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The Herald Scotland
18-07-2025
- Politics
- The Herald Scotland
John Swinney's chat about independence is getting embarrassing now
It's all becoming a wee bit sad lately. John Swinney starts talking about independence and nobody cares. Independence is supposed to be the SNP's flagship policy, the biggest topic of debate in Scotland – if you believe the nationalist faithful, of course. But when the First Minister opens his mouth on the constitution, most voters tune out. Swinney is the inversion of The Great Gatsby. He keeps throwing independence parties but nobody turns up. He's alone in the ballroom waiting for guests who will never arrive. Swinney has just unveiled his 'new plan for independence'. In truth, it's a nothing-burger, a big fat load of zilch. There's basically no difference – nothing new – to what he said about independence a month ago at the Scotland 2050 summit. That too was the dampest of damp squibs. A squib so damp you'd shudder if you shook its hand. In fact, Swinney isn't just repeating himself; he's repeating himself saying nothing. There's an existential horror to that: Swinney must wake up and feel like crying at the thought of having to spew out the same empty rhetoric over and over again. Read more from Neil Mackay: Let's check this plan out. It has 'three points', apparently. First, there will be a 'campaign designed to build the highest levels of support possible for independence'. Isn't that the SNP's raison d'être? Isn't that what they're supposed to be doing every day? What have they been doing until now? Campaigning to build the lowest levels of independence support? Although, to be fair, that is the opinion of some of the more daring naysayers in the Yes movement. Second, the [[SNP]] will build 'public pressure around Scotland's fundamental national rights' and 'turn the heat up on Westminster' when it comes to Scotland's 'right to choose'. Not to be too pedantic about this word salad, but once again: isn't this what the party is supposed to have been doing, since the last time it was supposed to have been doing it? There's an absurd circularity here that almost demands mockery. Third, Swinney wants to 'persuade independence supporters that the way to deliver independence is only with an emphatic SNP win in 2026'. You know what I'm going to say, right? Did he imagine that we actually thought he wanted to persuade independence supporters to vote Reform? It's beyond zero. This takes the notion of the void, of the vacuum, and somehow manages to empty out even more meaning or sense. Independence supporters were, as far as I could see, united in their frustration at this cypher of an announcement. The problem for Swinney is that the Yes movement has had these games played on it before. For years, Nicola Sturgeon seemed to announce that 'indy was coming' once a month. For a while, it worked. It kept the base fed and it provided column inches and debate. Eventually, though, everyone – even the most deluded McGlashan who would gleefully commit seppuku with their Claymore for 'Scottish freedom' – knew they were being conned. It wasn't so much that the curtain was ripped away, like in The Wizard of Oz, and we all suddenly saw the trickster at work. Rather, Sturgeon droned on so much that the curtain simply withered away over time. For Swinney to continue these tricks is lamentable. His indy chat is just embarrassing. He must know it won't work. Yet, the tragedy for Swinney is that he's trapped in this farce. He must go through this rigmarole every few months lest he be seen by his fractious base as some unionist quisling. The truth is nobody in the SNP has the slightest clue about how to achieve either another referendum or what independence means in any substantive form. They all passionately support independence – that bit isn't a con. But they've run out of ideas on the logistics. They're caught between the self-interested need to stay in power, which means they can't put independence front and centre on a daily basis for fear of deterring moderate voters; and the self-interested need to placate the base – for without the base, they're finished. What one can say in fairness about Swinney and the current iteration of the SNP is that they've steadied the ship. They've at least made the theory of good governance their priority, even if that may be somewhat lacking in practice. In this era, though, an insurgent political movement like Scottish independence needs helmed by someone with enough passion to fill Hampden. The Yes movement requires an authentically charismatic – even populist – leader. Swinney is an authentically decent chap, but even his fans would admit he can be managerial and bloodless. The world may be better off without charisma-politics, but sadly that's what the times demand. If the years could be rewound, the best strategy would be to hive the Yes movement off from the SNP and have it led by some non-political figurehead with bags of personality and the gift of the gab. The SNP could then get on with governing as best they can in order to show what could be achieved under independence, while the celebrity face of the movement charmed the pants off the nation. That ain't gonna happen, though. The SNP is in charge, and Swinney is the dude in the chair. So prepare for regular – perhaps monthly – cries of 'indy is coming'. Just don't for a moment imagine that any of this empty rhetoric takes independence forward one inch. Neil Mackay is The Herald's Writer-at-Large. He's a multi-award-winning investigative journalist, author of both fiction and non-fiction, and a filmmaker and broadcaster. He specialises in intelligence, security, crime, social affairs, cultural commentary, and foreign and domestic politics.
