Lack of growth in UK’s latest GDP figures ‘deeply alarming’, says Swinney

Scotland’s First Minister John Swinney has described recent UK-wide GDP (gross domestic product) figures as “deeply alarming”.

The Office for National Statistics (ONS) released statistics on Monday showing no growth in the UK economy between July and September of this year.

The agency also revised down the growth in the second quarter of this year from 0.5% to 0.4%.

Speaking to the PA news agency on Monday, Mr Swinney criticised the UK Government for “mistakes” that were made which led to growth stagnating.

“The data that has come out today about the performance of the UK economy in the last quarter is deeply alarming,” he said.

“There’s been an absence of growth and that’s going to be added to by the decisions taken in the UK Budget, when the Chancellor decided to increase employers’ national insurance contributions, which is, bluntly, a tax on jobs.

“So, I’m really worried about what that decision will mean for the future prospects of the economy.”

The Scottish Government’s recent budget, which was outlined earlier this month by Finance Secretary Shona Robison, was aimed at making Scotland an “attractive place for investment”.

“But fundamentally, I am worried about the economic outlook that the Labour Government has taken forward because of some mistakes that were made in the budget about increasing employer national insurance contributions and the implications of that will be very significant for Scotland,” he added.

Reacting to the figures, Chancellor Rachel Reeves said in a statement the challenge faced by her Government after years of “neglect” by the Tories was “huge”.

“But this is only fuelling our fire to deliver for working people,” she added.

“The budget and our plan for change will deliver sustainable long-term growth, putting more money in people’s pockets through increased investment and relentless reform.”