Commenting on statistics which show unemployment rose by 11,000 in the last quarter to 5.1 per cent, Jamie Hepburn said: “The Brexit vote caused significant economic uncertainty, threatening our economic recovery and the stability of our jobs market.”
However, the rate for the rest of Britain – which is subject to the same consequences of the vote to leave the EU – is just 4.8 per cent.
And it also emerged today that growth in Scotland for the last year was just 0.7 per cent, compared to 2.2 per cent for the rest of the UK.
Shadow finance secretary Murdo Fraser said the SNP’s “pathetic” excuses on economic mismanagement were wearing thin, and it was time for some definitive action.
He pointed out the Scottish Government had more powers than ever to boost Scotland’s economy, yet still performance lags badly behind other parts of the UK.
A record budget was also in place, he said, something backed up by the respected Fraser of Allander Institute in a blog this morning, which criticised the SNP for the “selective data” presented in its own budget.
Scottish Conservative shadow finance secretary Murdo Fraser said:
"Today's figures show that, in Scotland, unemployment is on the up and growth is lagging behind the rest of the UK.
“Coming on the back of other troubling news on the economy it makes it clear that Scotland is now suffering from an SNP slump, with the cost paid in lower jobs and growth.
“Any normal government would make it its first priority to turn this around.
“And with a raft of new financial powers at her disposal, as well as an increased budget, Nicola Sturgeon now has the tools to deliver.
"Instead, the SNP is squandering this strong platform and is today seeking to blame Brexit.
“This is the most powerful Scottish Government since devolution and yet it is says it is powerless to act.
“It is a pathetic excuse from a government which appears to have given up focusing on the day job.
"Scotland has had enough of the excuses and the grievance from the SNP - it is time it finally took responsibility and used the huge new powers at its disposal.
"Turning Scotland into the highest taxed part of the UK, and threatening a second referendum on independence will only make us suffer even more.
“The Scottish Government must now set out a fairer tax regime - and rule out a referendum threat which is only adding to the uncertainty Scotland faces.”
