Scottish Government
What tighter immigration controls mean for Scotland
“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.”
A coalition willing and delivering change
“That’s why – in the middle of tectonic turbulence geopolitically – a progressive coalition that can see off Reform with or without the shrunken Conservatives in its pockets would be the most desirable outcome of…
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
What the ferries fiasco means for Arran
The launch of MV Glen Sannox marks a significantly delayed step towards improving ferry services between Arran and the Scottish mainland. Uncertainty persists regarding the ferry base location, with economic and social implications for Arran…
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…
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.…
The gift nobody wants to open
Spare a thought this Christmas/New Year for the person at the Fiscals’ office on whose desk the file marked ‘Operation Branch Form’, the investigation into the SNP’s finances, is resting.
A failure of leadership over Glasgow’s “Mack”
“A full restoration of the Mack can and must be done – and within years not decades. It will take political will. If leadership is there, the money can be found. Restoring the Mack is…
Still spinning plates: the 2025 Scottish Budget
“There aren’t even any mathematical reasons (if anything, Council Tax reform and a land tax would have made it easier to win progressive votes in Parliament for the budget). There aren’t any objections from their…
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.
Strangled by the purse strings
Unless, of course, the point is to keep that firm grip on the purse strings to actively prevent too much Local Authority autonomy – a view that has been expressed to me as a “good…