Scotsman
30-06-2025
- Politics
- Scotsman
Why Scottish Parliament needs to formalise cross-party collaboration
Sign up to our daily newsletter – Regular news stories and round-ups from around Scotland direct to your inbox Sign up Thank you for signing up! Did you know with a Digital Subscription to The Scotsman, you can get unlimited access to the website including our premium content, as well as benefiting from fewer ads, loyalty rewards and much more. Learn More Sorry, there seem to be some issues. Please try again later. Submitting... Two weeks ago, the first-ever Scotland 2050 conference took place in Edinburgh. With more than 400 delegates at the Assembly Rooms in Edinburgh, it was great to see so many people take part. For those who attended and sponsored the event, I want to say a big thank you for being a part of it and for your continued support. The underpinning ethos of Scotland 2050 is to simply ask questions about where we want this country to be by 2050, how to tackle the issues that affect us all and how to secure new opportunities in the future. I want everyone to be part of a conversation about Scotland's future, but to achieve this, we need to build a political consensus, underpinned by realpolitik and a desire to see a better and more prosperous Scotland. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad To do that we need to have a long-term, strategic plan for Scotland. What was striking about the conference was the widespread support, buy-in and recognition of that from all across the party political spectrum and from members of the public. They were clear about the need for longer term thinking that transcends the theatrics of day-to-day politics. Deputy First Minister Kate Forbes and Cherie Blair share a platform at the Scotland 2050 conference in Edinburgh (Picture: Andrew Milligan) | PA Good intentions It is understandable – and it's also very easy – to be a cynic and argue that the interest from politicians is due to the fact that there is an election taking place in just over ten months' time. But I would argue that just isn't the case as there really is a shared desire to build a better Scotland from all political parties and leaders in Scotland. And if that is the starting position as we begin this journey, then that's good enough for me. However, a one-off conference won't solve the issues that Scotland currently faces and my ambition is for Scotland 2050 to become an annual event. And, as successful as this first conference was, we need to go beyond simple rhetoric about supporting a long-term strategic plan for the country and put in place vehicles to actually deliver it. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Deputy First Minister Kate Forbes and Cherie Blair share a platform at the Scotland 2050 conference in Edinburgh (Picture: Andrew Milligan) | PA A new way of thinking One way of doing this would be to create a cross-party committee at Holyrood which would be comprised of MSPs but also relevant people from key sectors like health, housing and the economy, to name but a few. It would then make recommendations to the Scottish Government about how we as a nation can tackle the issues affecting Scotland today for a better tomorrow. What I'm suggesting here isn't revolutionary and doesn't require the re-invention of the wheel – it's very much in keeping with how the Scottish Parliament currently works. But creating a committee like this, whose overall remit is long-term strategy, not short-term political point-scoring, would help foster a new way of thinking. If done right, creating this new political model based on working in partnership would result in better decision-making and a brighter future for Scotland. After a successful conference, we now need less talking and more action. It's time to reimagine this country's potential.
