“The Scottish Government faces a tight fiscal environment. These reforms may pose additional challenges to the Scottish economy without offering much in the way of solutions.”
Articles
Power from the grassroots
Why improving local democracy is vital: continuing a Sceptical Scot series of analyses from the Mercat Group of the Scottish Government wilful centralisation of power
Welfare reforms: the (unknown) Scottish dimension
“The Scottish Government’s block grant adjustment is based on the projected expenditure in England and Wales, and therefore a tightening of access to PIP will (all else equal) make the Scottish Budget worse off. It is then the Scottish Government’s decision to move in lockstep or to find the additional funds from other sources.”
Insurgent, disruptive or flailing Labour?
A six-hour cabinet meeting last Friday appears to have done little to give the flailing Labour government much of a new strategy. It came at the end of a week when a YouGov poll put Reform just ahead of Labour (25% to 24%) with the Tories trailing on 21%.
Fiscal sustainability and the Scottish budget
The draft Scottish Budget raised concerns regarding financial planning, particularly about the Funding shortfall for Employer National Insurance and the late commitment to mitigate the two-child limit on benefits. Mitigation aims to help families affected by this policy, but fiscal sustainability and proper planning are crucial to effectively address child poverty targets by 2030.
Energy privatisation is a disaster for Scotland
Energy poverty in Scotland affects 31% of the population, which is significantly higher than in England and the EU. Despite abundant energy resources, especially renewable, local costs remain exorbitant due to ineffective regulations and privatization. High energy bills drive families away, worsen health issues, and threaten economic growth, with profits benefiting external shareholders.
10 reasons why Donald Trump can’t stop global climate action
Why Trump can’t derail global climate action: Global transition to clean energy is now a “historic megatrend” that won’t be changed by a single US president.
How the Scottish Government’s net fiscal position has evolved
Ahead of Shona Robison’s December 4 Scottish Budget @Strath_FAI lays bare the fiscal numbers she’s grappling with – and urges greater transparency
Seven steps to save Scotland’s creative economy
How to stop Scotland lagging behind? Dougal Perman proposes a carefully targeted plan to invest that long-promised £100m for the creative industries. But the money must be spent now.
Seven questions on the Council of the Nations and Regions
Keir Starmer is due to chair the inaugural meeting of the UK government’s newly created ‘Council of the Nations and Regions’ in Scotland this Friday. The summit is due to focus on investment and growth ahead of a much bigger international investment summit to be held in London the following Monday.