Economy
Will a food price cap lower the cost of living?
Will SNP government plans to introduce a ceiling on ‘20-50 essentials’ make family shopping in large supermarkets more affordable? Or just stuff the basket with unintended consequences?
Is the Scottish Government ready to face fiscal reality?
“The numbers are well rehearsed by now, but the scale of the fiscal challenge facing the Scottish Parliament is unprecedented.”
GERS: your annual starter for an open-minded discussion?
GERS is a reasonable starting point for understanding the fiscal issues an independent Scotland would likely face on day 1 João Sousa
Data centre mania: Scotland should learn from the past
How to control the new gold rush in Scotland? Ray Perman takes the long view of disruptive technology – history can point the way to a strategy that brings real benefits. And it leads to…
Burnham and the limiting politics of growth
While Andy Burnham sets out to cut the cost of living, John McLaren confronts reality: how political priorities obstruct meaningful growth. Not least in Scotland
A quiet election for a tired and poorly Scottish parliament
In a failing system who holds government to account? John McLaren sets out four lessons to learn from the state we are in.
Certain uncertainties of Iran War, inflation and public finances
What to do? Take a targeted approach to support those in most need
Global food insecurity: another dividend from Trump’s war of choice
Markets have reacted to the global impact of closing this incredibly busy shipping channel, focusing on the risk to oil and gas flows, the prospect of higher crude prices and the inflationary pressures that would follow. That concern…
Business anticipates uneasy start to 2026
Business confidence in Scotland remains weak, according to the Fraser of Allander Institute’s Scottish Business Monitor with firms pointing to cost pressures, subdued investment and little expectation of short-term relief. All six headline indicators in…
How will next SNP government tackle fiscal mess left by this one? #ScottishBudget
Eradicating child poverty? Growing the economy? Tackling climate crisis? Ensuring quality public services? Reviewing the Scottish Budget and Spending Review 2026, John McLaren finds a weary government’s major ‘achievement’ has been to hide the cuts…
In this Scottish Budget the silences were loudest
The Cabinet Secretary chose to talk about policies such as higher bands of council tax on million-pound-plus properties and increases in the Scottish Child Payment for children under the age of one, but neither takes…
UK Budget 2025? Get real. The world has changed
John McLaren explains in no uncertain terms why the UK Budget is such a disappointment, doing nothig when so much needs to be done, further eroding trust in mainstream politicians, pushing voters towards outlying parties…