SNP chief Humza Yousaf plots four-day week for civil servants in Scotland regardless of warnings it’ll blow a £2.5bn gap in budgets – with Holyrood already operating a HUGE deficit and spending way more per particular person than England

Humza Yousaf will unveil plans to pilot a four-day working week in proposals being derided as a ‘fantasy’.

The First Minister is anticipated to stipulate the concept in his Programme for Authorities tomorrow, in a bid to maneuver on from the U-turns which have outlined his first six months within the job.

However critics have warned that the plan, which was touted by his predecessor Nicola Sturgeon, would ‘blow a £2.5billion gap’ in his finances.

Regardless of big challenges going through the Scottish Authorities, Mr Yousaf is anticipated to inform MSPs there will probably be a 12-month trial inside components of presidency, with the goal of rolling it out throughout the general public sector.

Tory finance spokesman Liz Smith stated: ‘Humza Yousaf resides in a fantasy land if he thinks this ridiculous plan is possible at a time when our economic system is lagging behind the remainder of the UK, our NHS is on its knees and councils are having their budgets savagely lower.

Humza Yousaf will unveil plans to pilot a four-day working week in proposals being derided as a ‘fantasy’

Mr Yousaf is anticipated to inform MSPs there will probably be a 12-month trial of a four-day working week inside components of presidency

‘The SNP are trying to idiot voters with fantasy economics… urgent forward with this unworkable plan would blow a £2.5billion pound gap within the Scottish Funds yearly.’

Official figures launched final month confirmed that Scotland’s theoretical deficit was £19billion in 2022-23 – almost double the UK’s as a share of GDP.

Expenditure north of the border was £19,459 for each resident – £2,217 greater than within the nation as a complete.

Revenues have been £696 greater than the UK common in 2022-23, that means that the web ‘dividend’ was £1,521. 

The SNP identified the 9 per cent deficit was down from 12.3 per cent the earlier 12 months, however the revered IFS think-tank burdened that the development was right down to spiking oil and fuel costs. 

Unionists stated the figures confirmed there was ‘no constructive case’ for breaking apart the UK, and staying collectively was a greater method of defending faculties and hospitals than counting on ‘the intense volatility of North Sea oil’.     

Forward of his Programme for Authorities speech, Mr Yousaf stated: ‘Our give attention to boosting financial progress will allow us to take a position extra in anti-poverty measures and assist our important public providers, defending probably the most weak in society and elevating the usual of dwelling for everybody.’

Deputy chief of the Scottish Tories, Meghan Gallacher, stated the SNP’s ‘independence obsession means many guarantees made in final 12 months’s Programme for Authorities haven’t been achieved’.

She added: ‘From schooling, to well being and housing, the SNP-Inexperienced Authorities are letting down the individuals of Scotland on their actual priorities.’

Since succeeding Ms Sturgeon, Mr Yousaf has delayed or ditched swathes of insurance policies, together with the Deposit Return Scheme, a deliberate fishing ban in some areas and a bid to outlaw alcohol promoting.

There have additionally been 27 damaged guarantees that his Authorities have didn’t ship on since saying them in final 12 months’s Programme for Authorities.

They embody a dropped pledge for an schooling reform invoice, the shortage of a housing invoice and never eradicating the longest waits for sufferers caught within the NHS backlog.