The Herald writer’s piece today has a strange, vague headline. Having read it, I feel sure he’d agree that our one, above, more accurately captures the gist of what both he and the ‘SNP Finance Secretary’, as he terms her, think.
Here’s the key bit:
The report [Scottish Fiscal Commission] prompted SNP Finance Secretary Kate Forbes to say the crisis showed the need for Holyrood to have more borrowing powers. She would, of course, have said Holyrood needs more borrowing powers pre-crisis. But in light of Scotland’s looming economic plight – the Commission calls this moment a “structural break”, a shock so bad that past shocks are no reliable guide – Ms Forbes’s point surely rings true.
The Fiscal Framework is a relic. It was due to be reviewed next year anyway, but that exercise should now be expedited and expanded. Holyrood’s finances are too rigid for the times, too stiff for the hills the country now has to climb.
If the Treasury tries to keep Holyrood on a short rein, MSPs of all parties, not just the SNP, will bridle at being denied the means to calibrate Scotland’s recovery. The electorate will notice too.
After Covid-19, the last thing Holyrood needs is a straitjacket.
Hear, hear!
Footnote: Why Gordonstoun?
Talking-up Scotland 'Albatraz' 
I thought she was the Scottish Governments Finance Secretary!
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She is!
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Sorry, I was being sarky. To a unionist there is no such thing as a Scottish Government – only an SNP government.
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Gordonstoun has clearly been briefed (Union Jack?) as to the downside of the fiscal settlement for Scotland (and Wales and N Ireland), as without the powers of a normal Exchequer, we are stuck with our pocket-money allowance to see us through, when we need to buy a weeks shopping, not sweeties.
He also claims the SNP would not be alone in demanding fiscal legroom, but does not see the logical position for Scotland is self-government, the international normal for countries.
“Florida Jack” Carlot will be fizzing—so nothing new there, then!
But Wee Wullie and Dickie Leotard will be beside him to console , comfort and commiserate and, like wee dugs everywhere, when one start yapping—they all join in.
New to the band, they have Soorploom Murraymints in his bespoke Union Jock suit..
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