The Herald Scotland
30-06-2025
- Business
- The Herald Scotland
Genuine opportunity for business but momentum at risk of stalling
We welcome the Chancellor's £86 billion commitment to science, technology and research, as well as funding for the vital Acorn Project in Aberdeenshire, and the £750 million restoration of the Edinburgh University supercomputer. These decisions will help cement Scotland's place at the cutting edge of global industries as well as generate jobs, boost regional economies, and spur commercialisation of ideas born in our world-class universities. The UK Government's plan to increase defence spending from 2% to 2.5% of gross domestic product (GDP) by 2027 also represents a significant economic opportunity for Scotland to expand the industrial base and create jobs in productive industries like advanced manufacturing. Our aerospace, defence, security and space sectors provide 430,000 jobs and the Acorn Project carbon capture and storage facility will create 15,000 more in construction alone - as well as making the Northeast a world leader in the low-carbon industry and attracting billions in private investment. By focusing on high-growth sectors like carbon capture, information technology (IT), biotechnology and life sciences, as well as increased defence spending, the Government is signalling the right priorities. Alongside the additional £2.9bn allocation for Scotland through the Barnett Formula, it's another shot in the arm for industrial growth. Scotland's businesses will be buoyed by the potential this unlocks. The UK Government's Modern Industrial Strategy, published last week, reinforced these investments with a plan ready for implementation. Scottish Chambers of Commerce (SCC) has long called for a joined-up approach to developing our major industries, and last week the Government indicated it was listening, giving a vote of confidence to Scotland's manufacturers and innovators. But let's be clear: without urgent, coordinated reform, this good news could be squandered if the headaches businesses face every day are not resolved: Soaring operational costs, including the hike in employer national insurance contributions (NICs) and the highest energy bills in Europe Inadequate business rates support, hitting our struggling high streets and the hospitality sector hardest The bureaucratic burdens and constraints in planning blocking progress on infrastructure projects and private investment The huge staffing and skills shortage thwarting our ambitions and ability to grow to meet current and future demand The Spending Review commitments can put the UK economy on a pathway to growth, but it's clear the Treasury needs more financial flexibility to invest in long-term assets such as transport, infrastructure, connectivity and logistics. The Chancellor should heed calls from the International Monetary Fund and leading economists to review the Government's fiscal rules. Read more Closer to home, it was encouraging to hear the First Minister, John Swinney, affirm his commitment at the Scotland 2050 conference to align policy with economic opportunity. Business desperately needs clarity and leadership, and we are starting to see this approach bear fruit. Earlier this month, EY reported that one in six UK investment projects were based in Scotland, underlining our nation's structural attractiveness to investors, second only to London. However, spending promises on building projects and transport infrastructure will amount to empty words without the necessary reforms to get the system moving at pace. Why does it currently take 58 weeks to process a planning application in Glasgow, yet just 16 weeks in Manchester? Worryingly, we are also forecast to need 700 additional planners to meet market demand with no clear plan to meet that number anytime soon. The cost of building is higher in Scotland than the rest of the UK, largely because of the Scottish Government's higher regulatory standards. Whilst this may be well-intentioned, some regulations are clearly becoming an impediment to growth. Strategic thinking is required to balance sensible regulation against economic necessity. Smart reforms are also needed across the public sector to ensure best practice and streamlined and simplified processes are aligned with key business priorities. These are all critical areas we must address if we are to maximise the opportunities for jobs and economic growth offered by the Spending Review. We simply have to take this positive momentum and capitalise on it. Read more The Scottish Government also outlined its budget priorities last week, pledging to expand borrowing for capital spending in construction and renewables, but with a welcomed emphasis on public sector reform. The Finance Secretary has expressed her intention to maximise every penny of investment through efficiencies and technical improvement, boosting productivity in the long term. This is something every sector of the economy stands to benefit from. While Scottish Government spending is significantly shaped by the Barnett Formula, which ensures that a population-based adjustment is made to align spending in devolved areas such as health or education, the Scottish Government has outlined clear priorities and a direction of travel to business. Westminster and Holyrood must now work in close collaboration to support these investments with a laser focus on delivery, removing obstacles to growth and finding solutions for businesses weighed down by spiralling costs and excessive regulation. The Scottish Chambers of Commerce and our Network are ready and willing to work in partnership with governments and help businesses navigate the business challenges and economic opportunities. Collaboration is the key to secure the growth and jobs we so badly need. Liz Cameron is chief executive of the Scottish Chambers of Commerce
