Humza Yousaf has been urged to ditch “the familiar SNP playbook of deceit and spin” after starting his reign as First Minister by telling “a whopping economic lie”.
During his first outing at FMQs, the new SNP leader claimed that, under Nicola Sturgeon, Scotland’s GDP grew more than the UK’s.
But the Scottish Conservatives can today expose the claim – made, ironically, as he sought to refute criticism of the economic illiteracy of his cabinet – as completely false.
Official figures show that, between 2014 and 2021, Scotland’s GDP grew by 12.72%, while the UK’s grew by 21.87% over the same period.
During the same FMQs session, the new First Minister also, wrongly, sought to pin the blame for Scotland’s international football matches not being shown on free-to-air TV on the UK Government – a story splashed on the front of today’s Scottish Sun.
Shadow economy minister Douglas Lumsden says Humza Yousaf’s “cavalier attitude to the truth” on day one was a depressing portent that the trademark SNP spin and secrecy was here to stay.
Scottish Conservative shadow economy minister Douglas Lumsden MSP said: “It doesn’t bode well that Humza Yousaf has been caught out telling a whopping economic lie during his first outing at FMQs.
“It’s demonstrably untrue that GDP grew more in Scotland than in the UK during Nicola Sturgeon’s time in office – so he must apologise for, and withdraw, his misleading claim.
“He’s either intent on following his predecessor’s liking for misleading stats – we all recall ministers’ repeated fib about Scotland’s wind power capability – or he and his government really are as economically illiterate as their internal SNP critics claim.
“This wasn’t the only example of Humza Yousaf’s cavalier attitude to the truth at FMQs. There was also his absurd attempt to blame the UK government for Scotland football matches not being shown live on free-to-air TV.
“If the new First Minister wants to overcome the perception that he’s just a poor imitation of Nicola Sturgeon, he needs to ditch the familiar SNP playbook of deceit and spin immediately.”
Notes
At his first FMQs, Humza Yousaf said Scottish GDP grew more than UK GDP under Nicola Sturgeon and John Swinney. He said: ‘Let me remind him [Douglas Ross] of course that under the SNP, under Nicola Sturgeon, under John Swinney, and I’m pleased to be building on this legacy, that Scottish GDP grew more than UK GDP.’ (Scottish Parliament, 30 March 2023, link).
Scotland’s GDP grew by 12.72% between 2014 and 2021. Scotland’s GDP stood at £160.594 billion in 2014 and grew to £181.018 billion in 2021. This is a growth rate of 12.72%. (Scottish GDP Quarterly National Accounts, Table 10, 1 February 2023, link).
The UK’s GDP grew by 21.87% between 2014 and 2021. The UK’s GDP was £1,862.827 billion in 2014, rising to £2,270.246 billion in 2021. This is a growth rate of 21.87% during that time. (ONS GDP quarterly national accounts, A2 AGGREGATES, 31 March 2023, link).