Scottish Labour wants to give every adult a £75 pre-paid card to spend in high street stores this summer to boost retail recovery.

The economic stimulus plan also involves a 'Great Scottish Staycation' offer of a third night’s accommodation free.

Anas Sarwar, Scottish Labour leader, said it was “the largest economic stimulus plan in the history of devolution” aimed at saving the high streets and boosting the tourism industry after the Covid pandemic lockdown.

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He said the package is aimed at helping the retail and tourism sectors survive by encouraging shoppers and tourists to support their local economies, when safe to do so, and readdressing the balance following the boom for large online retailers.

The £75 could only be spend in shops and not with online retail.

Sarwar said: “Without urgent and ambitious action in towns across this country, hundreds of thousands of people face a future out of work - with empty town centres hollowing out once vibrant communities. 

“But it doesn’t have to be that way - the people of Scotland deserve a brighter future, and we have it in our power to act.

“This is bold and ambitious thinking to aid our economic recovery and get Scotland back on track.

“This scheme would invite people from across the UK to visit every corner of our beautiful country - saving jobs and creating a lifelong love of Scotland.”

The £75 card scheme would start in June and be valid for six months with any unspent cash at the end of that period would be donated to food banks. 

The Great Scottish Staycation 2021 plan would offer a ‘3rd Night Free’ Scottish Government funded subsidy of holiday accommodation across Scotland, including hotels, B&Bs and self-catering, accompanied by a ‘Scotland is open’ campaign to welcome visitors from across the British Isles.

 Any tourist travelling within or to Scotland from the British Isles in September, October and November 2021 would be eligible for the scheme - which would aim to support the anticipated green shoots of recovery in the tourism sector through the traditional off season. 

It would contribute up to £50 per person to the cost of their third night’s accommodation, capped at £100 per hotel room or £50 per person in other accommodation.