Academics question Salmond’s call for fiscal autonomy
A group of academics have challenged Alex Salmond’s assertion that granting the Scottish Government full economic powers would significantly boost the economy.
SNP
Hundred days to Holyrood – SNP and Labour launch their campaigns
With less than 100 days to go till voters across Scotland go to the polls to elect a new Scottish Parliament, the SNP and Labou have kicked off their campaigns.
Has the SNP given up on its school sports pledge?
MPs will this afternoon get the chance to debate education secretary Michael Gove’s decision to end the ring fencing of the schools sports budget. Today, the House of Commons will debate a motion tabled by the Opposition critical of a decision which could see drastic cuts to funding for school sport in the in the run up to the Olympics.
Did John Swinney mislead MSPs on the Tartan Tax?
As with all good Budgets, it is only once the dust settles that the implications of the measures announced become clear and Scotland is no exception. Following the publication on Wednesday of the SNP government’s draft Budget, finance secretary John Swinney is facing calls from the main opposition parties to explain to parliament the government’s decision to forego its albeit limited tax varying powers.
Rodents aside, what else happened at the Scottish Labour conference?
In his speech to Scottish Labour’s final conference before next May’s elections to Holyrood, Ed Miliband declared “Labour’s fight back has begun”, but what have we learnt from the weekend on Oban? First, these’s no love lost between the Liberal Democrats and Labour, with Miliband’s deputy Harriet Harman calling Lib Dem Chief Secretary to the Treasury Danny Alexander a “ginger rodent”.
Tory deal with the SNP “ludicrous”
A spokesman for the SNP has said: “There is no possibility whatsoever of a coalition deal with the Tories at Holyrood now or in the future… To suggest a deal is possible is simply ludicrous and reveals that the Tories still don’t understand how deeply opposed the vast majority of Scots are to what they represent.”
SNP: Defence cuts would be a “calamity for Scotland”
Following reports the MoD budget faces an 8pc cut in Wednesday’s spending review, the SNP’s Angus Robertson says the cuts will be a “calamity for Scotland”.
SNP education secretary rejects Browne’s findings for Scotland
If the publication of Lord Browne’s review has proved controversial in England, in Scotland the mood music from the SNP Government has been positively frosty.
New book reveals Alex Salmond is a man capable of “explosive rages”
A new biography of Alex Salmond paints him as a man capable of “explosive rages” whose “merciless criticism” left some of his staff “an emotional train wreck”.
SNP u-turn on class sizes
Scottish Labour have dubbed a “disgrace” education secretary Michael Russell’s announcement on class sizes for primary school children in year one.