Reaction to forecast that Moray could be Scotland's worst hit region financially
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Moray's Growth Deal has become even more significant in the light of a warning the region could be the country's hardest hit region
That's the view of the Conservative list MSP Jamie Halcro Johnston whose ward includes Moray.
The MSP has commented in the wake of a dire warning at the weekend by Scottish Government’s chief economist.
Dr Gary Gillespie stated that Moray could be the hardest hit region in the country due to the economic fallout from coronavirus and the lockdown.
Dr Gillespie stated that 47% of jobs in Moray are in industries which are at high risk – such as tourism, construction and manufacturing.
In response Jamie Halcro Johnston said: "This forecast makes extremely grim reading and will be of real concern to many local households with incomes reliant on jobs in these sectors.
"While the armed forces based in Moray provides some form of shock-absorber for the local economy, and the UK Government’s huge investment at RAF Lossiemouth continues to be vitally important, it is clear that much more needs to be done.
"The Moray Growth Deal now becomes even more significant, as does the much-heralded investment in the A96.
"But we also need the Scottish Government to start showing the same initiative the Chancellor Rishi Sunak has with his introduction of the Job Retention Scheme and other measures of financial assistance.
"SNP ministers have considerable powers and resources at their disposal, and they will have the support of the Scottish Conservatives if they recognise the need for urgency in responding to the challenges facing Scottish businesses."
The Conservative MSP added: "Unless the Scottish Government heeds the warnings of its own Chief Economist and starts doing something positive to support local jobs, many households in Moray will be facing bleak times ahead."
In June last year the Moray Growth Deal, which was jointly announced by Westminster and Holyrood, saw the region awarded £65million.
In an earlier response to Dr Gillespie's remarks, Moray's SNP representative at Holyrood stated the situation was "profoundly worrying".
Richard Lochhead said: "This alarming analysis is against a backdrop of Moray also being one of the hardest hit areas of the whole of the UK from Brexit.
"That fact strengthens the case for the current Brexit transition period to be extended beyond the end of the year to help avoid a double whammy of massive economic shocks pole-axing our local economy.
"I make a plea to UK Ministers to help Moray in our hour of need given that a bad Brexit or a no deal Brexit caused by a stubborn UK Government, unwilling to negotiate over a longer period, is the last thing our economy needs.
"A key message from this is that we need everyone in Scotland and across these islands to stick by the health advice to allow us to get through Covid-19 sooner rather than later and to minimise the extent to which a major health crisis becomes a major economic crisis.
"I will be asking all the relevant agencies and public bodies to come together soon to discuss our response to this challenge, as well making representations to the UK and Scottish Governments so we can all work together to get through this to protect jobs and realise the great potential of our local economy."
Read the news from Moray here
