In a speech to a business audience in Glasgow, the Scottish Labour leader said Labour is unashamedly a pro-business and pro-growth party, and he is determined to build an economic growth plan, first working with industry to road-test it in opposition, and then delivering it from day one in government, in tandem with the UK Government.
 
The board of independent advisers have been tasked with providing completely impartial advice to Anas Sarwar and economy spokesperson Daniel Johnson, which the party will consider as it draws up its new economic growth strategy over the coming months.
 
Paddy Lillis – Usdaw General Secretary says: “We welcome Scottish Labour’s focus on supporting business and promoting growth. It is very pleasing that Anas Sarwar has chosen to have a trade union voice on his independent panel of experts and we are obviously delighted that it is drawn from Usdaw. Karen Whitefield is hugely experienced and I know she will ensure the issues and concerns of Scottish workers will be heard in the corridors of power.
 
“Regrettably, the Tories in Westminster and SNP in Holyrood have not promoted economic growth and that has had a severe impact on business, as well as workers who are struggling to make ends meet in the cost of living crisis. Our recent survey of members, who are overwhelmingly key workers keeping the nation fed, found that over 80% say they feel worse off now than last year. So we desperately need Scottish Labour to turn around our stagnant economy to secure high-growth and better pay.”
 
Notes for editors:
 
Usdaw (Union of Shop, Distributive and Allied Workers) is the UK's fifth biggest trade union with over 350,000 members. Most Usdaw members work in the retail sector, but the union also has many members in transport, distribution, food manufacturing, chemical industry and other trades www.usdaw.org.uk
 
For Usdaw press releases visit: http://www.usdaw.org.uk/news and you can follow us on Twitter @UsdawUnion