In the Independent today:
‘Business optimism has hit its lowest level since May 2017, when Theresa May announced a snap general election, according to new research. The decline comes as key questions on the UK’s trading relationship with the EU after Brexit remain unanswered and the government ramps up preparations for no deal. BDO’s Optimism Index, which shows how businesses expect output to develop in the next three to six months, declined by 0.43 points in August to stand at 101.93.’
Meanwhile, only ten days ago, in the Scottish part of the UK, not run by the Tories, Labour or the DUP:
‘Business confidence among firms in Scotland has remained steady for a second month in a row, a survey suggests. Economic optimism stood at 9% in August, an increase of seven points on the previous month, according to the Bank of Scotland’s Business Barometer.’
Bank of Scotland’s regional director also said:
‘To see overall confidence holding firm demonstrates the continued resilience of Scottish businesses during uncertain times.’
https://www.insider.co.uk/news/bank-of-scotland-business-barometer-13166801
Could SNP government be helping in any way?
Talking-up Scotland 
Its always the SNP’s fault why didn’t the BBC pick up on this one ? 🙂
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They just can’t keep up.
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They like to drip feed the ‘horror’ stories. Today’s was the ‘boy’ calves being exported from Scotland and NONE FROM ENGLAND.
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What was it that perpetually inebriated labour lord foulkes said ,The snp are trying to make the rest of the country look bad by providing services that work and whats more they are doing it Deliberately , that was not a joke this clown actually said that to Colin Mackay on the BBC .
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Really? Think it can be found?
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Nope , I would not be interfering with the decisions they have taken to get them to where they are , just the same way Scotland would not be given any help . However I would like some screaming headlines telling us how well Scotland is doing in these hard times , but I suppose that is a good news story and Scottish MSM and opposition parties don’t want anyone to know about that !
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Hi John – apologies if I’m posting this twice – I think I pressed a key erroneously and ‘lost’ the first attempt. You asked about the quote from the drouthy Baron Ffoolkes complaining that the SNP were governing Scotland in the interests of her people “..deliberately..”.
The observation appeared in the Scotsman diary back on 12th March 2008. It was brought to the Scotsman ‘s diarist’s notice by the great John Jappy: link and diary snippet below:
https://www.scotsman.com/news/the-diary-1-1159662
By George, that’ll teach them.
IT SEEMS George “Lord” Foulkes puts his foot in his mouth more often than most of us have a cup of tea at the moment. Despite his onerous responsibilities in both the Scottish Parliament (as a Labour MSP on the Lothians list) and the House of Lords at Westminster, Lord George still seems to spend most of his time battering the Nats (as well as Vladimov Romanir) – not always to great effect.
Alba is deeply indebted to Scotsman reader John Jappy (great name, John) for bringing to our attention this exchange between the noble lord and Colin MacKay, in a recent interview on BBC Radio Scotland’s programme Scotland at Ten.
Lord Foulkes was in full flow, as ever, berating the evils of having a country run by two people whose names sound like fish. “The SNP are on a dangerous tack at the moment,” he said. “What they are doing is trying to build up a situation in Scotland where the services are manifestly better than south of the Border in a number of areas.”
A clearly bemused MacKay responded with the obvious question: “Is this such a bad thing?” “No,” replied George Lord, “but they are doing it deliberately.”
Whatever does the SNP government think it’s doing? Wantonly putting forward policies that might improve the lives of Scotland’s people? It will never catch on – not according to George Foulkes anyway.
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