The public spending watchdog says the Government can’t afford it’s £26 billion plans to build things like roads, prisons and hospitals.
He’s on first thing today with another of his worrisome reports suggesting Scotland just can’t make it in the world.
Have you ever seen the Auditor General for England on the BBC first thing, with similar messages?
Indeed who is the AG for England?
It’s Gareth Davies!
Try searching for ‘BBC England Gareth Davies’ and you’ll not get the AG, you’ll get a Welsh Scrum Half!
Try searching for ‘BBC England Auditor General’ and all you’ll get is how he audits the BBC.
Is this a one-of by the Scottish AG?
Nope. See:
Talking-up Scotland 'Albatraz' 
Another one from the stable of #SNPBAD perpetual opposers that the BBC drag out to spew their one sided version of (NON) reality against the same ones (SNP) they, the BBC, seem determined to destroy.
Only those with an agenda AGAINST the SNP are those whom the BBC seek to give a platform to…..a tag team of T*** (rhymes with PITS) in succession in the news not where you are but the news as dictated with a clear politically motivated agenda AGAINST the SNP…..
BBC Scotland have a habit in hiding much of the the reserved policies and decisions via the UK government…of which Scotland , as part of the UK, is very much subjected to and suffering under…..while instead they , the BBC, are directing all of their focus and attention upon devolved policies and decisions…..which is understandable really considering how damaging the UK government’s reserved policies and decisions have been for Scotland….and too how bad the Tories have been for England via their control of their respective NHS, Education etc there…..
I am amazed that given how bad the BBC seem to promote the SNP are as a Scottish government that Scotland has not imploded …..as the amount of BAD news we hear via the BBC upon Scotland it surely is at Armageddon levels of destruction…..though I must say that in my dealings with any public service where I encounter no significant problems…… that I am beginning to think the BBC are perhaps exaggerating and overplaying their hand in what they promote as reality against what I , and too other people I know, is the ACTUAL lived reality via real experiences with these SAME services that the BBC say are …not just bad….but SNPBAD…..and yes I am being sarcastic as I am beyond taking any output via the BBC and their selected ‘guests’ as either substantiated , informed or an accurate true reflection of what is REALLY happening in Scotland…especially considering I know what is REALLY happening in both the UK and England under the Tories as the UK Govt (and too what the New New Labour party plan to continue with …as in down the same path as the Tories if they, New New Labour, are elected as the next UK government).,,,.mind you the BBC is not a station I switch on if I REALLY want to know the news where I am….indeed is any MSM reliable these days to report on ANYTHING connected to Scotland….I think NOT.
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The only problem is that there are plenty of people who only get their news from BBC and then spout out to all and sundry what they heard on “the news”
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NMRN “—amazed that given how bad the BBC seem to promote the SNP are as a Scottish government that Scotland has not imploded …”
Implosion may not have happened, but mental health issues, substance abuse, etc, that the BBC never fail to mention, has. The BBC and other MSN outlets need to shoulder some of the blame.
I tried to make this point on a phone in programme, I wasn’t allowed, access denied. I had examples of blatant negative reporting at the ready, thanks to TUS.
Haven’t managed to get through to BBC since, might need one of those burner phones.
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The coverage of the Audit Scotland report on the BBC News website has comments from the Tory, Labour and Lib Dem opposition in Holyrood. They are not especially insightful but having read the piece shortly after reading an article on the same website by the BBC’s Economic Editor, Faisal Islam, this contribution from the sage Willie Rennie stuck in my mind:
‘Willie Rennie, economy spokesman for the Scottish Liberal Democrats, said: “By failing to grow the economy, ministers have left less money for investment in critical infrastructure, which in turn only worsens economic performance.”
It was of course not his intention but Mr Islam’s piece written following a visit to Milton Keynes does provide crucial context for the Audit Scotland report and Mr Rennie’s ‘analysis’!
Under the headline ‘The deep rooted problem holding back the UK economy’, Islam writes (with my emphasis): ‘The future of THE ECONOMY AND PROSPERITY DEPENDS ON INVESTMENT spending. The UK HAS AN UNDERINVESTMENT CRISIS, and it affects both the private and the public sector.’
‘British business does not now invest as much as other major economies either. The UK was in second place in the G7 for private investment, as a share of the economy in the mid 1990s, but has NOW FALLEN BEHIND THEM ALL. The LONG-TERM IMPACT OF THIS IS LOW PRODUCTIVITY – we take more time to produce less than our rivals -which RESULTS IN LOW GROWTH, LOW REAL WAGES, AND THEN PROBLEMS RAISING MONEY FOR PUBLIC SERVICES.
