Sarwar: SNP has sold out Scottish industry by sending jobs and investment abroad

The SNP has sold out Scottish industry by sending jobs and investments abroad, Anas Sarwar has said.

The Scottish Labour leader has accused the party of failing to use its time in power to back Scottish businesses.

He attacked the SNP for buying buses made in China and ferries made in Turkey, rather than in Scotland, and accused the party of not having a “serious industrial strategy, or any plan to support workers in the country.

Speaking in Glasgow, Sarwar pledged to use public contracts to back Scottish jobs and reform procurement if he becomes first minister.

He promised to embed “social and economic value” in public contracts; establish a long-term procurement plan for shipbuilding; expand innovation support for Scottish firms; revamp business support and training for small and medium firms bidding for contracts; and improve data on local procurement so ministers “can no longer hide where public money is going”.

“Scotland needs change after 20 years of SNP government,” the Scottish Labour leader said.

“The SNP has failed Scottish industry and sold out Scottish workers.

“After all their rhetoric, too often they have waved through contracts that send Scottish jobs, Scottish wages and Scottish opportunity out of the country.

“That is a political choice, and Scotland is paying the price.”

Sarwar told voters he is standing as first minister to “fix the mess, get the basics right, and build a better future for Scotland”.

He promised that a Scottish Labour government will build and buy more in Scotland, “so public money backs Scottish jobs, Scottish businesses and Scottish communities”.

He added: “That means changing the rules so public contracts deliver real social and economic value, giving Scottish firms certainty about future work and helping more businesses here win and deliver public contracts.

“We need a proper industrial strategy so we build more of our ferries, buses, trains, wind turbines and vital infrastructure here in Scotland.

“Under the SNP, Scotland has been weaker because ministers have failed to back our own workers and industries.

“On May 7, vote Scottish Labour on both votes for the change Scotland needs.”

Scottish Conservative business spokesman Murdo Fraser said: “The SNP have comprehensively failed Scottish industry, but Anas Sarwar is in no position to criticise, given that Labour’s failure to support business is every bit as abject.

“They broke their promise to save Grangemouth, and have taken the same hostile approach as the Nats when it comes to the oil and gas sector – something that has led to 1,000 Scottish job losses every month.

“Both Governments have piled on extra taxes and regulation that are sending businesses to the wall and costing jobs.

“Scottish industry urgently needs lower taxes and support that will boost growth, and only the Scottish Conservatives are offering a credible plan to achieve that aim.”

Scottish Liberal Democrat economy spokesperson Jamie Greene said: “Under the SNP, the Scottish economy has bounced along the bottom and jobs keep getting shipped off elsewhere.

“Still, I don’t think Scottish business will have much nice to say about the last two years of Labour government either.

“The family farm tax put Scotland’s world class produce under threat and the rise in employer’s national insurance is making it harder for firms to make ends meet.

“Whilst Labour walked away from their chance to use leverage in opposition in the recent budget; the Lib Dems fought for more rates relief for the business community.

“We don’t spout headlines just at election time. We get stuff done all year round. We will support business and grow the tax base, not erect new barriers.

“If that sounds good to you, you should back us on the peach regional ballot paper.”

Keith Brown, SNP depute leader, said: “The name Grangemouth must mean nothing to Anas Sarwar and the Labour Party – the brass neck is quite incredible, but completely typical of a desperate man utterly lacking in substance.

“Anas Sarwar and Keir Starmer sat back and did nothing while thousands of Scottish workers were cast on the scrapheap as Grangemouth and Mossmorran were shut down. Scottish workers haven’t forgotten Anas Sarwar’s broken promise to save Grangemouth and they won’t forget come May.

“Scotland’s energy workers face redundancies on an industrial scale thanks to Labour’s crippling tax on Scotland’s energy with 1000 jobs a month at risk – for Anas Sarwar to pose as the friend of Scottish industry is a kick in the teeth to workers across Scotland.

“We have heard it all before from Labour. We know what a Labour government means for Scottish industry because we see it every day at Westminster.

“In contrast, the SNP is firmly on the side of Scottish workers and an SNP majority will deliver the fresh start of independence that means our industry will no longer be held back by Westminster.”