Eradicating child poverty? Growing the economy? Tackling climate crisis? Ensuring quality public services? Reviewing the Scottish Budget and Spending Review 2026, John McLaren finds a weary government’s major ‘achievement’ has been to hide the cuts coming down the line – after the election. The whole Budget debacle showed a government truly out of ideas and one that has … [Read more...] about How will next SNP government tackle fiscal mess left by this one? #ScottishBudget
Scottish Budget
In this Scottish Budget the silences were loudest
It’s hard to see how the Scottish Government can claim – as it does in its Budget document – to be running a “sustainable pay policy.” It’s also hard to square these pay deals with the allocation of just 0.7% growth in real terms for the Health portfolio... Fraser of Allander budget report, authors João Sousa, Ciara Crummey, Spencer Thompson The devil was very much … [Read more...] about In this Scottish Budget the silences were loudest
Higher budget deficit driven by devolved spending
The estimates of Scotland’s net fiscal balance are out for 2024-25. As we previewed, there was deterioration of the fiscal balance, which is unsurprising given that the UK’s fiscal balance worsened during that year as well. Scotland’s estimated net fiscal balance was estimated to have been -£26 billion, or -12% of GDP, when including a geographical share of North Sea revenues … [Read more...] about Higher budget deficit driven by devolved spending
Fiscal challenges for the Scottish Government, Pt 96
The Medium Term Financial Strategy aims to focus on the longer-term sustainability of Scotland’s public finances and support a strategic approach to financial planning. The (recent) publication of this document alongside the Spring forecast is supposed to support the year-round budgeting process in Holyrood, allowing the pre-budget scrutiny of committees in the Summer and … [Read more...] about Fiscal challenges for the Scottish Government, Pt 96
The spending rollercoaster is well and truly back
Rachel Reeves has delivered the outcome of the Spending Review for both resource and capital budgets across departments and devolved administrations.It was a speech long on detail about many capital projects, but much of the lead was buried. In our preview last week, we noted that the envelope set out in the Spring Statement promised to be a reversal of Robert … [Read more...] about The spending rollercoaster is well and truly back