Humza Yousaf addressed the Scottish National Party Conference for the first time as First Minister, in a speech that contained a few new proposals. Here are some of the main consequences of what was announced. Council tax frozen, but at what cost? The centrepiece announcement was that 2024-25 council tax rates across Scotland would remain the same as in 2023-24. This was a … [Read more...] about What do Humza Yousaf’s new policies mean for Scotland?
SNP
Sturgeon arrested – and SNP ratings stay strong
The Scottish National Party is in a dreadful mess. Former leader and former first minister Nicola Sturgeon had already described the events of the past few months as beyond her “worst nightmares” – and that was before she was arrested. Opinion had long since been divided (largely on “indyref” lines) on how far the SNP retained the reputation for competent government that had … [Read more...] about Sturgeon arrested – and SNP ratings stay strong
What’s going on at the SNP?
I haven’t written about the events engulfing the SNP recently: the police search of the home Nicola Sturgeon shares with her husband Peter Murrell, the arrest and release without charge of Murrell and the party Treasurer Colin Beattie. I have been reserving judgement until we know more about what is going on. But when will that be? Scotland’s contempt of court rules are … [Read more...] about What’s going on at the SNP?
Emerging from the shadows
Scottish Labour has lived in the shadows of Scottish politics since 2007 when it lost out by one seat to the SNP. Labour supporters told themselves the result was an aberration, soon to be reversed. The 2010 Westminster election suggested that natural order of Scottish politics had been restored. But the SNP’s overall majority in Holyrood a year later began a process that … [Read more...] about Emerging from the shadows
Where’s the great transformation?
How will we judge the 2021 Holyrood elections? More of the same or a critical juncture? Manifestos are a good starting point in answering this question. They come in different forms and do not always give a clear guide as to what a governing party will do in office. The 1945 Labour manifesto was a relatively short document. It had an eloquence absent from modern manifestos. … [Read more...] about Where’s the great transformation?