Scottish Government to publish long awaited National Strategy for Economic Transformation

Kate Forbes is set to publish the government's long-awaited new National Strategy for Economic Transformation today.

The blueprint for the next decade will, the finance secretary said, "deliver the best economic performance possible for Scotland within the current constitutional constraints."

The report has been written "in conjunction" with the Advisory Council for Economic Transformation, which is chaired by Forbes, and includes business people, academics, economists and representatives from trade unions. 

A series of leaks in recent days have suggested that not all members of the council have been happy with the process.

One source told the Sunday Times that Forbes has been forced to agree to “green and other pseudo-social policies which don’t have much to do with economic growth”.

Another source said: “The central problem is Forbes is a centre-right politician in a party that is well left of centre and whose leader is in thrall to an anti-capitalist political party [the Scottish Greens].”

Speaking ahead of the launch, Forbes said: “The National Strategy for Economic Transformation offers renewed clarity of our vision for Scotland, with a ruthless focus on delivery.

“We’ve consulted with business, academia, trade unions and more to develop this strategy and it will be a collective national endeavour over the next decade to shift the dial on our economy into becoming fairer, wealthier, and greener.

“We’re still feeling the impacts of Brexit and we know that international investment will be key to mitigating these effects and growing our economy.

“Only a few months ago investors came to Glasgow and signalled that significant amounts of investment are available for the transition required by our transport, energy, and economic sectors.

“This strategy marks a step change in how we approach the economy and it will help us to deliver the best economic performance possible for Scotland within the current constitutional constraints. We want Scotland to be a more resilient and more entrepreneurial economy – in which everybody can share in our success. 

“As we look beyond the pandemic we must be ready to seize the economic opportunities that come with achieving net-zero and becoming a fairer country.”