Scotsman
29-06-2025
- Business
- Scotsman
‘Bloated' civil service in Scotland hits record size as SNP ministers told to act
Figures highlighted by Scottish Labour have shown the overall growth in the public sector workforce north of the Border. Sign up to our Politics newsletter Sign up Thank you for signing up! Did you know with a Digital Subscription to The Scotsman, you can get unlimited access to the website including our premium content, as well as benefiting from fewer ads, loyalty rewards and much more. Learn More Sorry, there seem to be some issues. Please try again later. Submitting... SNP ministers have been told they must deal with the 'bloated' size of the devolved civil service after the number of workers hit a record high. Figures for the first quarter of this year have revealed civil servants working in Scotland's public sector reached 27,400 full-time equivalent (FTE) roles – the highest at any point under devolution. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad It means about one in every 200 people living in Scotland were working for the Scottish Government in the first three months of this year. First Minister John Swinney addressing the Scotland 2050 conference in Edinburgh. The number employed by 'other public bodies', often referred to as quangos, also rose by another 200 positions to stand at 21,500 FTE. The figures were highlighted by Scottish Labour, which pointed out staff numbers in the NHS workforce had fallen by 200 over the same period to 161,300 FTE. Anas Sarwar's party subsequently accused the SNP Government of being 'desperately out of touch' and of 'putting self-interest over Scotland's interests'. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad The public sector employment data goes back to the early devolution era in 1999, when 14,100 civil servants were recorded. A total of 15,800 FTE civil servants worked in the public sector in the first quarter of 2007. The workforce growth has emerged just days after First Minister John Swinney raised the prospect of workforce cutbacks during a keynote speech about national renewal in Glasgow on Monday. Mr Swinney said his Government was committed to avoiding compulsory redundancies as he claimed Scotland's public sector would have to shrink. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Public Finance Minister Ivan McKee earlier this week said the Government would aim to make savings of £1 billion over five years through public sector reform, cutting 'back office costs' to redirect money to the frontline. He said the number of public bodies would be reduced to drive a more efficient system alongside a new review of public sector buildings. Under a different measurement, of the Scottish Government's directly employed staff, numbers have remained between 8,000 and 9,000 FTE since 2021. Scottish Labour Finance spokesperson Michael Marra said: 'Frontline services are stretched to breaking point and NHS staff numbers are falling amid a deadly crisis – but the SNP is sparing no expense on its own bloated operation. 'Once again, the SNP is putting self-interest over Scotland's interests. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad 'This SNP Government is desperately out of touch with the priorities of the people of Scotland. 'A Scottish Labour government will prioritise frontline services over government bureaucracy and pointless quangos.' The Scottish Government said care should be taken when interpreting quarterly changes in workforce sizes, and stressed the Scottish Government's 'core workforce' had come down by 5 per cent since 2022. A spokesman said: 'It is common for there to be seasonal variation in staffing levels in public services, for example as newly qualified nurses enter the workforce each year following graduation. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad 'Public sector workers have a vital role in the funding, development and delivery of key services ranging from education, health and social care, to transport and safeguarding the natural environment – also providing impartial expert advice to the public, parliament, and ministers. 'They have responded to many significant issues in recent times, such as the pandemic, impacts of the war in Ukraine and the cost-of-living crisis, while taking on more devolved responsibilities in areas such as social security, equal opportunities, consumer advocacy and advice, and expanded tax powers.' Union leaders have warned against any plans for widespread job cuts across the public sector. Unison Scottish secretary Lilian Macer this week described any cuts as a 'political choice' rather than a financial necessity, pointing out Holyrood's budget would increase by £2.9 billion a year on average in the wake of Chancellor Rachel Reeves' Spending Review.
