When First Minister John Swinney stands up tomorrow to present his programme for government we’ll know what his administration wants to do in its final year before the Holyrood election.

The economic backdrop is inauspicious with global disputes over tariffs and trade having led to a marked lowering of already tepid economic growth forecasts.

Retail is faring no better. Even before the recent geopolitical turbulence Scotland’s retailers faced challenging trading conditions with flatlining retail sales, flaccid levels of shopper footfall, and remorseless rises in statutory costs. Last month’s hikes in business rates and employers’ national insurance contributions added £200 million to Scottish retailers’ outgoings.

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It all points to a continuation of the "perma-crisis" which has impacted the industry over recent years, following Covid and the subsequent costs crunch arising from the Ukraine conflict.

This maybe isn’t the moment for grand initiatives, but pragmatic sensible interventions which recognise the imperative to protect........

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