Worth reading the full analysis from our #TaxJusticeScotland colleagues: www.futureeconomy.scot/posts/587-ha... Important to also reflect on other ways S Gov can fairly raise more money and what higher taxes are ultimately for. If we want a fairer Scotland, we need to be willing to pay for it.

Laurie Macfarlane @lmacfarlane.bsky.social · 4d ago

🚨 NEW: @danneidle.bsky.social claims Scotland’s 48% tax rate has lost public revenue. But is this actually true? My new deep-dive says no – Dan’s analysis doesn’t prove anything. It’s a long read, so buckle up 🧵

I recently published a critique of @danneidle.bsky.social's claim that Scotland’s 48% tax reduced revenue. Dan has now updated his analysis in response, arguing it doesn't invalidate his findings. I don’t think he resolves the central problem – here’s why. 🧵

Laurie Macfarlane @lmacfarlane.bsky.social · 4d ago

🚨 NEW: @danneidle.bsky.social claims Scotland’s 48% tax rate has lost public revenue. But is this actually true? My new deep-dive says no – Dan’s analysis doesn’t prove anything. It’s a long read, so buckle up 🧵

ICYMI: Last week @danneidle.bsky.social made headlines by claiming that Scotland’s 48% top rate had reduced revenue. My long critique argues his analysis proves nothing of the sort 👇

Laurie Macfarlane @lmacfarlane.bsky.social · 4d ago

🚨 NEW: @danneidle.bsky.social claims Scotland’s 48% tax rate has lost public revenue. But is this actually true? My new deep-dive says no – Dan’s analysis doesn’t prove anything. It’s a long read, so buckle up 🧵

Really interesting discussion between @mmgeissler.bsky.social and @lmacfarlane.bsky.social 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿 🎙 3 days left to watch/listen BBC Scotland - Scotcast, Tax Rates Debate share.google/ibTSYas0PEDO...

BBC Scotland - Scotcast, Tax Rates Debate

Martin asks if Scotland’s tax system is costing or raising us money.

share.google

@lmacfarlane.bsky.social takes a close look at @danneidle.bsky.social claims on Scottish Government tax policy and the subsequent media reporting on it. www.futureeconomy.scot/posts/587-ha...

Has Scotland’s 48% tax rate really reduced public revenue?

The media should take note: a modelled hypothesis is not the same as definitive proof.

futureeconomy.scot

Important stuff here from @lmacfarlane.bsky.social. I had a busy week (school holidays); I spotted the “higher tax rate loses money for Scotland” headline, thought it sounded dubious at best, and mentally made a note to come back and check it. Fortunately Laurie has done it for me.

Laurie Macfarlane @lmacfarlane.bsky.social · 4d ago

🚨 NEW: @danneidle.bsky.social claims Scotland’s 48% tax rate has lost public revenue. But is this actually true? My new deep-dive says no – Dan’s analysis doesn’t prove anything. It’s a long read, so buckle up 🧵

🚨 NEW: @danneidle.bsky.social claims Scotland’s 48% tax rate has lost public revenue. But is this actually true? My new deep-dive says no – Dan’s analysis doesn’t prove anything. It’s a long read, so buckle up 🧵

Enjoyed speaking to BBC ScotCast about @danneidle.bsky.social’s bombshell claim that Scotland’s 48% tax has lost public revenue. It’s certainly possible, but we don’t know for sure. More on this soon…

Future Economy Scotland@futureeconscot.bsky.social · 5d ago

“Much of the reporting on this has been quite misleading.” Our co-director @lmacfarlane.bsky.social spoke to BBC ScotCast on claims that Scotland’s 48% tax rate has lost money.

Devolving power away from London is Andy Burnham’s big idea. In our new blog, we look at how devolution has benefited Scotland — and what it could deliver for England ⬇️

Devolution is Andy Burnham’s big idea. According to some, Scotland shows it’s not the cure for England’s problems. Here I look at how devolution has benefited Scotland — and what it could deliver for England ⬇️

Laurie Macfarlane @lmacfarlane.bsky.social · 4w ago

NEW: Has devolution helped or hindered Scotland's economy? 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿 Critics claim it has failed. I dug into more than two decades of data to test that claim (it's wrong), and identify lessons England. 🧵

"The uncomfortable truth is that Britain has been without a convincing growth model since the financial crash of 2008 exposed the limits of a finance-led economy." 100% from @lmacfarlane.bsky.social Our coming film The Finance Curse is all about how economies ended up this way but we can change it

Scotland has already tried ‘Manchesterism’. It won’t solve Britain’s economic crisis alone

Andy Burnham’s economic vision has much in common with Scotland’s. Its experience shows why that may not be enough.

opendemocracy.net

NEW: Has devolution helped or hindered Scotland's economy? 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿 Critics claim it has failed. I dug into more than two decades of data to test that claim (it's wrong), and identify lessons England. 🧵

