GDP figures shows gap between Scotland & UK widening - Purvis (Aberdeen South & North Kincardine Liberal Democrats)

Aberdeen South & North Kincardine Liberal Democrats <info@aberdeensouthlibdems.org.uk>

GDP figures shows gap between Scotland & UK widening - Purvis

January 20, 2010 4:55 PM
Originally published by Scottish Liberal Democrats

Commenting on quarter 3 of the GDP figures, published today, Scottish Liberal Democrat Finance spokesperson Jeremy Purvis MSP said:

"These figures show that the gap between the UK and Scotland is widening. After all the First Minister's boasts this year that Scotland would outperform the rest of Britain, we need to know why on earth the gap between the UK's economy and Scotland's is getting wider.

"You could only conclude that Scotland's economy is being held back by the SNP.

"This year, manufacturing growth has plunged by almost 10 per cent. It shows that we were absolutely right to argue that the SNP has not done enough to support the manufacturing sector."

Ends.

Notes to Editors:

The Quarter 2 GDP figures, published in October 2009, showed that the annual change in UK GDP was a fall of 3.2% with Scottish GDP also falling by 3.2%. The gap had closed. This Quarter's figures, published today, show that UK GDP has fallen by 4.4%, but Scotland's GDP had fallen by 4.6%. The gap has opened up again.