Land Value Tax moves up the agenda

THE DEVOLUTION of greater financial powers to Scotland presents both a threat and an opportunity. The threat is that growth and productivity in the Scottish economy could be adversely affected if taxes are poorly designed ...

No growth means less equality, not more!

THE GREEN PARTY leader, Patrick Harvie, has described as “ideological nonsense” the idea that a cut in corporation tax will increase revenues. His view is that this will only allow “tax dodgers” to profit, and ...

Hauding wur wheesht and keeping calm

WE ARE in a period of high political drama; but thank goodness for the common people and their interests. And what a contrast to the flounderings of the politicians and other commentariat. 

A free market case for remaining

AFTER EXPECTING to vote Leave for a while, and being undecided for even longer, I’ve eventually decided to vote to Remain in the EU. Here are my reasons why:

Immigration. EU immigration ...

Brexit won't cure the NHS, but it will deliver the tools we need

THE NHS remains at the forefront of concerns for those undecided about whether we should leave the EU.  Deep down many people want to leave but are worried about the short term impacts this might ...

Why more tax does not mean better public services

THE BBC AIRED a fascinating phone-in the day after John Swinney’s budget. It asked the question “Would you be happy to pay more tax?”

Almost all listeners, with a weighting towards older ...

Kezia Dugdale should get to know her Laffer curve

KEZIA DUGDALE has been honest enough to propose how her anti-austerity spending plans would be paid for. 

That in itself is a welcome change from days before the presence of campaign groups ...

Scotland needs more capitalism – not less!

INDIGENOUS BUSINESSES in Scotland are increasingly uncertain about their future prospects.  Until recently it was unimaginable that we would question whether the three-hundred-year-old United Kingdom of Great Britain would survive.  

Scotland’s contribution to ...

Scotland needs an independent nuclear power industry

NUCLEAR POWER creates energy by unlocking the power of the supernova, uranium and thorium were formed in one, billions of years ago. Both are found in the granites of northern Scotland and contribute to a ...

Seemingly not self-evident truths about Scottish politics

TODAY I shall be expressing some views that others may find controversial, disagreeable or give cause to question my humanity or my right to have a forum for my views. If you are one of ...

Just when EU thought it was safe to go back in the water

IT'S DEJAVU all over again. There’s suddenly lots of press coverage of a referendum and the line between passionate debate and angry ranting on Twitter is even finer than usual. There’s even a campaign for ...

College and university admissions point to SNP education failure

LAST MONTH, the First Minister told us – boldly it has to be said – that her “neck was on the line” when it came to addressing the attainment gap between those pupils who come ...