Scottish Government
Is the SNP ready to govern?
After almost two decades in power, says James Mitchell, the SNP has still to complete the ‘painful transition’ from party of protest to a professional party of government.
Unleashing Scotland’s creativity: a realistic reform for productive place-based democracy
Keith Yates offers Scottish Government the building blocks of realistic reform, achievable within the life of this Scottish parliament
Scottish council reorganisation? ‘Get it right next time’
Scottish Government ‘reform’ plans won’t work, says Keith Yates, so try again, get it right next time.
Elected mayors in Scotland – benefit or distraction?
Andy Burnham’s commitment to devolve powers based on “a new set of principles and rules for running the British state” promises more transfer of public services to local democratically accountable bodies. In Scotland the reverse…
Scotland after the election – what new opportunities?
What next in Scotland? After a tired election new hope, new ideas and new policies are needed says Kirsty Hughes
A quiet election for a tired and poorly Scottish parliament
In a failing system who holds government to account? John McLaren sets out four lessons to learn from the state we are in.
Mind the (implementation) gap: Neurodivergence in Scotland
A key theme running throughout the evidence was the stark gap between Scottish Government policy and practice
Public pay settlements: a crisis waiting for the next Scottish government
The Scottish government has long practised the exercise of kicking problematic cans down the road. Perhaps wider world crises will keep eyes off Scotland’s immediate pay problems but Fraser of Allander’s deputy director Dr João…
How will next SNP government tackle fiscal mess left by this one? #ScottishBudget
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…
In this Scottish Budget the silences were loudest
The Cabinet Secretary chose to talk about policies such as higher bands of council tax on million-pound-plus properties and increases in the Scottish Child Payment for children under the age of one, but neither takes…
UK Budget 2025? Get real. The world has changed
John McLaren explains in no uncertain terms why the UK Budget is such a disappointment, doing nothig when so much needs to be done, further eroding trust in mainstream politicians, pushing voters towards outlying parties…
Enough campaigning. Is the next Scottish government prepared to govern?
Hot on the heels of Anton Muscatelli’s hard-hitting report comes Jim Gallagher’s rigorous investigation into Scotland’s failing governance. Fixing Broken Government comes with positive recommendations for a radical re-set in time for the May 2026…