Scotland first minister Humza Yousaf to unveil plans to trial four day working week despite critics calling the idea a ‘fantasy’
- Critics warned the plan would ‘blow a £2.5billion hole’ in Mr Yousaf’s budget
- The First Minister is expected to tell MSPs the trial will take place over 12 weeks
Humza Yousaf will unveil plans to pilot a four-day working week in proposals being derided as a ‘fantasy’.
The First Minister is expected to outline the idea in his Programme for Government tomorrow, in a bid to move on from the U-turns that have defined his first six months in the job.
But critics have warned that the plan, which was touted by his predecessor Nicola Sturgeon, would ‘blow a £2.5billion hole’ in his budget.
Despite huge challenges facing the Scottish Government, Mr Yousaf is expected to tell MSPs there will be a 12-month trial within parts of government, with the aim of rolling it out across the public sector.
Tory finance spokesman Liz Smith said: ‘Humza Yousaf is living in a fantasy land if he thinks this ridiculous plan is feasible at a time when our economy is lagging behind the rest of the UK, our NHS is on its knees and councils are having their budgets savagely cut.
Humza Yousaf will unveil plans to pilot a four-day working week in proposals being derided as a ‘fantasy’
Mr Yousaf is expected to tell MSPs there will be a 12-month trial of a four-day working week within parts of government
‘The SNP are attempting to fool voters with fantasy economics… pressing ahead with this unworkable plan would blow a £2.5billion pound hole in the Scottish Budget every year.’
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Ahead of his Programme for Government speech, Mr Yousaf said: ‘Our focus on boosting economic growth will enable us to invest more in anti-poverty measures and support our vital public services, protecting the most vulnerable in society and raising the standard of living for everyone.’
Deputy leader of the Scottish Tories, Meghan Gallacher, said the SNP’s ‘independence obsession means many promises made in last year’s Programme for Government have not been achieved’.
She added: ‘From education, to health and housing, the SNP-Green Government are letting down the people of Scotland on their real priorities.’
Since succeeding Ms Sturgeon, Mr Yousaf has delayed or ditched swathes of policies, including the Deposit Return Scheme, a planned fishing ban in some areas and a bid to outlaw alcohol advertising.
There have also been 27 broken promises that his Government have failed to deliver on since announcing them in last year’s Programme for Government.
They include a dropped pledge for an education reform bill, the lack of a housing bill and not eradicating the longest waits for patients stuck in the NHS backlog.
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