How they voted

MSPs have voted by 76 to 27 in favour, with six abstentions, of a Scottish Government motion, as amended by Labour, recognising the success of Scotland’s entrepreneurial businesses, welcoming the collaborative approach to increasing and supporting entrepreneurship between the private sector and the Scottish Government, and noting the role of the public sector in supporting entrepreneurship and innovation.

A Conservative amendment, noting subdued economic growth forecast for Scotland and that Scotland’s business creation rate lags behind the rest of the UK, recognising the impact of Scotland being the “highest taxed part of the UK has on Scotland’s reputation as being open to entrepreneurs” and calling on the Scottish Government to change economic policy direction to create an environment entrepreneurship can flourish, was voted down by 28 votes for to 81 against.

A Labour amendment noting concern over the fragmentation of support for start-up businesses and calling on the Scottish Government to provide streamlined support for these, as well as noting barriers for women entrepreneurs getting support, was passed by 82 votes to 27.