Scotland’s independent think tank
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 »
In the early days of 2020 news of an exotic virus emerged from the Far East. We watched the coverage as if it were a disaster montage from a Hollywood blockbuster – the fevered talking heads debating its status as a global killer/invention of a mysterious global elite, fleeting images of caged animals in Wuhan …
How remote working can rebuild our communities – David Goodwin Read More »
The coronavirus pandemic has not only opened up conversations around grief, it has also cast a spotlight on the urgent need to better support employees who are dealing with a bereavement. Sue Ryder research has shown that in the last 12 months, 7.9 million people in employment (that’s 24% of all employees [1] ) have …
The social upheaval caused by the Covid-19 pandemic is a chance for Scotland to set bold new ambitions. The pandemic has highlighted the ubiquity of technology in the way we live our lives and the necessity of utilising it to improve our society. We have an opportunity now to embrace the possibilities offered by technology …
It’s time for Scotland to embrace an inclusive Digital Enlightenment – Adam Lang Read More »
Last month the CIPD launched its new guidance for employers on compassionate and comprehensive bereavement support. We are accompanying our guidance launch, with a call to Government to introduce the right to bereavement leave and pay to all employees experiencing a close family bereavement. Suffering the loss of a close family member or dependent can often be …
It’s time to properly support bereaved employees – Claire McCartney Read More »
As the recent Reform Scotland policy brief “Investing for Recovery” put it succinctly regarding the economic shock caused by Covid-19, “if [this]is not a catalyst [for]bold, radical interventions that will transform Scotland’s economy, then nothing ever will be.” This is both true, and sadly, not just a Scottish problem. Lulled into the false sense of …
A good investment for Scotland – and the world – Mark Blyth and Eric Lonergan Read More »
