Scottish government
The SNP’s slow route to building independence
Author / Creator: Richard Parry
Media type: Article
Date published:
The Scottish Government under Humza Yousaf’s brief and unsuccessful leadership maintained some momentum on independence by issuing nine further instalments of their series ‘Building a New Scotland’ between June 2023 and March 2024.
First Ministers and political leadership: Part 2
Author / Creator: Gerry Hassan
Media type: Article
Date published: 2023
Scottish politics, the parliament, the nature of government and the role of First Minister changed when the SNP inched past the Labour Party in May 2007 and formed its first ever administration.
First Ministers and political leadership: Part 1
Author / Creator: Gerry Hassan
Media type: Article
Date published: 2023
A review of the first 25 years of Scottish Government first ministers.
A Better Relationship: A Fresh Agenda For Scotland’s New First Minister
Author / Creator: Jamie Gollings
Media type: Opinion
Date published: 2023
A devolutionist view of Issues for the First Minister
Here’s how Humza Yousaf can deliver a fairer, greener Scotland
Author / Creator: Adam Ramsay
Media type: Opinion
Date published: 2023
"After 16 years in power, the SNP is stagnating. With these 16 policies, the new first minister can change that"
Is it time tae think again about Flower of Scotland?
Author / Creator: Martin Roche
Media type: Blog
Date published: 2023
Scottish Rugby’s Jim Telfer wants a new anthem for Scotland
What new institutions of economic policy would an independent Scotland need?
Author / Creator: Gemma Tetlow
Date published: 2022
Building trust in a post-independence Scottish government’s commitments to sound economic policy and sustainable public finances requires strong, operationally independent institutions
Public procurement - views and experiences: research
Author / Creator: Blake Stevenson Ltd
Media type: Research Report
Date published: 2022
The process of bidding for Scottish public sector contracts is difficult. Organisations referred to challenges with a lack of time or capacity to bid, the complexity of the bidding process and difficulties in meeting the requirements of the contracts.
Time to shake up Scotland
Author / Creator: John McLaren
Media type: Article
Date published:
There is a lack of critical scrutiny of key policy areas in the Scottish Government's control.
The ‘Scottish Approach’ to Policymaking
Author / Creator: Paul Cairney
Media type: Book
Date published: 2020
The Scottish government approach to policymaking is distinctive in the way it uses evidence to inform policy and policymaking.
Interest Groups and Policy Communities
Author / Creator: Iain MacLeod
Media type: Book
Date published: 2020
the so-called ‘new politics’ that devolution was meant to espouse has instead continued the dominance of traditionally privileged groups.
The Leadership and Management of Public Services Reform in Scotland
Author / Creator: John Connolly
Media type: Book
Date published: 2020
Reform of public services in Scotland have been undermined by a focus on constitutional matters and an empowerment agenda.
The Civil Service and Government Structures
Author / Creator: Richard Parry
Media type: Book
Date published: 2020
The civil service in Scotland is part of the UK civil service and acts with those norms in mind.
A Holyrood you trust or Westminster you do not? Open Minds on Independence #23
Author / Creator: Believe in Scotland
Media type: News Media
Date published:
How does the Scottish Government score in the Worldwide Governance Indicators?
1: Voice and Accountability - good
2: Political Stability - good. Better than England
3:Government Effectiveness - good and more trusted than England
4: Regulatory Quality - good although an independent Scotland would need some new regulatory bodies
5: Rule of Law - good. It has a well-regarded legal sysem
The Statistics of Devolution
Author / Creator: David Byne
Media type: Book
Date published: 2019
Statistical collection and analysis needs to be improved in a devolved UK. Greater detail of local and regional analysis is required for both Scotland and England.
Thinking Outwith the Box, GERS 2020-21 and the SNP conference Agenda
Author / Creator: Craig Dalzell
Media type: Podcast
Date published:
What the latest GERS figures mean (and don’t mean) for Scotland, independence and the post-pandemic recovery.
Claim Scots will be £2,000 worse off after independence is Unsupported
Author / Creator: The Ferret
Media type: Fact check
Date published:
The "Union Dividend" of £1941 per person [in 2019] only refers to the difference in current spending per head. It does not tell us what Scotland’s financial position would be after independence.
Preparing Scotland digitally for independence
Author / Creator: Gordon Morgan
Media type: Policy Paper
Date published: November 2017
Most tax collection, borders and customs, and foreign affairs, which are mostly reserved areas, would need to new IT systems established upon independence. The methods and costs are examined.
Towards a Defence & Security strategy for an independent Scotland
Author / Creator: Garry Macdonald
Media type: Policy Paper
Date published: December 2017
This paper is intended to provide an overview of the following aspects of a Scottish Defence & Security Strategy:
• What is meant by ‘Scottish national security’
• What threats it would be required to address
• What framework it would operate under
• How Scottish foreign policy would impact it
• What institutions would implement it
The intent of this paper is not to serve as a finalised strategy but instead to provide a basis for further discussion and development.
Public Procurement in Scotland: The case for scrutiny, accountability and transparency
Author / Creator: Margaret Cuthbert
Media type: Policy Paper
Date published:
Procurement in Scotland is shrouded in secrecy and wide-ranging reforms are needed to ensure transparency and accountability.