Mike Danson, Professor of Enterprise Policy at Heriot-Watt University, gives his reaction to yesterday’s [12 December] Scottish Budget, finding much to welcome and areas for improvement

Reaction to the Budget from across Scottish politics and civil society

SCOTTISH GOVERNMENT Finance Minister Derek Mackay has delivered his draft Budget to the Scottish Parliament. 

Mackay has proposed to maintain income tax rates as they were, increase public sector pay by 3 per cent for those earning under 36.5k per year, and have real terms funding increases for Healthcare and Early Years & Childcare. 

CommonSpace has rounded up reaction to the budget from politicians, think tanks, trade unions and others. 

Craig Dalzell, head of policy & research at Common Weal, gives his take on the Scottish Government’s draft budget for 2019/20 announced today [12 December]

THE first draft of the Scottish budget possibly wasn’t the highest profile piece of news to come out this week, given the state of Brexit and the impending no confidence vote on Theresa May.

Housing Minister: “While we know this is an ambitious target, we have shown we can deliver on housing and we will continue to do so.”

HOMELESSNESS charity Shelter Scotland has warned the Scottish Government that it must not break its “promise to Scotland” of delivering 35,000 social houses between 2016-2021, as new data shows it has a long way to go to meet its target.

The statistics, published by the Scottish Government today [11 December] shows 5,340 social rented homes were delivered to September 2018, an increase of 19 per cent.

CommonSpace editor Ben Wray looks at new figures on mental ill-health for pupils and teachers, and finds excessive exams is just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to the 20^th century thinking which dominates the school system

Citizens Advice Scotland report on food affordability, access and availability highlights hard choices facing many

SCOTTISH PEOPLE concerned about their food bills are routinely making sacrifices about the quality and the quantity of the food they eat, while many worry about food running out before they have the money to find more, new research from Citizens Advice Scotland (CAS) has found.  

CommonSpace editor Ben Wray looks ahead to the Scottish Budget next week, and finds a choice for Finance Minister Derek Mackay – take wealth inequality seriously and scrap the Council Tax, or continue with the “don’t scare the middle classes” government-by-tweak politics

SINCE the devolution of Income Tax, there is now a common dynamic in the run-up to a Scottish Budget, which will be announced by Finance Minister Derek Mackay next Wednesday [12 December].

Scottish Green leader warned FM of 'climate complacency' in Holyrood clash

THE leader of the Scottish Green party has called on the Scottish Government to swap its Climate Change Bill for more urgent and radical legislation in light of new warnings over climate change.

Common Weal director Robin McAlpine looks at questionnaire responses from the pro-independence movement about what the challenges it faces are – and finds there is a lot of work to do

IN THE last few months I've been immersing myself in the positive case for independence; there really is a lot to be optimistic about. But let's not kid ourselves on that we don't face some problems as well, or that we can dodge them.

The Scottish Government will launch a 2019 campaign to encourage people to apply for benefits and discounts they may be eligible for

THE SCOTTISH GOVERNMENT has argued that a record low in the number of Scottish people claiming Council Tax Reduction may be due to an improving economy and the implementation of Universal Credit, following criticism from Scottish Labour.