THE chief executive of Glasgow Chamber of Commerce has called for the city to be released from its “Level Three island” so businesses, particularly those in the hospitality and retail sectors, can start to “repair the damage”. Stuart Patrick, speaking on yesterday’s Go Radio Business Show with Hunter & Haughey, said: “The impact of keeping Glasgow in a Level Three island and with a ban on travelling in and out of the city has been severe. For our retail and hospitality communities it is almost the worst combination yet. “You open, you are incurring costs, but the trade has been heavily reduced. You’re getting limited – albeit welcome – financial support and it is not uncommon for member businesses across the city to see the trade they have built up since April slashed in half at least and almost at a moment’s notice. They are essentially back where they started.”
The SNP will be lacking a majority in the Scottish Parliament
The Scottish National Party he was well on his way to remaining the largest parliamentary party in Holyrood on Saturday, but it looks like he will miss out on winning a majority of 129 seats in the chamber.
The pro-independence SNP won 59 of the 70 seats in the first constituency declared on Saturday evening, but was unable to take the marginal targets that were considered essential for a majority in a proportionately represented parliament.
The fourth Scottish parliamentary election victory for the SNP means it will continue in the Edinburgh government with a strong platform to push for a second referendum on UK independence.