Scotland is just 'one bad Budget away from losing our high streets'

Retail chief's stark warning for SNP Ministers

- BY DAVID WALKER Scottish Politics Reporter

Retail crisis... High business rates are crippling businesses in Scotland

SNP MINISTERS have been handed a stark warning about the future of Scotland's high streets if they fail to hand over cash from the UK Government.

The Scottish Government has repeatedly failed to offer the same business rates relief that is offered to shops south of the border, despite receiving the equivalent funding via the Barnett Formula.

A total of £650million of taxpayers' cash has been earmarked for shops in recent years but this has been swallowed up to pay for other policies, such as benefits.

It has left businesses struggling with higher taxes and led to hundreds of closures, and some town centres with more vacant signs than open premises.

Now there are fresh calls from the business sector for urgent help from Finance Secretary Shona Robison, right, when she announces the Scottish Budget in January.

David Lonsdale, Director of the Scottish Retail Consortium (SRC), warned that "we're one bad [Scottish] Budget away from losing our high streets as we know them".