Casey Smith

Good to be at Parliament today hearing from @futureeconscot’s Funding Scotland’s Future report - important heading into the election all parties get real about how we raise the revenues necessary to deliver on public priorities

There are plenty of assumptions about public servants and their attitude to change - we spoke with workers across the public sector & heard their thoughts on public service reform - unsurprisingly views are more nuanced than commentators and politicians would have you believe!

🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿 With fiscal pressures mounting ahead of the Holyrood election, reforming Scotland’s public services is back in the spotlight. ⏰But what do public servants themselves say needs to change? In our latest blog, @CaseySmithIPPR goes inside the system ⤵️ ippr.org/articles/on-th…

Scotland still feels hemmed in by the idea that the welfare state is purely burdensome, rather than a springboard to national prosperity and a more dynamic economy. Other countries manage better outcomes with higher rates of spending and investment in social infrastructure.

📢It's launch day!🚀 💷Social spending ≠ economic damage. 💪Plenty of countries prove you can have strong social security and strong economies. Read our new report, More than a Safety Net ⤵️ @stephenboydecon @davehawkey_ @CaseySmithIPPR ippr.org/articles/more-…

For months, we have been digging into a big myth — that strong social protection holds back economic growth.🔍 Spoiler: it doesn’t.💪 We launch our findings tomorrow in our report 'More than a Safety Net'. Stay tuned.🚀 For now, hear it from @stephenboydecon ⤵️

📢Starting today, we will publish a series of blogs as part of our project on Employment, Productivity and Reform in the Scottish Public Sector. First up, this blog by @davehawkey_ looking at teacher pay per pupil in Scotland in an international context. ippr.org/articles/apple…

Yet again, short-term politically driven tax changes with minimal real impact are prioritised over the development of a serious, long-term strategy to achieve the revenues necessary to deliver on the FM’s priorities. Our full response on the Budget here👇ippr.org/media-office/i…

As the Chancellor pulls back on changes to income tax, there are lessons from Scotland - the most taxed part of the UK is also least opposed to further rises. Politicians should be less frightened by tax reform so long as they make an argument for it. See blog below👇

After months of planning and plotting, safe to say our conference yesterday was a success. A big thank you to everyone who was present with us in person and in spirit. Here are some highlights. @JohnSwinney @AnasSarwar @stephenboydecon @davehawkey_ @CaseySmithIPPR @sukhadatatke

And we are off! Our conference begins. Exciting day ahead - getting to grips with the challenges Scotland faces in the years ahead.

🕰️Our tenth anniversary conference is exactly a week away. If you haven't already registered, this is your chance. Seats are limited. luma.com/home?e=evt-mCO…

Sign our open letter to the PM @Keir_Starmer calling on the @GOVUK to reform child maintenance urgently here: opfs.org.uk/policy-and-cam…

Across the UK, too many children in separated families are missing out on child maintenance, and the current system is falling short. Our new report, Better for Everyone: A New Vision for Child Maintenance — sets out practical reforms to transform CMS, update the formula and more

🚸Too many children are missing out on the child maintenance support they deserve. It’s time for change! We @IPPRScotland alongside @opfs, @fifegingerbread @IPPRScotland are calling for a fairer, safer system. 📄 opfs.org.uk/betterforevery… #TransformingChildMaintenance

Excellent @IPPRScotland session on future of Scotland’s industrial strategy with @Ivan_McKee and @sarathiam - crucial discussion on honing Scotland’s comparative advantages and adapting to a world with rising trade barriers. #snpconference2025

🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿💷The investments in Scotland announced by the Chancellor today are welcome, so long as they create the kind of manufacturing jobs that provide security and opportunity for workers in the long-term, and the benefits are felt in the wider community. @CaseySmithIPPR 🗣️

🎉10th ANNIVERSARY🎉 A decade ago, IPPR Scotland was established in a big moment of change to support progressive policymaking. 📢Now, as Scotland faces fresh challenges, we’re hosting a major conference to ask: What next? 🗓️Save the date: 29 Oct 2025 ippr.org/events/ippr-sc…

"We've lost our direction as to what society should be." That line from my Coventry focus group last week has stuck with me. The group was about the Spending Review, but there was something deeper about how we've changed how we treat each other that kept coming up. A short🧵...

🎯The broad settlement for Scotland in today's Spending Review is welcome but not enough to meet its fiscal challenges. 👀All eyes should now be on the upcoming industrial strategy. @stephenboydecon reacts ⤵️ Full statement on our website: ippr.org/media-office/i…