9 November 2016

First Minister Nicola Sturgeon gave the annual lecture at the Sheffield Political Economy Research Institute on UK economic policy following the EU referendum result.

She challenged the UK government to address some of the underlying causes of the vote to leave the European Union and set out an alternative economic policy to support inclusive growth, invest in jobs and to back public services.

Ms Sturgeon said:

We need to demonstrate that being open to free trade and free movement isn’t just good for the economy as a whole. It benefits individuals and communities too. It creates, rather than curtails new opportunities for everyone.

“Austerity has already caused huge social harm and brought no economic benefit. We know that people on low incomes were more likely to vote to leave the European Union, as were areas with low employment rates. UK economic policy has just not given enough people, enough grounds for hope.

“So the Chancellor of the Exchequer needs to change course in his Autumn Statement in a fortnight to invest in the economy and support public services, offering hope for the future rather than playing on the fears of the present.”

Yesterday @NicolaSturgeon gave the SPERI Annual Lecture 2016. You can watch the First Minister's lecture in full at: https://t.co/byq3hM6lbg

— SPERI (@SPERIshefuni) November 8, 2016

While in Sheffield, the First Minister also visited to Advanced Manufacturing Research Centre. The Scottish Government plans to establish a National Manufacturing Institute for Scotland to help grow the industry and support the economy at a time of uncertainty following the result of the EU referendum.

First Minister Nicola Sturgeon tours a manufacturing hub at the University of Sheffield, Rotherham https://t.co/8B1eqCGida ?: @Peter_J_Byrne pic.twitter.com/rkcYLTsBlX

— PA Images (@PAImages) November 7, 2016

Ms Sturgeon said:

With 190,000 people are currently employed in manufacturing, accounting for 52 per cent of all of Scotland’s international exports, the Scottish Government is looking at ways to grow manufacturing and invest in skilled jobs for the future.

“We must keep supporting the sector and guard against the possible impact of leaving the single market.

“We will establish a National Manufacturing Institute for Scotland to promote continuous innovation, improve productivity and increase investment. The Advanced Manufacturing Research Centre in Sheffield is a world leading research facility that researches and resolves advanced manufacturing problems, and it is one potential model that we can learn from in developing Scotland’s National Institute of Manufacturing.”