federation of Small Businesses in Scotland, said that help is needed from both the Scottish and UK Governments to rejuvenate the flagging economy.

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