By Lucy Ashton
The warring candidates were at it again in the latest televised leadership debate, this time filmed before a studio audience for a BBC Scotland Debate Night special.
The candidates were questioned on plans for a deposit return scheme (DRS) for drinks cans and bottles, as a small business owner said it would “cost my family business so much money we may have to close”.
Ms Forbes said small businesses needed a “bit of breathing space” as she repeated her pledge to put the DRS on hold if she becomes first minister.
In a testy exchange, she said: “I think it’s perfectly progressive to represent small businesses, because small businesses are indeed the backbone of our Scottish economy. That is not a lurch to the right, that is pretty desperate spin.”
Mr Yousaf advocated for an exemption for small businesses but found himself being laughed at by the studio audience as there are only a matter of months before the scheme is due to launch.
Ash Regan, who has backed calls for the DRS to be paused, said: “We can’t be putting too many burdens on small businesses. We need to look again at this, we need to involve small business, to come and talk to us about where it needs changed, get it right and then implement it.”
Despite mounting criticism from all quarters, Mr Yousaf insisted he would not “slag off” Lorna Slater, the Scottish Green minister responsible for bringing in the initiative.
He said small firms, such as craft breweries and gin makers, should be excluded from it for its first year but added: “I can’t see any point in pausing the scheme when the big boys, the Coca Colas, the Pepsis of this world, they are already taking part in about 40 DRS schemes across the world.
On Twitter, Scottish Conservative chairman Craig Hoy said: “The sound of the buck being passed is deafening. From the NHS to DRS, the SNP leadership candidates are running away from their own record.”
Party colleague Jamie Halcro Johnston added: Hi @_KateForbes. Not sure I’ve heard any impacted business in the Highlands (or Islands) describe the disastrous DRS in such polite terms. Most are absolutely furious and many are terrified of its impact. You’ve been a minister while it’s been rolled out and said nothing.”
Greens are ‘delaying road upgrades’, says Ash Regan
Meanwhile, Ms Regan said she was keen to work with all pro-independence parties – including the Scottish Greens.
She said she had not managed to talk to them as yet, as she suggested the deal which brought them into power in the Scottish Government could be reviewed.
Mr Yousaf said the Bute House Agreement had been backed by SNP members but Ms Regan told him: “I would like to go back to the members, I would like to have a review and a discussion with members to see does it still work?
“Is it working for the SNP? Is it working for the wider public? Are we delivering what we need to do for the wider public?”
Ms Regan also suggested the coalition deal could be impacting plans to dual roads such as the A9, saying: “The Greens have other priorities.”