‘Inexplicable’ sidelining of SNP’s finance gurus

ALEX Salmond has came under fire for keeping his hand-picked team of economic gurus on the “sidelines” as growth flatlined over the past year.

The Council of Economic Advisers met for the first time in 15 months yesterday, but the delay was branded “inexplicable” by Tory finance spokesman Gavin Brown.

He said: “It is critical we get the economy moving again and we need to establish why unemployment is increasing rapidly in Scotland while is decreases in Wales and Northern Ireland.”

Liberal Democrat leader Willie Rennie added: “We all appreciate the efforts of the members of the Council of Economic Advisers. It is unfathomable why the SNP have kept them on the sidelines for more than a year.”

Mr Salmond said the council will help plan for a boost in overseas trade and focus on expanding export markets.

The First Minister said companies have confidence in the economic direction of Scotland.

He said: “Scotland is a better bet in every respect than the United Kingdom, We have a lower debt ratio to GDP, we’ve got a stronger fiscal balance.”

The council includes Nobel prize-winner Professor Joseph Stiglitz, a former World Bank chief economist and ex-Scottish Enterprise chief Crawford Beveridge.