Sajid Javid’s Spending Review will never see the light of day with a General Election imminent – but it did expose the sham of the past nine years of Tory austerity, Ben Wray finds

POLITICS is moving so quickly that it is difficult to remember even the recent past. But we should try, because the rulebook created by the Conservative party post-financial crisis about public finances, the one they told us must be abided by or else the country would go down the tubes, has been ripped up by that very same party. 

Comment on GERS figures from Derek Mackay, Patrick Harvie, Richard Leonard, Ruth Davidson and Craig Dalzell

From Brexit, to independence, to sustainable energy, the latest figures on Scotland’s revenue, expenditure and deficit are sparking debate

THE ANNUAL Government Expenditure and Revenue Scotland (GERS) released today (22 August) has served to underline vastly differing views on the economy and where it is and should be headed.  

The report, published by the Scottish Government, shows that Scotland’s public sector revenue, including from its geographic share of the North Sea, was £59.6bn in 2016/17 - £1.3bn of which was North Sea revenue.

Dr Craig Dalzell, Head of Policy and Research for the Common Weal think tank, explains why it’s time for Scotland to grow beyond our obsession with GERS

THERE’S NO DAY that’s guaranteed to set the heather alight amongst Scottish political social media sects like the release day of the annual Government Expenditure and Revenue Scotland report – also known as GERS.

Richard Murphy, tax expert and professor of practice in International Political Economy at the City University of London, explains the incorrect data behind GERS and why it’s time the Scottish Government invested in better national income accounting

IT WAS largely by accident that I became a commentator on the Scottish Government's Government Expenditure and Revenue Scotland (GERS) statement about 18 months ago.

The first minister said she wants Scotland “to be the inventor and ­producer of the innovations that shape the future, not just a consumer of them”

NICOLA STURGEON has signalled a new focus in the Scottish Government’s plans for the national economy, indicating a move away from traditional oil and gas priorities to emergent technologies.

Commonspace columnist David Carr talks about the so-called 'grievance culture' surrounding oil - and why we must find a constructive way forward

MENTION of oil always sparks an interest in Scotland as the backbone of a strong economy. Historically it has been mismanaged, but what should be done about this? 

CommonSpace finds out what some key figures are saying about the latest snapshot of the Scottish economy.

THE ANNUAL GERS figures inspire many interpretations and often fierce disagreement. This year seems to be no different.

The Scottish Government and SNP have celebrated Scotland’s notional deficit dropping by £1.3bn, along with the fastest increase in onshore revenues since consistent records began.