Tuesday, January 11, 2011
Professor Andrew Hughes Hallett
Leading economists Professors Andrew Hughes Hallett and Drew Scott today gave both oral and written evidence to the Holyrood Committee scrutinsing the Scotland Bill on extending devolution to the Scottish Parliament. Readers can read their full written submission in Campaign Publications.
Monday, July 9
Commentator and former Conservative MSP Brian Monteith today said that fiscal responsibility was a pre-requisite of better public services and a growing economy in Scotland.
Writing in The Scotsman, says: ‘The fact is that Labour’s devolution was ill-conceived and remains unfinished; the powers that were given to the Holyrood parliament were intentionally designed to retain power at Westminister and in particular at the Treasury. The resuilt has been that the political discourse in Scotland is always one-sided, discussing that subsidised sweties can be handed out.
‘Now that business leaders are arguing for greater fiscal responsibilty, the debate is beginning to change at last.’
Wednesday, July 14
Leading commentator Peter Jones says he is in favour of fiscal responsibility for the Scottish Paliament, but believes there needs to be more focus on potential downsides as well as benefits.
Writing in The Scotsman, Jones says: ‘No tax change comes without benefits and costs. You can raise taxes on buisnesses to pay for things that business wants, such as more motorways and air route subsidies, but those business benefits are liable to be cancelled out by having fewer companies (becuase they have been taxed out of business) able to make use of them. The same principle applies to changing the nature of the tax system.’
Despite the ‘downsides; cited by Jones, he says Scotland is right to press for fiscal responsibility.
Thursday, July 8
Finance Secretary John Swinney says the latest forecast of how deep the cuts in Scotland’s budget will be over the next few years strengthens the case for Holyrood to be given fiscal responsibility. Reacting to a report by Dr Andrew Goudie, his chief economic adviser, that Scottish budget cuts will have to continue until 2015-16, Mr Swinney said this was a consequence of the Coalition cutting ‘too deeply and too quickly’. He said it reinforced the case for Scotland having the fiscal responsibility to control most taxes instead of a sustained period of Westminster cuts.
Tuesday, June 29
Two leading economists today explain why implementation of the Calman Commission proposals could lead to a double dip recession in Scotland. Professors Andrew Hughes Hallett and Drew Scott warn that supporters of Calman do not fully understand the true financial impact of adopting the recommendations. [Click here to download the full article]
Thursday, June 17
Douglas Osler, the former HM senior chief inspector of education, is the latest high profile figure to sign up to the campaign. He said: ‘I am a keen supporter of this campaign because I believe, particularly when times are hard, that Scotland should have increasing responsibility for its own affairs. This, after all, is an adult country capable of taking its own decisions.’
Neil Kay, Emeritus Professor at Strathclyde University, has also signed the Declaration. Professor Kay is a former reader of economics at Heriot Watt University and has advised both the European Commission and the UN’s Development Programme.
Tuesday, June 15
Commentator David Torrance today called on the Scottish Tories to back full fiscal responsibility for Holyrood. Writing in The Scotsman about the forthcoming internal review of the party, he said Scottish Conservatives needed to be bolder and more ambitious if they were to regain any credibility north of the Border. ‘There exists within the group at least a trio of sharper, younger MSPs who realise instinctively what needs to be done: chiefly an all-out drive for full fiscal responsibility (what could be more Tory?), a more radical edge to wider policy and a change in elected (and non-elected) personnel which was only hinted at in a recent reshuffle.’ [Click here to read full story]
Wednesday, June 9
Prominent North-east businessman Stewart Spence today joined the campaign calling for Holyrood to be given greater control over taxes. The owner of the Marcliffe at Pitfodels Hotel, on the outskirts of Aberdeen,said: ”’Now more than ever I am convinced that Scotland should be responsible for its own finances.’ [See press release]
Tuesday, June 8
The British Bankers’ Association today dissociated itself from a Daily Telegraph story claiming that Scottish banks were opposed to greater tax-raising powers being devolved to Holyrood. [For the BBA's full statement click here]
A leading strategic thinker with more than 20 years’ experience in public affairs and financial services signed up to the campaign today. John Cooke is the former chair of the Financial Services Implmentation Group, the body charged with delivering the Scottish Government’s Strategy for the Financial Services Industry. He said: ‘With the best will in the world, and with a benign disposition towards Scotland, a Westminster Chancellor has to set policy on the basis of what’s right for the UK as a whole, not on the basis of what’s right for one part of the UK comprising circa 8% of the population.
‘In an increasingly global economic environment, western European regions or countries will only prosper by finding specialist niches: Scotland has more chance of finding its niche if it controls its own fiscal policy, than it would if that policy is set for the UK as a whole. In this case, small is beautiful, because it allows us to be more nimble.’
Monday, June 7
Leading entrepreneur Sir Tom Hunter has voiced his support for the campaign, arguing that more radical moves are needed than those proposed by the Calman Commission. Writing in The Times, Sir Tom says: ‘I believe Scotland needs to control the levers necessary to stimulate economic growth, and benefit from the receipts that come from that growth.’ [Click here for full story]
The campaign had attracted its 100th signatory by 12 noon today. The century was reached fewer than five days since the camapign was launched last Thursday. Among those who lent their support today is Martin Sime, chief exectuive of the Scottish Council for Volunary Organisations [SCVO, andthe respected economist Sir Donald Mackay. [For full list of supporters click on'signatories']
Sunday, June 6
Leading figures in business, the voluntary sector, education and journalism have signed up to the campaign. Within 24 hours of the campaign being officially launched, a steady stream of people has come forward to voice support. They include former STUC general secretary Dr Campbell Christie OBE. He said: ‘I support this campaign because it will help ensure that Scotland is given the tools it needs to meet the difficult economic challenges that lie ahead.’ [See press release for fuller details]
Thursday, June 3
The Campaign was officially launched today in Edinburgh. Ben Thomson, chairman of the independent think tank Reform Scotland, introduced leading businessman Jim McColl, chairman of Clyde Blowers [pictured] and Professors Andrew Hughes Hallett and Drew Scott who have compiled a detailed analysis of why proper fiscal responsibility for the Scottish Parliament will encourage growth and lead to a stronger economy. Mr McColl, one of Scotland’s most respected entrepreneurs, said: ‘This is all about taking responsibility for our own economic destiny and helping to shape the kind of Scotland we want.’ [See press release for further details]
Wednesday, June 2
The Times today lent its full support to the campaign for greater fiscal powers for Holyrood. In a Page 1 article, the paper reports that leading businessmen, including Jim McColl, chairman of Clyde Blowers, and Martin Gilbert, chief executive of Aberdeen Asset Management, are among a growing band of people who believe Holyrood needs to be given control over a wide range of tax measures. [Read the full article here]
The Scotsman also carries news of the campaign to win greater fiscal autonomy for Scotland. It reports that the campaign was boosted when Business Secretary Vince Cable threw his weight behind suggestions that the new coalition government could oversee the introduction of “Calman plus” – reforms that would take constitutional change beyond the proposals set out by the Calman Commission. And in its leader article, The Scotsman says: ‘The more responsibility that Scotland has for having to raise the money it spends, the greater incentive – and rewards – of promoting economic growth.’
[Read the full article here]
