“A second national lockdown would be devastating for Scotland’s economy, so it’s only right that the First Minister has prioritised bringing infections under control.
“But there can be no escaping the fact that earlier closing times for Scotland’s pubs, cafes and restaurants will be a bitter pill for a sector already hugely impacted by the crisis. With prolonged remote working also looking likely, there will undoubtedly be a cost to our city centre economies.
“There must now be a new plan to support businesses this autumn. This should start with a successor to the Job Retention Scheme and allowing cash-strapped businesses to defer their VAT payments from the last quarter – a no-brainer given this latest blow to our economy.
“The Scottish and UK governments must work together to do everything they can to protect viable firms and jobs in the coming weeks and months.”