Growth takes the spotlight in election campaign

Mr Sarwar’s speech to the Prosper forum, which consisted of private, public and third sector organisations, also set out some big changes for Labour’s pitch at the Holyrood election in 2026.

These days, profit is good. Labour is “unashamedly pro-growth and pro-business”.

That includes re-thinking plans for rent controls to ensure they do not discourage investment in housing.

Mr Sarwar said increased income tax on higher earners in Scotland put the country “at a competitive disadvantage”.

He backed reform of business rates, which the retail sector in particular has been crying out for.

He also addressed problems with the planning system, which lacks staff to deal with a heavy workload, including the looming cascade of renewable energy applications.

In the forum’s discussion of the huge opportunity from renewable energy, the problems with slow and inconsistent planning kept arising. This was not just for industrial sites but for housing all those people whose new jobs are being promised.

Labour now plans a national organisation to handle planning applications, with centres of excellence on different types of application, drawing together 32 different council offices.

That may look like centralisation, but it sounds like local councillors would still retain the main role in planning decisions, once the officials have done the necessary work.

Incidentally, planners are being less pressured by applications for solar panels on industrial buildings, offices and the roofs of homes. As of last week, the rules have been significantly relaxed in Scotland.