Anas Sarwar: Muscatelli report will stop Scottish politics being an ‘economics-free zone’

Anas Sarwar will today vow to “push power out” of Holyrood and into communities under a Scottish Labour government.

Sarwar’s party will this morning publish a report on regional economic growth by former Glasgow University principal Professor Sir Anton Muscatelli.

Muscatelli, who is president of the Royal Society of Edinburgh, is a former advisor to Nicola Sturgeon's Scottish Government, and Labour said the findings of his report would influence its manifesto.

The paper will be unveiled at an event in Glasgow. Sarwar, a local MSP, described Scottish politics as an “economics-free zone” and said SNP policymaking has held back communities.

Marking the launch of the report, he said: “We all want to see social change driven by proper policymaking, but the truth is that we cannot have the social policies we need if we do not have a thriving and growing economy.

“Under the SNP, economic growth has been ignored and the unique potential of communities across Scotland has been held back by an Edinburgh-centric view of the economy.

“If we are to meet the challenges of the future, we need a thriving and growing economy that works for every part of the country.”

Sarwar went on: “As first minister I will end the economics-free zone at Holyrood and push power out and into our communities to empower entrepreneurs and kickstart growth.”

Economist Muscatelli was commissioned by Scottish Labour in February. He said: “In conducting this work, I have done so entirely independently, drawing on evidence, consultation and international best practice to offer recommendations that I hope will be of value to all those with an interest in Scotland’s economic wellbeing. 

“Scotland’s long-term prosperity depends on placing economic growth and productivity at the centre of public policy. 

“This report highlights the need for greater coherence in policy design, stronger collaboration between Scotland’s governments and a renewed call for the levers that lie in Holyrood to be used to foster the distinctive strengths and mitigate challenges of our regional economies.

“Economic growth is not an end, but the essential means by which we can raise living standards, sustain high-quality public services, and tackle persistent inequalities. 

“My hope is that the findings set out here will help stimulate the focused, long-term approach to economic development that Scotland now urgently requires.”