IPPR Scotland

⚠️ Scotland could be sleepwalking into austerity ⚠️ 🔴Our new analysis warns looming public sector job cuts could hollow out essential services just as demand rises. 📢The choices made now will shape Scotland’s public services for years. Read here ⤵️ ippr.org/articles/more-…

🗳️Our response to today's Holyrood election result. More on the website: ippr.org/media-office/i…

"Acc to IPPR Scotland, there is a 'dispiriting retreat from the consensus across '21 manifestos that Scotland should play an ambitious role in the global fight against climate change'." @davehawkey_ quoted extensively in @vicky_allan's sobering article⤵️ heraldscotland.com/news/26070715.…

Stephen Boyd heads the influential think tank the Institute for Public Policy Research Scotland. As the election looms, writer-at-large Neil Mackay met him to discuss what the parties are proposing and what Scotland needs 👇

Read our report to know more ⤵️ ippr.org/articles/more-…

In @heraldscotland: "... leading think tank IPPR Scotland has warned the plans for job losses in the public sector could see the country 'sleepwalking into austerity'." Yes, we continue to sound the alarm bell. heraldscotland.com/news/26073213.…

With the Holyrood election less than a week away, @stephenboydecon writes for @prospect_uk on how Scotland's parties have failed to confront the scale of the challenge that awaits them in the next parliament. Read here ⬇️ prospectmagazine.co.uk/politics/scotl…

Given today's findings, the absence of much discussion by parties on the campaign trail about how Scotland responds to this demographic crisis is glaring. Policies which reconcile with the upcoming demographic crisis (or turn around trendlines) should really be front and centre.

All 6 of the major parties have released their manifestos for the Holyrood election - but do they meet @ipprscotland's tests for what makes a good manifesto? In short - they all must try harder. Today's blog gets into the details ippr.org/articles/must-…

Can the next Scottish government revive the economy? Have the parties risen to the challenge? 📈 @stephenboydecon was on the #UofGSpotlight podcast hosted by @ProfGraemeRoy with other experts Prof Sara Carter and David Waite. Tune in ⤵️ open.spotify.com/episode/4iecUO…

In which @stephenboydecon tears into Reform's claim that a million people are economically inactive. He points to the "disturbingly wide chasm developing between political rhetoric and empirical evidence during this election campaign.” Read in @thetimes thetimes.com/uk/scotland/ar…

The IMF’s latest outlook paints a bleak picture and underlines a hard truth: the UK’s economy is still at the mercy of global crises. Our dependence on volatile fossil fuels leaves households and businesses exposed to yet another wave of energy price shocks. We will need to protect people from the effects of this now but to stop us having to do so again in the future we need to invest in electrification and clean, homegrown energy.

This is the blog in which we show that a manifesto with a policy programme that is not adequate to realise bold ideas is a disservice to the electorate ⤵️ ippr.org/articles/what-…

📻We are delighted that @stephenboydecon was with Bernard Ponsonby on Go Radio in a debate structured around our blog on what will make a good Holyrood manifesto. Was he assured that the manifestos would pass the test? Listen and find out! 👀 youtube.com/watch?v=C41Vr9…

The @ScottishTUC are hosting a webinar at 12.30 on industrial strategy ahead of Holyrood elections next month. I'll be contributing with Chris Hamilton, the convener at Grangemouth refinery, Stephen Boyd @IPPRScotland and Satwat Rehman @JTCScotland. Join🔽 @1b287658-7099-4897-8965-3056f0d130a0" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener">events.teams.microsoft.com/event/5148edce…

For more - read our latest report which considers public sector employment, wages and productivity to determine how a progressive reform agenda can be pursued, meet fiscal challenges and sustain excellent public services for all into the future. ippr.org/articles/more-…

For the fourth and final blog piece @CaseySmithIPPR reflects on the first hand accounts of public servants who spoke with @IPPRScotland about how they have experience public service reform. ippr.org/articles/on-th…

Our recent report on public services and productivity in Scotland we published a series of blogs on the topic @davehawkey_ outlines the limits of comparing teacher pay between Scotland and England, and not emphasising an international perspective ippr.org/articles/apple…

5) Child poverty - does the manifesto present evidence that the policies proposed will actually realise its vision for child poverty?

4) Climate - does the manifesto recognise Scotland’s duties in the fight against climate change and the scale of the remaining challenges? If so, is the manifesto clear on costs and who should bear them?

With the 2026 Holyrood election campaign started, the public deserve an honest conversation about governing Scotland. Party manifestos will be soon be released - which begs the question: What makes a good Holyrood election manifesto in 2026? share.google/XVtSfzvU0lSo5Y…