Britain does’t need to imagine what Manchesterism might look like. Much of it already exists in Scotland. The lesson? Burnham’s big idea isn’t enough to fix a sclerotic economy. Me for @opendemocracy.net:

Scotland has already tried ‘Manchesterism’. It won’t solve Britain’s economic crisis alone

Andy Burnham’s economic vision has much in common with Scotland’s. Its experience shows why that may not be enough.

opendemocracy.net

The closest thing Britain already has to ‘Manchesterism’ isn’t in the North West — it’s in Scotland. And it shows that Burnham’s big idea isn’t enough to cure Britain’s economic malaise. Me for @opendemocracy.net:

Scotland has already tried ‘Manchesterism’. It won’t solve Britain’s economic crisis alone

Andy Burnham’s economic vision has much in common with Scotland’s. Its experience shows why that may not be enough.

opendemocracy.net

For Scotland's new Parliament to succeed, it must move from long-term ambition to credible implementation. What should its priorities be? Read our new blog by @hannawheatley.bsky.social: www.futureeconomy.scot/posts/520-wh...

NEW: May’s election reaffirmed Scotland's commitment to delivering a just transition. What must the new Parliament do to deliver this in practice? Our new briefing identifies the key policy priorities for the new parliamentary term 🧵

NEW: What can the new parliament do to revitalise Scotland’s economy while delivering net zero? Our new briefing on key policy priorities for the new parliamentary term 👇

Future Economy Scotland@futureeconscot.bsky.social · last mo.

NEW: May’s election reaffirmed Scotland's commitment to delivering a just transition. What must the new Parliament do to deliver this in practice? Our new briefing identifies the key policy priorities for the new parliamentary term 🧵

Since the Scottish election, much of the debate has focused on the fiscal challenges facing the next Scottish Parliament — framed as a choice between raising revenue or cutting spending.

Communities across Scotland could receive £165m each year from onshore wind energy, if host communities have the right to a share in their local windfarm. Scotland’s wind sector could become a powerful source of local income, but only if communities have their stake. cles.org.uk/blown-away-f...

A broken economy was the defining issue of this election — and for good reason. If the new Parliament is serious about fixing it, it needs a far bolder approach to economic policy. My latest for @futureeconscot.bsky.social:

A New Parliament for a New Economy

Scotland has a historic opportunity to build a more prosperous future. Now MSPs must seize it.

futureeconomy.scot

NEW: Today, 129 MSPs arrived at Holyrood to take their oaths of office. The new parliament faces a clear choice: more of the same, or a path towards economic renewal? Read @lmacfarlane.bsky.social's new blog on the opportunities that lie ahead:

A New Parliament for a New Economy

Scotland has a historic opportunity to build a more prosperous future. Now MSPs must seize it.

futureeconomy.scot

“As this new parliament begins, Scotland stands at a crossroads. One path leads to more of the same. The other points towards economic renewal.” My new @futureeconscot.bsky.social blog on the the need for fresh thinking in this parliament:

A New Parliament for a New Economy

Scotland has a historic opportunity to build a more prosperous future. Now MSPs must seize it.

futureeconomy.scot

Three of the UK’s nations have elected pro-independence parties. The fourth is drifting towards English nationalism under Reform. These islands are constitutionally broken. Yet the UK government still acts like it’s 1997.

At this election, Scots face the starkest choice on economic policy since devolution. Parties have set at out widely divergent views on tax and spend — with huge implications for the role of the state.🧵

🏦 "There is an urgent need for channelling long-term finance towards major social, environmental, and economic challenges." IIPP Professor @mazzucatom.bsky.social and @lmacfarlane.bsky.social analyse the mission-oriented role of the BNDES & KfW banks. 🔗 Learn more here: buff.ly/uQ8pjDY

Malcolm Offord says he’s a very wealthy man. So what would Reform’s tax cuts mean for him? Even on an MSP salary alone, he’d sit in the top income decile — and benefit significantly.

How do party manifestos stack up against a just transition? Our new report breaks down the policies behind the promises 👇

Future Economy Scotland@futureeconscot.bsky.social · 3mo ago

📣 NEW: What do Scotland’s 2026 election manifestos mean for the just transition? Today we release an independent, evidence-based assessment of how manifestos match the scale of the challenge.🧵

NEW: How do party election manifestos measure up on delivering a just transition? Today we’re publishing @futureeconscot.bsky.social's deep dive into each party’s policy platform. 🧵 👉 www.futureeconomy.scot/publications...

📣 NEW: What do Scotland’s 2026 election manifestos mean for the just transition? Today we release an independent, evidence-based assessment of how manifestos match the scale of the challenge.🧵

The UK Government is reportedly considering a rent freeze ❄️ Scotland already did this back in 2022, to mixed success. Some lessons to reflect on 🧵

Rachel Reeves considering rent freeze to limit Iran war fallout

Exclusive: Sources say chancellor is examining exceptional measures to protect household budgets

theguardian.com