Scottish Conservative and Unionist Craig Hoy MSP has urged the SNP government to deliver 100 per cent relief for local pubs and restaurants this week.
Craig's call comes after it was revealed that pubs in Scotland are closing at a higher rate than anywhere else in the United Kingdom.
He slammed the SNP’s failure to pass on rates relief for the last three years to pubs and restaurants provided by the previous UK Conservative government.
Craig has added that the sector has been dealt another blow with Labour’s tax-raiding Budget including their hikes in National Insurance and says this week’s Scottish Budget must give pubs and restaurants a “much needed shot in the arm.”
They added that they are the “lifeblood of the community” in South Scotland and urged people to back the Scottish Conservative campaign to save Scotland’s pubs, which the party have launched, as part of their common sense Budget proposals.
Scottish Conservative and Unionist Craig Hoy MSP said: “Pubs and restaurants across the South Scotland region are really struggling and are desperate for support from the SNP in their Budget this week.
“I am urging SNP ministers to back the Scottish Conservative plan to give pubs and restaurants across Scotland 100 rates relief for the year ahead, meaning they won’t pay any rates relief at all.
“Pubs and restaurants are closing at a higher rate in Scotland than anywhere else in the UK. I know many in South Scotland have suffered due to the shameful failure of the SNP to pass on rates relief delivered by the UK Conservative government over the last three years.
“Their struggles have now been compounded by the new UK Labour government’s tax-raiding Budget.
“Pubs and restaurants are the lifeblood of the community and need a shot in the arm. The Scottish Conservatives are on their side and the ball is in the SNP’s court. If we are to save our local pubs and restaurants, then the SNP must show some common sense and back our plan to avoid pubs and restaurants paying a penny in rates relief in the year ahead.”
Join the campaign here: https://www.scottishconservatives.com/news/campaign-save-scotlands-pubs/