Scottish taxpayers with income below £27,243 will pay less tax in Scotland than they would do elsewhere in the UK, to a maximum of £20.85 per year (or 40p per week)...hardly the biggest tax bonanza ever.The resignation of finance secretary Derek Mackay overshadowed the fourth budget of this parliamentary term, which has led to a healthy increase in the resources available … [Read more...] about Scottish Budget analysis in plainer English
Scottish Budget
Scotland’s wellbeing: rhetoric and reality
Scotland experienced the joint biggest fall (along with Wales) in the Index of Social and Economic Wellbeing – down five places from 16th to joint 21st. How to measure Scotland’s success? People's quality of life should be as important as economic growth, according to Scotland's first minister. ‘Collective wellbeing’, not GDP, will be the new defining feature of the Scottish … [Read more...] about Scotland’s wellbeing: rhetoric and reality
Scotland’s budget prospects
The Fraser of Allander Institute has published its 4th annual Scotland’s Budget Report.The latest report shows that the Scottish Government’s resource budget in the past three years has evolved more healthily than was anticipated at the start of the parliamentary term in 2016, due to both UK government spending increases and Scottish government tax … [Read more...] about Scotland’s budget prospects
MSPs miss the bigger picture
A series of SNP members lined up to lob the Cabinet Secretary gentle underarms for him to whack towards the opposition. Our problems would all be solved if only the UK Government would smash open the piggy bank...The annual Scottish Budget contains lots of detail on spending priorities for the coming year.But with a single year budget it is often difficult to step back … [Read more...] about MSPs miss the bigger picture
A £1bn Scottish budget shortfall?
The Scottish Fiscal Commission has this week published its latest economic and fiscal forecasts.The SFC estimate that GDP in Scotland will grow by 0.8% in 2019, and 0.9% in 2020. Both of these are weaker than the OBR forecast for the UK as a whole (which are 1.2% in 2019 and 1.4% in 2020). They’re also weaker than our own forecasts.On GDP per capita, the gap … [Read more...] about A £1bn Scottish budget shortfall?