Since his re-election, First Minister John Swinney has stressed that economic growth lies at the heart of his government’s agenda. That’s encouraging, as growth is essential if living standards are to rise and if the revenues needed to support public services are to improve.

The current lack of economic momentum is evident on our high streets. Shopper footfall has declined, while average monthly retail sales growth over the past year has been a listless 0.4%. Grocery sales have risen by just 0.1%. In stark contrast, the cost of operating a retail business has surged.

Mr Swinney has deftly reinforced his ambition with a new-look Cabinet. The most notable appointment was that of Ivan McKee who is tasked with public sector reform and delivering savings from the government’s £60 billion annual spend.

Cutting the cost of government and improving affordability is surely right. After all, the public sector has outgrown what the private sector can sustainably fund and Scotland now has more quangos than MSPs.

UK retail sales suffer the sharpest fall for almost a year

Shrinking the civil service and rationalising the number of public sector bodies is sensible. Mr McKee should........

© Herald Scotland