I am sadly old enough to remember when budget purdah was a thing. Clearly, no more, with relatively few surprises in today’s budget, which hadn’t either been formally announced or at least briefed in advance. That doesn’t mean it wasn’t a massive…Read more…
Scottish Budget 2024-25
There were no big surprises in the draft Scottish Budget published today. I set out the background to the Budget in a briefing for the Jimmy Reid Foundation, and it was always going to be challenging given the economic environment and the appalli…Read more…
Public service reform is not a quick fix in a crisis
The forthcoming Autumn Statement and Scottish Government Budget has inspired another round of calls for public service reform. Primarily wishful thinking as a substitute for public spending cuts, but the principle has merit.The Chancellor appears…Read more…
Why another Council Tax freeze is wrong
Yesterday, the First Minister announced that the Scottish Government would freeze the Council Tax next year. While many will welcome any help with the cost of living crisis, this is the least effective way to provide that support. I thought my da…Read more…
UK Budget 2021 – Schizophrenic or maybe not
Depending on who you read in today’s UK budget analysis, the Chancellor has either gone full-blown John McDonnell or is returning to austerity. You would think both cannot be right, and in my…Read more…
Building Stronger Communities
The COVID-19 Pandemic has highlighted the importance of strong communities, supporting and looking out for each other. However, strong communities do not happen by accident; they need to be nurtured…Read more…
Plunder of the Commons
Public wealth takes precedence over private riches. This is a policy prescription from what became known as the Lauderdale paradox. The Earl of Lauderdale in 1804 argued that there was an inverse…Read more…
Rethinking how to deliver budgets
Instead of just tinkering around the edges of the Scottish and UK budgets, we should radically rethink how to deliver them.
A couple of months ago I blogged about a new book by Katherine…Read more…
Councils are not getting a ‘good deal’
The Cabinet Secretary for Finance Derek Mackay says he has delivered a “good deal” for Scottish councils in the local government budget settlement. Well that’s a relief! Or it would be if it was…Read more…
Budget hangover
To use a seasonal analogy, some of us may be feeling the after effects of the office party. Well, the Scottish budget could have a similar effect on public finances later next year.
I have outlined…Read more…
Government programme and a chinese meal
While the Scottish Government’s programme for 2017-18 has some very welcome elements, it also feels a bit like a chinese meal. Satisfying as it goes down, but leaves you wanting more later.
The most…Read more…
Time to tackle expensive PPP borrowing
The Scottish Government’s spending plans for 2017/18 is unlikely to be a cheery read when it’s published on Thursday. However, when budgets are being cut, it is all the more important that government…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…
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…
Public servants, don’t hold your breath on that pay rise with Nick Clegg
A last minute Liberal Democrat pledge to end pay cuts for public sector workers? It’s as transparent as it is pathetic
Do public servants need a pay rise? Yes. Do they trust Nick Clegg and the…Read more…
Public servants, don’t hold your breath on that pay rise with Nick Clegg
A last minute Liberal Democrat pledge to end pay cuts for public sector workers? It’s as transparent as it is pathetic
Do public servants need a pay rise? Yes. Do they trust Nick Clegg and the…Read more…
Firefighters’ strike: a smart, strategic move by the union | Gregor Gall
The way the FBU has gone about calling its four-hour strike provides a lesson for other unions preparing industrial action
The announcement by the firefighters’ union of a four-hour strike next week…Read more…
2012: a chance to fight and win on public sector pensions | Mark Serwotka
We must continue to reject the principle that those least culpable should pay the highest price to sustain a broken financial system
With the public sector pensions dispute at a pivotal point, the…Read more…
Southampton shows ‘smart’ strike is no silver bullet | Gregor Gall
The tactic of Southampton’s union members of striking at different times has been heroic, but it has failed to gain leverage
Council workers in Southampton have been engaged in “smart” striking since…Read more…
Why public sector strike deserves your support
The real danger to ‘hardworking taxpayers’ is not our strike, but the attack on pensions
Tomorrow’s strike by three-quarters of a million public sector workers has opened up a national debate on…Read more…