Russell Findlay has accused John Swinney of treating the hospitality industry with contempt after he snubbed a business owner in his constituency whose pub faces closure due to crippling SNP rates rises.
At First Minister’s Questions, the Scottish Conservative leader raised the plight of Katie Long, who was in the gallery and is desperate to meet Swinney to discuss the huge rates hike which could force her to call last orders, costing 26 jobs.
Findlay said Katie’s experience was being mirrored across Scotland, where one pub a week is closing.
He said Swinney’s refusal to meet with Katie or hospitality industry chiefs demonstrated his “high-handed treatment of this critical sector of the Scottish economy”.
The Scottish Conservatives are calling on Swinney to pause the rates revaluation, which comes into force next month and will see some businesses landed with bill rises of several hundred per cent.
Two prominent Scottish businessmen have issued stark warnings on the devastating impact the increases will have.
Lord Haughey said there could be “civil disobedience” and a mass campaign of non-payment.
Sir Tom Hunter said: “Mr Swinney, First Minister, you understand what’s going on here. And you understand the punishment. I’m going to say it today: ‘can’t pay, won’t pay’.”
Swinney declined another offer to join Findlay and Katie in a nearby bar after FMQs, and accused the Scottish Conservative leader of “posturing”.
Scottish Conservative leader Russell Findlay said: “If the SNP’s crippling rates rises go ahead on April 1, businesses will fold and jobs will be lost. This revaluation has to be paused.
“Scottish hospitality is being hit hard with pubs already closing at a rate of one a week – but John Swinney doesn’t want to know.
“Last month, I invited him to discuss Scotland’s pub crisis over a pint. He refused.
“The Scottish Hospitality Group invited Mr Swinney to its hustings. He refused. They also asked him for a meeting, but he didn’t reply.
“John Swinney’s high-handed treatment of this critical sector of the Scottish economy is disgraceful.
“I contacted him directly about Katie Long, who took on a derelict pub in his constituency and worked tirelessly to transform it into a thriving community local.
“But Katie’s rates bill has doubled – and she’s on the brink of calling last orders for the last time.
“A community would lose its local and 26 people would lose their jobs.
“Over a fortnight ago, I asked John Swinney to visit Katie’s pub, but he hasn’t even replied.
“Mr Swinney won’t go to Katie, so she’s come here.
“I’ll be going with Katie to a nearby bar to discuss the pubs crisis – and it’s deeply disappointing that John Swinney has once again snubbed the offer to join us.
“His dismissal of me raising her plight as ‘posturing’ demonstrates his utter contempt for the hospitality industry.”