The Scottish Retail Consortium (SRC) has released its latest manifesto, outlining its vision ahead of the 2021 Scottish Parliamentary elections planned for 6 May.

The manifesto covers the current retail industry crisis and makes suggestions to the Scottish government and parliament on how to reduce policy costs and complexity.

The recommendations included a policy moratorium of one year after the suppression of the Covid-19 virus, the introduction of the “most competitive” business tax system in the UK, and a firm timetable to lower the headline business rates poundage.

The report also argued for income and council tax policies which do not increase the cost of living for ordinary consumers, more flexible Modern Apprenticeship frameworks for retail, and reform to the Flexible Workplace Development Fund.

The SRC also suggested the introduction of a collaborative approach with retailers to tackle climate change - building on the industry's existing Climate Action plan.

The manifesto said that 13,000 retail industry jobs were lost between 2016 and 2018, and that annual industry turnover declined £3.48 billion between 2014 and 2018.

The retail industry is Scotland’s largest private sector employer according the manifesto and provides a quarter of a million jobs while paying over a fifth of business rates and accounting for one in eight new firms.

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