The Crawford Beveridge report on public spending is so important and so good that only a non-politician could ever have been put in charge of it. That's a sobering thought before one even begins to delve into the detail.
Pay freezes, cuts, u-turns on popular policies, pension recalculations and job losses will be required to meet the decline in spending that is on the way.
So where does one begin? That 'one' being John Swinney of course.
Well, it seems starting with what won't be cut is the preferred approach. Health spending is to be ring fenced, travel for the elderly is safe and so too is free personal care. I'm not convinced the latter is sustainable in even the short term and the game of chicken over who can keep it on just one more parliamentary term is potentially very damaging. I would hope to see the following: a total realignment of salaries and pensions in the public sector pulling all payments towards the median, some sort of tuition fee brought in, the bridge postponed and a trimmed down civil service based on ability. The public sector can surely no longer be seen as a job for life irrespective of how much of a contribution one makes. Whatever happens, the difficult position Scotland finds itself in can't really be overstated but there's no reason why it can't be seen as an opportunity too.
One problem is that of the two main options that should be available to Scotland, one is closed off. We could have each of the above luxuries if we raised personal taxation levels north of the border. We know this can be done as Sweden enjoys each of the above policies and is in solid financial health too.
SNP Tax
1 minute ago
3 comments:
I thought it was a bit of a let-down to be honest.
They seem to be operating on the basis of last in, first out, so the most recently adopted spending commitments are the ones which are proposed for the chop.
I feel that is the wrong way of looking at things and to be honest is a bit lazy. The true "saced cows" are perhaps the areas of spending that have not been examined quite as rigorously as free personal care, free bus travel et al.
Or to put it another way, free personal care is only "unaffordable" if we are certain that everything else we spend money on is both affordable and necessary.
We ought to be looking at everything the Government spends money on, without preconceptions, and saying is this a good use of money - for example, does it benefit people, or does it benefit institutions?
Can I draw to your attention the following website? - www.newsnetscotland.com/
You may also be interested in the Scottish Parliament’s e-petitions relating to “The Saltire flag above Edinburgh Castle” and “The Wallace letter of safe conduct” - www.epetitions.scottish.parliament.uk
Can I also ask that individuals with an interest in Scottish democracy:
1. Visit Newsnet Scotland and join in the debate
2. Sign the e-petitions on the Scottish Parliament’s website
3. Pass on this communication to 5 others AND ask them to pass on to 5 others
What should be done. Sell off Scottish Water, sell off the Forestry Commission, sell the Crown Estate (I doubt that can be done as it is probably a UK matter but no harm trying)a single police force, no new Forth crossing. What will happen, salami tactics everything cut to a point of service collapse. PS Some thoughts on the defence review. One carrier sold to India, Lossie and Kinloss closed, all Tornados retired/scrapped Nimrods relocated to England, no JSF possible Harrier use early on to be replaced by Rafale on the single carrier. All to save Trident. Michael
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