Tax has been at the forefront of policy debate throughout the last parliament. Most noticeable has been the Scottish Parliament’s new powers on income tax. These became operational in 2017, and paved the way for significant policy divergences between Scotland and the rest of the UK (rUK). But there have been significant policy changes in other areas too. Council tax has been … [Read more...] about Tax policy in Holyrood 5
council tax reform
Why politicians need to take a bus ride to reality
See thae politicians at Westminster or Holyrood or wherever they are? They’re no even there, they’re up in space. See whit I want tae dae wi them? I want tae get them on the nummer 14 bus. In just a few words – 365 words to be precise – the writer James Robertson evokes the daily struggle played out on a bus ride through Scotland’s affluent capital. It could be a bus ride in … [Read more...] about Why politicians need to take a bus ride to reality
Independence: growth, austerity, social justice or sheer magic?
The report of the Sustainable Growth Commission, chaired by Andrew Wilson, has been hailed/denounced in some quarters as the death-knell of a Scottish version of socialism and/or a self-imposed prolongation of neoliberal austerity with a Kiwi twist.Pro-independence commentators on the Left are angry that it appears to reduce an “independent” Scotland to a “vassal state” … [Read more...] about Independence: growth, austerity, social justice or sheer magic?
Council cuts: who wields the knife?
BETWEEN 2011 to 2017 the SNP Scottish Government cut funding to Scottish councils by 3.7 per cent, taking a whopping £1 billion from council budgets and in turn public services.This is despite the fact that last year Westminster gave the government a revenue cash increase of 2.2 per cent — a capital cash increase of 10.3 per cent, plus it has additional borrowing powers of … [Read more...] about Council cuts: who wields the knife?
“More money” and spending cuts for local government
As expected, the Scottish Greens concluded a deal with the SNP to ensure the Scottish Government's first budget of the new Parliament will pass. As expected, politicians from both parties have been lauding the outcome of this deal. As expected, the contents of their proclamations enjoy a tenuous relationship with reality. An extra £160m for councils announced by … [Read more...] about “More money” and spending cuts for local government