Scotland’s independent think tank
I started writing this piece quite a few weeks ago when the horrendous situation in Afghanistan was top of the news coverage, the UK Prime Minister was about to visit New York and Washington and there was a minor issue about an oil field off the West of Shetland. Energy is now front and centre …
When the Scottish Parliament was established in 1999, roughly 93% of Scotland’s funding came in the form of a block grant calculated through the Barnett Formula. In a relatively short period of time this balance has drastically shifted, with around 40% of the Scottish Government’s resource budget now being funded through devolved and local tax …
It has been sixteen enormously difficult and tumultuous months since Scotland entered the first Covid lockdown. The retail industry has faced some of the toughest restrictions. The majority of Scotland’s shops have been compelled to close twice – for at least 220 days – to aid the national effort against Covid. For those stores in …
New Year’s Day Shopping Ban is Illiberal & Short-sighted – David Lonsdale Read More »
Reform Scotland has been delighted to once again mentor a team of students from the University of Edinburgh. This is the third year of our collaboration, with this year’s team looking at employment opportunities for graduates in Scotland. A summary of the final report is outlined below along with a link to download the full …
I recently re-watched an episode of The West Wing from 2004, entitled ‘The Hubbert Peak’. Although we once again have a US administration that operates more like that of Jed Bartlet’s fictional presidency, many of the storylines seem incredibly dated. For context, this was before the US shale boom had taken off. America was genuinely …
Scotland’s public finances are revealed each year in the publication named GERS (Government Expenditure and Revenue Scotland). Most recently published in August 2020, these figures do not make comfortable reading for the SNP, who have been in government in Scotland now for 14 years. In summary, GERS reveals that the British Dividend is more valuable …
How to turbo-charge Scotland’s economy – Malcolm Offord Read More »
It’s impossible for me to get excited about the partial and gradual reopening of the hospitality sector when the industry that I have worked in for over a decade continues to be unfairly targeted by the Scottish Government. Although a path towards normality appears to be taking shape, arbitrary curfews and an illogical stance on …
Hospitality is ready – the Scottish Government should be too – Stephen Montgomery Read More »
In December, as part of my Members’ Bill campaign to establish a new Scottish Employment Injuries Advisory Council, I asked the First Minister whether Covid-19 should be classified as an in industrial disease. The response was optimistic – and rightly so. Because the research from the University of Glasgow and Public Health Scotland that I …
Proposed Scottish Employment Injuries Advisory Council Bill – Mark Griffin MSP Read More »
In any given year, almost a quarter of a million Scots experience a new bereavement while a majority (72%) have experienced at least one bereavement in the last five years. Tragically, with more than 6,000 people in Scotland having lost their life to coronavirus, the number of grieving Scots is currently rising. Yet, despite bereavement …
Bereavement policy priorities for the next Scottish Government – Suzanne Grahame Read More »
As support for Scottish independence is on the rise, questions are beginning to be asked about how Scotland would deal with its borders and immigration policies. A poll carried out by STV news found that support for an independent Scotland has now reached a record high of 58% with only 39% unreservedly opposing it. Debates …
Scottish immigration and the battle for independence – Kieran Isgin Read More »
