A few months ago I wrote that federalism, a bit like my wardrobe, was coming back into fashion. Well, my wardrobe is still struggling, but yesterday Kez Dugdale took the journey towards federalism a…Read more…
Time for action on investment management
If you read anything about pensions this year, you should include the recently published Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) interim report on the asset management market. It may not be the easiest…Read more…
The case against Trident replacement
The replacement of the Trident missile system cannot be justified on moral, economic or defence grounds. That’s the conclusion of a new report launched in the Scottish Parliament today by the Jimmy…Read more…
Autumn Statement – little Scottish cheer
Today’s Autumn Statement failed to live up to the rhetoric. There was little for those who have suffered the most from austerity and nothing for our beleaguered public services.
The main significance…Read more…
Inequality: moving from analysis to action
The causes of poverty and inequality are well understood, we now need to have the difficult conversations about taking action.
All this week, BBC Scotland have been running a series of features…Read more…
A practical approach to reducing council debt
Council borrowing has come under scrutiny with a call from the Scottish Greens urging the UK government to write off what they describe as “unethical” loans made to councils in Scotland. This is…Read more…
We need a clean energy future – not fracking
A busy week for the fracking debate in Scotland, but a decision still looks some way off.
There was some speculation ahead of today’s publication of the research sponsored by the Scottish Government…Read more…
Reinvigorate local democracy to increase voter engagement
The turnout in local government elections has been declining for a number of years. That’s unlikely to change until we reinvigorate local democracy.
Today, I was giving evidence to the Scottish…Read more…
Action to recruit and retain health and care staff
The health and care sector in Scotland is facing significant recruitment and retention problems at a time when we need to expand the workforce. We need to take action now.
Today, I was giving…Read more…
Good progress on the Scottish Living Wage, but much more to be done
The Scottish Living Wage is the real living wage – the UK government just hijacked the brand!
The new rate of £8.45 is a welcome increase for many thousands of low paid workers. Also congratulations…Read more…
NHS Scotland – funding and reform
NHS funding is not keeping pace with increasing demand and the needs of an ageing population. NHS boards are facing an extremely challenging financial position and many had to use short-term measures…Read more…
We need a new strategy to end fuel poverty
The Scottish Government has missed the statutory target to eradicate fuel poverty this year by some distance. So, new reports on fuel poverty should be welcomed, but only if they are quickly followed…Read more…
Health & Safety Week – challenging authority.
‘Those in authority must always be challenged’. According to BBC presenter, John Humphries, that was the key lesson to be learned from the Aberfan disaster. Miners repeatedly warned the employers…Read more…
Challenge Poverty Week – Early Years
Important though actions to ameliorate poverty are in the short-term, it is through preventative spending and early interventions that we will begin to eradicate poverty in Scotland. One of the most…Read more…
Why trade agreements are bad for our health
Our understanding of trade deals is limited because they have largely been a matter for the EU. Post-Brexit, we should be concerned about what’s happening in Europe, as well as what sort of trade…Read more…
Delivering fair work and effective employee voice
Fair work and employee voice are key elements of an economic strategy for Scotland. There is even a welcome cross party consensus developing.
I was giving evidence to the Scottish Parliament’s…Read more…
Workplace dementia – time for action
More than 40,000 people under the age of 65 have been diagnosed with dementia in the UK, 3,200 of those in Scotland. It is estimated that 18% of them continue to work after a diagnosis and therefore…Read more…
Let’s have a proper reform of the council tax – not another sticking plaster
We understand that the Council Tax is a difficult issue for politicians, but this latest sticking plaster isn’t the solution.
I was giving evidence to the Scottish Parliament’s Local Government…Read more…
What next for Labour?
As the UK Labour Party conference comes to a conclusion, it’s time for everyone in the Party to remember the words of Keir Hardie; “Unity should be the first object of all of us who desire…Read more…
Impact of Brexit on health and care in Scotland
At this morning’s Holyrood Brexit and Health seminar, I was asked what my immediate response to the Brexit vote was. Well of course I was elated at the thought of the promised £350m extra spending on…Read more…