“The EU and independence debate have been inevitably intertwined in the last ten years since the independence referendum. The case for independence in the EU is strong in many ways. But why did Brexit not have more of a sustained and dynamising impact on the political push for independence?”
Scottish Government
The SNP must get serious on tax
“So where do things go from here? Blaming Westminster, finger-pointing at Labour and shouting “wiznae us!” will not suffice. Not now, and certainly not in 2026 and 2027, when the Holyrood and council elections occur….”
Budgets, ideas and lethargy in the Scottish Government
“Questions like – are free tuition fees a better use of money than directing it towards reducing child poverty? – remain unaddressed. The Scottish Government is reactive to UK policy and funding and therefore constantly in catch up mode.”
Is Scotland heading for an early election?
The parlous state of UK public finances and spillover impact of the October 30 Budget could mean Holyrood refuses to pass next year’s Scottish Budget, triggering the government’s resignation
SNP ‘Company Man’ can’t save the party he loves
“Leadership requires a willingness to confront so much that he turned a blind eye to. A decent, able functionary, as Swinney understood when he stood down as leader in 2014, does not have the qualities required to lead a political party, far less to lead a government.”
Ending child poverty – hard facts vs empty promises
“All of this highlights the need for a well-constructed plan, not just pious words and hollow pledges. We’ll have to wait and see whether the UK Government’s Taskforce comes up with something concrete and viable. However, a radical solution, even if proposed, seems unlikely to be seriously followed up on. It’s simply too expensive and not a high enough priority right now.”
Political posturing over child poverty
Over 4m British children live in relative poverty and they are four times more likely to suffer mental health issues than better-off kids. Ending the two-child benefit cap is just one remedy.
The Road to the Isles littered with phone masts?
“The map of applications to build masts in ‘Not Spots’ – the financially-exciting areas for the phone companies under this contract – is almost exactly the same as the map of areas designated as wild land – go figure! Clearly, the UK government didn’t.”
What next for Yousaf and the SNP?
“Scotland has harvested much of the low-hanging fruit when it comes to reducing carbon emissions – although there are still big gains to be made from insulating homes. The Parliament’s powers are very limited. It can’t borrow money to invest and its capital budget has been slashed. A greater degree of cross-party unity will be needed to make serious progress in the areas which are within its reach.”
What about climate policies in this political crisis?
“As Humza Yousaf’s future as First Minister hangs in the balance, the more important question is what happens to the push for vital climate and biodiversity policies after the collapse of the Bute House Agreement.”