Scottish Lib Dems focus on care and agriculture in manifesto

There’s a reminder from the Lib Dems of how much
Westminster employment law applies to Scotland, with extensive plans to change
it.

Some Lib Dem plans go further than Labour plans, which is frustrating to Labour’s trade union affiliates.

The two parties’ manifestos reflect the difference between a party
cautiously planning on being in power, and a party which sees itself
pushing and influencing ministers from the opposite side of the Commons.

The more distinctive policies include several measures to
reduce the precarious nature of “gig”, or self-employed contractor, work.

The Lib Dems would like to enact a 20% premium on minimum hourly pay rates for
workers on zero-hour contracts, with a right to ask for a contract after 12
months.

They argue for fairer tax and allowances between employed
and self-employed people, and pensions and sick pay for such dependent
contractors.

They argue also for a radical re-working of company law,
requiring firms to re-direct their purpose to society and the
environment, as well as to shareholders. That could have far-reaching
implications.

Poor productivity, one of the key challenges for the UK
economy, would be addressed with improved incentives to invest in training,
recognising also that the next government will have to tackle the regulation of
artificial intelligence.

Plus, there’s the idea of “reviewing the UK excise duty
structure to better support whisky exports”.

That may prove difficult, as
UK excise does not apply to exports.