Scottish and UK Governments should unite to prevent ‘jobs crisis’, says former PM Gordon Brown

The UK and Scottish governments should unite to prevent a “jobs crisis” in the coming months, Gordon Brown has said.

The former Labour leader, who was prime minister between 2007 and 2010, has called for the UK Government to put in place a targeted furlough scheme for places hit by local lockdowns, such as in Aberdeen.

Speaking at the Edinburgh International Book Festival on Friday, Mr Brown also urged the Scottish Government to ramp up its testing regime to ensure local clusters can be caught.

The two administrations should come together and end the “Punch and Judy show” between Holyrood and Westminster, Mr Brown urged, to protect jobs as the UK recovers from the pandemic.

Mr Brown said: “We should be under no illusions – the jobs crisis we are facing this autumn is unprecedented.

“This employment emergency cannot be dealt with by the Scottish Government on its own or the UK Government on its own – ‘go it alone’ policies will prevent us saving jobs.

“That is why I am urging our devolved and UK-wide governments to negotiate such a plan for Scotland.

“Neither the UK Government’s plan to end furlough outright, nor the Scottish Government’s demand to extend it in a blanket form are the best way to plan our future.”

Scotland’s Economy Secretary Fiona Hyslop wrote to Chancellor Rishi Sunak on Friday to call for a “targeted extension” of the furlough scheme for the sectors worst hit by the crisis, as well as extra support for areas forced into local lockdowns as a result of coronavirus.

Mr Brown pushed both governments to form an alliance for full employment, saying neither would be able to deliver as much alone as they would if they worked together.

“If we are to rescue the North Sea, provide equity or financial help for recovering businesses, or solve the problem of youth unemployment, we need co-ordinated action from both the Treasury and Department for Work and Pensions and the Scottish Government.

“Dealing with youth employment, for example, needs the support of the UK-wide social security system and the collection of the UK-wide apprenticeship levy and the help provided by the Scottish education and training systems. That’s why an alliance for full employment is needed.

“Leaders who pass each other like ships in the night – without ever talking to each other and often failing to acknowledge each other – are doing huge damage to our ability to deliver jobs.

“This is no time for the Punch and Judy show of Holyrood versus Westminster. We need co-operation not conflict to help Scotland through the storm.”

The former prime minister was taking part in an event at the festival with Frans Timmermans, a vice president of the European Commission.