Kate Forbes accused of betraying small tourism and hospitality businesses as Petition to save Scottish businesses gets more than 4,100 signatures and counting!

One grant per business, rather than one grant per property, that’s the U-turn from Kate Forbes, Scotland’s Finance Minister that has the hospitality industry up in arms and trade bodies too.
She has, say the industry “betrayed” Scottish tourism and hospitality businesses by sharing cash that came from Westminister for the industry with the creative, fishing and aviation industries.

The Chancellor stated that there would be £25,000 grants for each property that retail and hospitality businesses operated with a rateable value of between £18,000 and £52,000 and the Scottish Government said initially (18tg March) it would be “replicating fully” the UK government’s scheme on which was confirmed by Nicola Sturgeon the following week.
Since then Finance Minister Kate Forbes has done a U-turn. She said, “Because there are more businesses eligible for the £10,000 grant in Scotland due to the more generous Small Business Bonus Scheme, and recognising the other business support available to cover wages, we have taken the decision to limit the £10,000 and £25,000 grants to one per business.
“This has allowed us to offer support to other important sectors, including creative industries, aviation and fishing, which are not receiving support elsewhere in the UK.”
The move, which is seen as a real slap in the face for hospitality and tourism businesses which employ more than 270,000 people in Scotland, has been met with disbelief.
Now you have a chance to have your say by supporting the petition.
The petition says, “Scottish jobs and businesses deserve the same support as the rest of the UK. The Scottish Government have made a complete U-turn on their promise to deliver their promises as Fiona Hyslop quite clearly stated that the “Government will ‘provide a £25,000 grant for hospitality, leisure and retail properties with a rateable value between £18,000 and £51,000.”
The Scottish Government has chosen to discriminate against multi-site businesses who contribute more jobs and are driving economic growth in Scotland.
It urges people to sign, saying, “Please please help us in keeping our businesses afloat, and in doing this be able to retain all our team and bring the Scottish Government to task on their actions.” Sign here http://www.change.org/p/kate-forbes-scottish-jobs-and-businesses-deserve-the-same-coronavirus-support-as-the-rest-of-the-uk?