Tories launch campaign to save Scotland's pubs after being 'hammered' by SNP over tax and policies
The Scottish Conservatives are putting the SNP under pressure over support for pubs.
The Scottish Tories have launched a campaign to save Scotland’s pubs after “years of being hammered by the SNP's tax hikes and anti-business agenda”.
Russell Findlay, the Scottish Conservative leader, will today demand urgent support from the Scottish Government to the pubs sector when he visits an Ayrshire-based business today.
Mr Findlay, an MSP for the West of Scotland region, has argued that Scotland’s wider hospitality industry is on the brink of collapse after struggling by what he claims is tax increases and anti-business policies brought forward by SNP ministers.
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The Scottish Conservative will force a vote in Holyrood on Wednesday, calling on SNP ministers to back the opposition party’s calls to deliver 100 per cent rates relief for hospitality businesses with a value of up to £100,000.
Mr Findlay said: "Many of Scotland’s pubs are on the brink of collapse after years of being hammered by the SNP's tax hikes and anti-business agenda.
“That is why we’re launching our important campaign to save the local pub while also demanding that the SNP deliver immediate and meaningful support for the wider hospitality sector in Scotland.”
He added: “If they fail to do so, many will be forced to call last orders, causing untold job losses and taking the life out of our communities.”
Scottish Conservative business spokesperson, Murdo Fraser, will also urge SNP Finance Secretary, Shona Robison, to postpone her “catastrophic” revaluation scheme which is set to hit businesses with the party claiming rate rises of up to 300 per cent could take place in some cases.
Mr Fraser is warning that if further support is not added in the SNP’s draft Budget, it will sound the “death knell” for many hospitality businesses.
He said: “We will be leading a debate in Holyrood this week calling on the SNP to back our common-sense calls for ministers to deliver 100% rates relief and pause their catastrophic business revaluation scheme.
“There is still time for the SNP to do the right thing and deliver more support for hospitality businesses in their Budget before it is nodded through.
“If not, it will be the death knell for many which will devastate Scotland’s economy and cost jobs across the country.”
In the Budget, Ms Robison announced a 15 per cent relief for retail, hospitality and leisure businesses worth less than £110,000 for the three-year duration of the revaluation.
Last month, Chancellor Rachel Reeves announced 15 per cent relief for pubs south of the border as part of a £300 million package for the sector.
Ms Robison said the Scottish Government would “provide even further support” for the sector in Scotland if extra funding becomes available, though no announcements have been made about changes.
A Scottish Government spokesperson said: “Our draft Budget for 2026-27 sets out a competitive non-domestic rates relief package worth an estimated £864 million that could benefit 96 per cent of retail, hospitality and leisure businesses.
“An independent review of the valuation of licenced hospitality properties is being commissioned and will report by the end of this year with recommendations considered for 2029 revaluations.”
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