Andrew Murphy claims Scottish National Party ministers' industrial strategy is a joke. Photo: Retail Week
One of Scotland's most prominent businessmen has made it his mission to launch a scathing attack on the SNP government's «head-to-head» tax policy ahead of Humza Yousaf's big speech on Monday, which will be aimed at boosting his economic profile.
< p>Andrew Murphy, the former chief operating officer of John Lewis and chairman of toy retailer The Entertainer Group, criticized SNP ministers for «secretly» introducing new business taxes and said their industrial strategy was a joke.
Mr Murphy, who co-chaired the Scottish Government's Retail Leadership Group (RILG), said it was «more than disheartening» that retailers only learned of plans for a new health tax for stores from the SNP's «fine print» last month. Budget
In an article on professional networking site LinkedIn, he wrote: “It is this kind of helplessness, secretiveness, unpredictable political nonsense that makes constructive support or advice to the Scottish Government impossible.”
Mr Murphy, who received an OBE for services to UK retail in the New Year honors list, accused Scottish National Party ministers of speaking “the language of collaboration” only to “blatantly contradict their words with their actions”.
Slamming Mr Yousaf's promise to reset the Scottish Government's business relationships, which have deteriorated badly under Nicola Sturgeon, he said: “A new deal? Everything is the same.”
Mr Murphy concluded: “Industrial strategy? I can't type from laughing.»
Humsa Yousaf will argue that independence is necessary to improve Scotland's living standards and its sluggish development. economic growth Photo: PA/Andrew Milligan
His outspoken appearance comes ahead of Mr Yousaf's major speech on Monday afternoon at Glasgow University, in which he said independence was needed to improve Scotland's living standards and sluggish economic growth.
The First Minister will argue that There is «cause for optimism» for a separate Scottish economy based on the country's «extraordinary resources» such as renewable energy, food and drink, and finance and business services.
The Scottish Government said the lecture would be the first «in a series of major economic talks» which would be «evidence-based and designed to stimulate inclusive debate about the best way forward for Scotland's economy and society».
< p>But the address was delivered at amid sharp dissatisfaction from business leaders over last month's Scottish Budget, in which Chancellor Shona Robison again increased income tax and refused to pass on business rate cuts being given to companies in the rest of the UK. .
Although she didn't mention it in her budget speech, accompanying documents also included proposals to reintroduce the healthcare levy for large retailers by the end of this year.
This would apply to large stores selling products such as alcohol and tobacco, rather than individual products sold to customers.
However, retail executives warned that stores would pass on the cost of any such levy to consumers, worsening the cost of living crisis for households across the country.< /p>'Shock Plan'
David Lonsdale, director of the Scottish Retail Consortium (SRC), posted a column on LinkedIn in which he criticized Ms Robison's «shock plan for a new arbitrary additional business tax on retail trade food.”
Mr Murphy responded by praising the “necessarily restrained article” but criticizing “another completely unannounced political statement.”
«It is incredibly sad that, despite having multiple convening bodies, Scottish retail leaders had to find out about this by delving into the fine print of the Budget,» he said.
Attacking SNP ministers' «secretive» tax announcement, he said: «They repeatedly speak the language of cooperation, strategy and consultation, but then before you can say, 'Please minister, forgive my unbridled skepticism based on the evidence of your government's action' in the past,» they came forward and publicly refuted their words with their actions.»
In August 2022, the Scottish Government appointed Mr Murphy as co-chair of a new RILG group aimed at helping the retail sector recover from the pandemic and cope with rising electricity prices. He resigned from his post in August last year.
Scottish Financial Enterprise, the trade body representing the country's lucrative financial services industry, also praised Mr Lonsdale's article and warned that Ms Robison's budget «undermines prospects for growth and investment.»
«Independence essential»
Forthcoming what Mr. Yousaf will say in his speech: “There will be those who will never support independence. This does not mean that these people should be fired. Not at all. There is much to learn from the opposite point of view. And we can still participate even if we disagree, with respect.»
Arguing that independence is “urgent”, the First Minister is expected to say: “Because independence, and in particular the powerful combination of independence and EU membership, will enable us to improve living standards. That doesn't mean we need to shout louder for independence.»
Highlighting Scotland's economic strengths, he will say: «Our long-standing capabilities in renewable energy, advanced technology, food and drink, life sciences, creative industries, finance and business services are recognized throughout the world.»
A Scottish Government spokesman rejected Mr Murphy's attacks on plans to levy a health tax, saying: “This announcement in the Scottish Budget signals ministers' intention to explore the possibility of reintroducing additional health supplements for major retailers ahead of the next Budget.
“As part of this research work, representatives of the retail sector and other relevant stakeholders will be consulted.”
Mr Lonsdale said: “We were shocked to read in the Scottish Budget that ministers are actively considering introducing an additional tax on retailers.
“The SRC played a constructive role in the Scottish Government's New Deal for business groups, but the way we learned about this possible new tax, quite true. aside from the “no surprises” element of the new agreement, not to mention promises to involve those affected in policy development.
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