“There are big problems facing the new Scottish Government and some of them will come to a head very quickly.” Farm payments, education, the economy, jobs, tax – our economics guru examines them all.
Next SG: revolutionary but hardly radical
The SNP has one revolutionary aim: the overthrow of the UK constitution. Yet its manifesto is a model of moderation. Why? Tempered by the compromises of government – or cautious process to win over the No voters of 2014?
Easter Rising, feminism, nationalism
On the centenary of the Easter Rising in Ireland politicians need to use its political imagery at their peril. Its lessons for nationalism as for fein ism are not unambiguous.
Taxing cocktail of political risks for SG
Something will have to give if Nicola Sturgeon is to finance her admirable policy wish-list for the next five years. After the UK Budget we can only see a shortfall that will have to be made good by – what? The SG’s tax-and-spend options are unclear.
Affordable credit: a community project
People in financial trouble are still borrowing money at 1500% interest rates and more but it will take more than chiding the payday lenders to solve a growing social ill. Public bodies and private finance houses need to work together here in Scotland to beat the sharks.
SG borrowing to keep the economy buoyant
John Swinney, finance secretary, is about to borrow money to help finance new construction projects and stimulate growth and jobs just when the economy is turning down. It’s a sign of things to come as Holyrood gains more control over tax-and-spend.
Planning for a post-oil Scotland
The oil price shows no sign of recovery any time soon; thousands of jobs are being lost; the big producers have left the North Sea and the smaller ones are following suit. Scotland needs to start real planning for the post-oil – and post-carbon – economy.
Scottish Budget: end of the age of innocence
John Swinney’s Budget has set the SRIT for the first time but the real fiscal dilemmas and decisions for him – or his successor – lie ahead. And so do the political consequences.
HBOS: too little, too late
It cost £7m – a million for each of the years since Scotland’s (once) most-revered bank went bust. But, after all the billions spent, the thousands of jobs slashed, lessons still have to be learned – and the perpetrators are still plying their trade.
Could private discussions kill the Scotland Act?
The Secretary of State for Scotland wrote to me this week telling me about progress on the Scotland Bill. I don’t know David Mundell and I imagine I am just one of hundreds, if not thousands of people to receive his emailed letter, but I appreciated his concern to keep me informed.