THE UK Labour government’s hike in employers’ National Insurance contributions must be ditched before it does “lasting damage” to the Scottish economy, the SNP insisted today.

SNP Employment and Investment Minister Tom Arthur warned it would cost businesses, charities and public-sector bodies an average of £850 per employee per year. 

Ahead of a Holyrood debate on the impact of their decision made in October’s UK Budget, Mr Arthur said: “This decision is hitting Scottish businesses hard.