Scotsman
24-06-2025
- Business
- Scotsman
Challenges ahead to build a strong, sustainable workforce fit for future
Michael McLaughlin is an employment partner, Shoosmiths Scotland can't win in every sector, so we must decide where our focus should be, writes Michael McLaughlin Sign up to our Scotsman Money newsletter, covering all you need to know to help manage your money. Sign up Thank you for signing up! Did you know with a Digital Subscription to The Scotsman, you can get unlimited access to the website including our premium content, as well as benefiting from fewer ads, loyalty rewards and much more. Learn More Sorry, there seem to be some issues. Please try again later. Submitting... Last week, colleagues in Shoosmiths' Edinburgh and Glasgow offices joined leading figures from across the business, civic and political spectrum at the Scotland 2050 conference in Edinburgh. Through a series of panel discussions, the aim was to explore the issues and opportunities that must be considered for Scotland to thrive in 2050 and beyond. While Barry McKeown, head of real estate in Scotland, was part of an influential panel that discussed Solving Scotland's Housing Crisis, as an employment lawyer I spoke about Scotland's workforce now, and where it needs to be in 2050 if Scotland is going to have a strong, sustainable economy. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad The discussion in the room highlighted the disconnect between the main stakeholders about how to build a sustainable economy for the next 25 years. It was felt that Scotland is spreading its scarce resources too thinly and needs to decide what sectors are going to form its economic USP in 2050. Scotland can't win in every sector. Therefore, the approach has to be more focused and targeted. For example, to build an economy around tech, energy and infrastructure, the workforce and skills must be in place to achieve this aim. Equally, if we are going to continue to pursue our historical strong suits such as in tourism and food and drink, we must ensure the skills base is sufficient to sustain growth in these sectors. The heart of a strong, sustainable economy is a skilled, healthy, motivated workforce. In my opinion, the question of whether Scotland will have that in 2050 hinges on how it responds to the evolving pressures of technology, mental health, and post-pandemic realities. There are significant challenges to overcome. An estimated 810,000 Scots aged 16 to 64 were economically inactive from 2023 to 2024. Scotland is too small an economy to sustain that level of non-contribution from such a large proportion of the working population. Furthermore, Artificial Intelligence (AI) is already re-shaping Scotland's employment landscape. While fears of job displacement persist, history shows that technological advancement tends to shift rather than eliminate employment. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad AI should complement the way we work, rather than diminish it. The real challenge therefore lies in ensuring that skills evolve to meet emerging demands. Scotland is facing a digital skills shortage. It is estimated that this annually costs the UK economy £23 billion with the cost to Scotland in excess of £3bn. Without a robust national strategy to upskill workers, especially in sectors like energy, technology, and infrastructure, our workforce risks falling behind. Investment in training is essential to ensure Scottish workers develop and retain the necessary skills to work competently in these growth sectors in 2050. The post-pandemic workplace has seen a marked shift with the rise of home/flexible working. It remains to be seen whether in the medium and long term this will have a positive or negative effect on economic output. I believe there's also a sense of entitlement within sections of the workforce who baulk at being asked to come into the office. Indeed, efforts at cracking down on hybrid working have been largely unsuccessful, with many employees choosing to switch to an employer who permits homeworking. Moreover, since the pandemic, employees have become more litigious and challenging towards employers. Employer expectations are rising year on year. 47 per cent of UK employees in 2024 saw their job as 'just about the money' which is up from 38 per cent in 2019. It's notable that only 51 per cent of employees said they would work harder than needed to help their employer. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Good health and mental health are pivotal for workforce sustainability. In 2022, 17.7 million workdays were lost to sickness absence in Scotland with more than 20 per cent of these attributed to mental health. Scotland is experiencing a growing mental health crisis, the effect of which professionals believe could last a generation. Whilst the Scottish Government is introducing new Core Mental Health Standards to ensure consistent, high-quality care, demand is rising. To maintain a productive and resilient workforce, we are going to have to understand and address the root causes of stress. Our workforce is ageing and there needs to be a focus on how that ageing workforce can be helped to remain healthy and productive. In summary, there are significant challenges for Scotland in building a strong, sustainable workforce for the future. Our politicians, business community, local government and further and higher education institutions must come together to decide on our economic priorities over the next two decades and then assess how we are going to produce a skilled, stable workforce to succeed in these sectors.
