First Minister John Swinney is expected to unveil his new Programme for Government when Holyrood returns from summer recess in a few weeks. It will land as retailers continue to grapple with geopolitical uncertainty, fragile consumer confidence, and relentless cost pressures.

So what does retail want from the legislative programme?

Mr Swinney should put economic growth first, testing every measure against a simple question: will it strengthen business competitiveness and unlock private sector investment? Afterall, growth is the route to higher living standards and the revenues needed to fund public services.

A good starting point would borrow from the Hippocratic oath: first, do no harm. Don’t add to the cost crunch faced by retailers or make it harder for them to operate, invest and grow.

Scottish financial services plea for government stability

An avalanche of UK policy measures are already tightening the fiscal screws on retailers, including the Employment Rights Act and next year’s UK-wide deposit return scheme for drinks containers. Retail has already felt the swingeing rise in employers’ national insurance contributions and swathe of new packaging levies.

The........

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