SEVENTEEN years of the SNP government “has squandered Scotland’s economic potential and left us all poorer,” according to Labour today

Scottish Labour’s economy spokesman Daniel Johnson made the remarks after government statistics show that Scotland’s employment rate at 73.1 per cent last month continues to lag behind the 74.5 per cent UK figure.

Median pay was also found to have grown by just 4.8 per cent over the last year has compared with the 6.9 per cent seen across the UK as a whole.

Writing to the newly installed Deputy First Minister and Secretary for the Economy, Kate Forbes, Mr Johnson stated: “Our economy has been underperforming for too long and there has been a perception from business that improved economic performance is not a priority for this government.”

He went on to call for action on skills, regional development and planning to boost Scotland’s economy.

Mr Johnson said Ms Forbes had a “mountain to climb if she is to turn around this record of failure and decline.”

He said: “For 17 years the SNP has squandered Scotland’s economic potential and left us all poorer.

“The Tories have caused economic turmoil across the UK, but here in Scotland the SNP has made a bad picture worse.

“From modernising skills to promoting regional economic development to reforming planning, there is action we can and must take right now.

“Scotland is crying out for change and Scottish Labour has a plan to deliver it.”

A Scottish government spokesperson said: “Scotland is open for business and Scottish ministers are committed to working right across the economy, with both public and private partners — and constructively across parliament — to maximise the huge economic opportunities that lie ahead.”