More than 30 business figures have made a public commitment to support Scottish Labour leader Anas Sarwar to be First Minister.
The entrepreneurs and company owners say Mr Sarwar would be “transformational” for businesses who accuse the SNP of failing to understand the economy.
It comes after Reform UK Scotland leader Malcolm Offord claimed “every SME I speak to is voting Reform”. He said he was also being supported by key figures who were not yet ready to declare their position.
The open letter backing Mr Sarwar is backed by some well-known figures including the billionaire Easdale brothers, owners of McCall’s bus company who made a recent donation to the party.
Poonam Gupta, who owns Greenock-based PG paper with her husband Puneet, said: “Scottish Labour has a credible plan to work with the Scottish business community and drive economic growth.
“From speaking to Anas Sarwar regularly and looking at the party’s manifesto, it’s clear he understands the concerns of business and will work with us to bring success to Scotland.”
Paul McManus, who owns a range of businesses and is the drummer with rock band Gun, said: “We don’t need more talk, we need action and Anas Sarwar has a clear plan to support businesses in delivering growth.
“From abolishing business rates to making it easier for Scottish firms to bid for public contracts, he has outlined a series of measures which will help businesses create jobs and wider prosperity.”
Mr Sarwar said: “Only Scottish Labour has a coherent industrial strategy which will support business, create jobs and prosperity, grow our economy and make life more affordable.
“That has now been recognised by some of the biggest names in Scottish business. The choice we face on May 7 is more of the same or real change with Scottish Labour.
I’m standing as First Minister to fix the mess, get the basics right and build a better future for Scotland.”
Full text of letter
Dear Scotland
After 20 years of the SNP our economy needs change.
Businesses are key to a strong and thriving country. We deliver services and products that people use every day, and we support jobs and livelihoods right across the country. As well as generating revenue to help pay for public services, growing businesses create the ideas, innovation and industry that moves our country forward.
For too long Scotland has not had a government that understands the importance of industry. Economic growth will only happen if the government works together with business to drive investment and create jobs but under the SNP, policy is done to business, as opposed to designed with us.
The SNP spend more time talking about what cannot be done, as opposed to working to deliver what is possible. Scotland’s businesses need a government that works in partnership with business leaders, bringing people together to find solutions, and planning ahead to create the conditions for business to attract investment and create jobs.
That is why at this election we are backing Anas Sarwar to be the new First Minister of Scotland. Anas understands the pressures businesses face and the crucial role we play in helping renew Scotland.
He has made clear a Scottish Labour government led by him will confront barriers that are holding back Scottish businesses, from the smallest start-up to the largest corporation.
From tackling the skills crisis, to overturning the ideological block to new nuclear energy, supporting the construction industry, improving the transport system, delivering a fairer tax system and promoting Scottish exports, the plans set out by Anas Sarwar would be transformational for businesses in every part of the country.
It is time Scotland had a government and First Minister that understands the economy and actually wants our industries to succeed.
Scotland’s businesses need change. That is why we are backing Anas Sarwar as Scotland’s next First Minister and urge all other business leaders to do the same.
Signed
- Poonam Gupta
- Puneet Gupta
- Willie Haughey
- James Easdale
- Sandy Easdale
- Vijay Kumar
- Sukhuir Dhillion
- Charles Quinn
- Jarnal Singh
- Alastair Morrison
- Ryan Somerville
- Kyron Keogh
- John Sweeney
- Mary McGowne
- Julie Brown
- Donald MacLeod
- Paul McManus
- John Carrigan
- Bill McEvoy
- Abid Faqir
- John Gilligan
- Andy Smillie
- Kevin Hague
- Ewan Venters
- James Quinn
- Mike Souter
- Manjit Mooker
- Iain Wilkie
- Barrie Clapham
- Mark Hollinshead
- Raymond Hamilton
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