The Scottish Government’s Finance Secretary’s latest attempt to spin the GERS figures is both incorrect and misleading.The day the 2024-25 Government Expenditure & Revenue Scotland (GERS) figures were published, the Scottish Government put out a news release which included the following quote, attributed to Finance Secretary Shona Robison: “GERS allocates Scotland a … [Read more...] about Defence spending in GERS: anatomy of a myth
Policy
Labour and ending poverty
The Labour Party has often been wracked by disputes over ideological differences, but there has always been an internal consensus among the various factional players that a minimal aim of Labour in government is to reduce poverty. Gaitskellite, Bevanite, Blairite, Brownite, Corbynite: all agreed that Labour had a distinctive distributional mission that sought to use the state … [Read more...] about Labour and ending poverty
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
Scottish paradox: a £704m boom on a foundation of sand
At first glance, Scotland’s venture capital market had a stellar 2024. A staggering £704 million poured into its companies, marking a 19% surge that defied the UK’s wider 14% slump. But look closer, and the gleaming facade begins to crack. While the total value of investment rose, the number of deals fell by 13% to 318, a sign of a market narrowing its focus. Scottish … [Read more...] about Scottish paradox: a £704m boom on a foundation of sand