The Scottish Conservative will today (Monday) officially launch a campaign to save Scotland’s struggling pubs.
Leader Russell Findlay will visit an Ayrshire-based business to demand urgent support from the SNP for the sector, otherwise it will be “last orders” for many of them.
He says that Scotland’s wider hospitality industry is on the brink of collapse after years of being hammered by the SNP's tax hikes and anti-business agenda.
The party will force a vote in Holyrood in Wednesday calling on SNP ministers to back their calls to deliver 100% rates relief for hospitality businesses with a value of up to £100,000.
Shadow business secretary Murdo Fraser will also urge Shona Robison to postpone her “catastrophic” revaluation scheme which is set to hit businesses with rate rises of up to 300% in some cases.
He is warning that if further support is not added in the SNP’s Budget, it will sound the “death knell” for many hospitality businesses.
Scottish Conservative leader Russell Findlay MSP said: "Many of Scotland’s pubs are on the brink of collapse after years of being hammered by the SNP's tax hikes and anti-business agenda.
“That is why we’re launching our important campaign to save the local pub while also demanding that the SNP deliver immediate and meaningful support for the wider hospitality sector in Scotland.
“If they fail to do so, many will be forced to call last orders, causing untold job losses and taking the life out of our communities.”
Scottish Conservative shadow business secretary Murdo Fraser said: “We will be leading a debate in Holyrood this week calling on the SNP to back our common-sense calls for ministers to deliver 100% rates relief and pause their catastrophic business revaluation scheme.
“There is still time for the SNP to do the right thing and deliver more support for hospitality businesses in their Budget before it is nodded through.
“If not, it will be the death knell for many which will devastate Scotland’s economy and cost jobs across the country.”