Jackie Baillie, MSP for Dumbarton Constituency, has called for a transformational response to the current economic crisis that Scotland faces. This is in light of figures published today by the Scottish Government which show that Scotland’s GDP had a real terms fall of 18.9% in April and a fall of 5% in March. This is a direct result of the economic crisis caused by the Covid-19 pandemic.

Jackie Baillie has repeatedly called for a robust economic recovery plan to be created in order to help protect businesses and ensure that there are jobs for the future.

Jackie Baillie MSP said:

“The GDP figures for April highlight the dire economic state that our economy is currently in, and will be in for the foreseeable future.

“Urgent and long term action must be taken by both the Scottish and UK Governments if we aware to have any hope of surviving this period. We have already seen extensive job losses and the closure of both local and national companies.

“Any response must be centred around protecting jobs both in the short and long term and ensuring that businesses have the financial support to be able to function and prosper in the future. I want to see both the Scottish and UK Governments working together to plan the best way forward for Scotland.”

ENDS