Sturgeon refuses to reconsider lockdown timetable amid warnings night-time economy faces 'tsunami' of job losses

Nicola Sturgeon has refused to move Scotland out of lockdown more quickly despite daily Covid deaths remaining in low single figures and warnings the night-time economy faces a "tsunami" of 24,000 job losses.

The First Minister confirmed gyms, shops and tourist accommodation will reopen from Monday, while hospitality premises will be permitted to serve meals indoors and alcohol outside.

Travel limits across Scotland and with the rest of the UK will also be lifted as all of the mainland moves from the highest Level 4 restrictions to Level 3, marking the end of the lockdown imposed on Boxing Day.

Ms Sturgeon also announced that all adults will have access to twice-weekly lateral flow tests from Monday, and added that “if circumstances permit” the intention is for Scotland to move to Level 1 restrictions from Monday June 7.

It comes as latest data reveals a huge increase in youth unemployment in Scotland compared to the rest of the UK, with experts warning the figures show the impact of hospitality and retail closures - where many young people find work - is “clearly feeding through”.

According to Scottish labour market statistics released on Tuesday, 45,000 people aged between 16 and 24 are unemployed - an increase of over 50 per cent on the previous year. Meanwhile, the UK equivalent figure is just +15.6 per cent over the same period.

But Ms Sturgeon refused to bring forward a further easing of restrictions planned for May 17, including allowing pubs to serve alcohol indoors, despite only two deaths being recorded yesterday (Tuesday). The last time 10 or more deaths were recorded was March 30.

The Night Time Industries Association (NTIA) warned of an impending unemployment tsunami, with up to 24,000 jobs thought to be at risk within weeks, as a majority of struggling businesses in the industry have now run out of cash to pay furlough contributions and fixed costs.

The trade body said the Scottish Government's latest lockdown exit plan confirmed businesses will be subject to "commercially unviable levels system of restrictions" for many more months despite all financial support being withdrawn by the end of April.

Ms Sturgeon promised guidance would be published “as quickly as possible” but refused to reconsider her timetable and lashed out at some hospitality firms complaining about having to impose social distancing between customers at tables.

She said these were the same arrangements that were in place last year and accused the companies of spreading "myths" and "misleading" people that customers having to stay one metre apart was a new requirement.

Draft guidance from the Scottish Government had previously provoked alarm among hospitality venues, who claimed that having to keep customers sat at the same table one metre apart would make their businesses unviable.

Responding to Ms Sturgeon’s comments on Tuesday, industry sources accused the First Minister of “speaking like a politician” and failing to recognise that very few customers stayed one metre apart from each other at the same table when hospitality was open last year.

The Scottish Government’s position stands in stark contrast to England, where Communities Secretary Robert Jenrick wrote to local authorities cautioning them against “overzealous interpretation” of distancing rules at tables.

“It is in the public interest that local residents can socialise in a licensed and controlled environment outside, where Covid-19 risks are lower. If a disproportionate regulatory approach is taken, it risks driving residents into unregulated activity and premises which may be far less covid-secure and/or illegal,” he wrote.

While welcoming the confirmation that hospitality will be allowed to partially reopen from Monday, the Scottish Chamber of Commerce (SCC) accused SNP ministers of introducing “constraints” on businesses “without any proven scientific evidence of the need” or “any warning”.

They especially criticised a complicated new formula that makes it even more difficult for smaller businesses to admit a profitable number of customers.

The “bizarre” formula requires businesses to make a calculation of maximum occupancy using distancing rules and the space available, which the SCC says will reduce business capacity “even further”.

“That is what businesses are being asked to do now and this will increase our costs and reduce trading opportunities,” said Dr Liz Cameron, SCC chief executive.

Meanwhile, the Federation of Small Businesses (FSB) warned there is a “big difference between being legally allowed to open and to trade profitably”.

Responding to Ms Sturgeon’s announcement, the Scottish Tories have repeated their calls to ease lockdown more quickly in light of positive public health data.

“While caution is important, leaving restrictions in force for longer than they are needed will only harm livelihoods and our economy unnecessarily,” said party leader Douglas Ross.

"Undue caution is killing the economy and costing jobs. We see evidence that youth unemployment is rising fast. We owe it to young people to focus on retaining jobs and creating opportunities.”

Mr Ross also demanded the SNP put an end to “confused messaging around guidelines” and give business owners “absolute clarity” to rebuild after the pandemic.