‘For Chancellor Jeremy Hunt, correcting poor business investment is the main aim of next month’s Autumn Statement. Various tax changes have been tried, including the “superdeduction” tax break, which gave businesses investing in certain types of equipment, like machinery, a much higher tax reduction than usual’ but notes ‘The other aim of the chancellor with his Autumn Statement is his pledge to balance the borrowing numbers.’
Islam then reflects on implications for the state of the UK’s infrastructure: ‘This is putting pressure on public spending reflected in the recent discussion over the future of the HS2 rail link due to the soaring cost of the project. Capital investment in transport is DUE TO GO UP SHARPLY, BECAUSE OF HS2, even as it has HARDLY GONE UP FOR SCHOOLS.
‘This has sparked criticism of a “declining public realm”, and whether the fabric of public services in general are up to scratch.’
‘PUBLIC INVESTMENT HAS BEEN LOW IN RECENT YEARS, AND WAS CUT AFTER THE FINANCIAL CRISIS AS PART OF THE COALITION’S AUSTERITY DRIVE. Ahead of the last general election, former Prime Minister Boris Johnson made a push to increase this to 3% of the size of the national economy – the long term average. But the PLANS NOW ARE TO CUT THAT BACK AFTER NEXT YEAR with a cash freeze brought in to help calm markets AFTER LAST YEAR’S MINI BUDGET which sparked turmoil on financial markets. NET PUBLIC INVESTMENT WILL FALL from 2.9% of our national income to 2.1% over the next four years.
‘Lower investment also puts the UK’s pledge to meet net zero and stop adding to the total amount of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere by 2050 IN JEOPARDY.
‘.. with capital spending squeezed, ALL MAJOR TRANSPORT PROJECTS ARE NOW BEING CAREFULLY SCRUTINISED.’ – referring to projects to be financed from Westminster.
‘The government’s plan appears to be to get the private sector to do the heavy lifting of investing in our economic future’ and adds ‘Turning (levels of investment) round is essential for long term growth. But doing so WHILE PUBLIC INVESTMENT IS BEING SQUEEZED, is quite the challenge.’
How on earth do Unionist politicians like Mr Rennie expect a devolved government to buck these long term, intrinsic weaknesses and failings of the UK? Over how many of the factors – how many levers – referred to in Faisal Islam’s article does the Scottish Government – any Scottish government by any party – have agency? Precious few!
One must assume that the Auditor General is aware that Scotland and its devolved government exists within a particular context. He is presumably aware that his organisation is NOT holding to account on such matters the government of a ‘normal’ independent nation-state but rather one largely dependent on the state of England’s economy and the policies of England’s chosen government of the UK!
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The title “general “ gives the game away , its an English title that they like to use when colonial behaviour is spread across the world , this auditor general for Scotland is a nobody , not a person would recognise him if he sat next to them face to face , perhaps his mum , but he is a part of the English puppet regime here in Scotland a nobody with nothing tasks other that to criticise Scotland
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In reality the BBC has no interest in interviewing Andrew Davies over what went pear-shaped in Westminster as it would probably take up days of their output, but HMS James Cook DOES have an interest in interviewing Stephen Boyle over what went pear-shaped in Holyrood to then cherry pick subjects, and platform the usual suspects in opposition to the current administration to deploy their usual political rhetoric, eg Tsunami, Disaster, and where the hell’s my scrubs and NHS lanyard costume ?
As high ranking civil servants, I’ve no doubt whatever both AGs take their roles and duties very seriously, even if the framing of their reports vary – What we tend to forget is that is not Stephen Boyle who is providing the selective amplification, that is 100% down to James Cook of non-existent email reading fame before escaping to the US for a bit….
Given that BBC Scotland’s ‘Witless Protection Program’ budget would appear to be constrained to one slot in the US (checks spelling) currently occupied by Agent Smith for the foreseeable, James is stuck with us and we with him – Only we have a bigger audience…
🤣
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Talking down the UK? There is a new report (published 28 September, 2023) co-authored by the RSA – the royal society for arts, manufactures and commerce – and the Core Cities UK alliance.
Entitled ‘UNLEASHING THE POTENTIAL OF THE UK’S CITIES’ , it is the result of 12 month’s of work by something called the UK Urban Futures Commission co-chaired by Andy Haldane, a former Chief Economist at the Bank of England and a member of the Bank’s Monetary Policy Committee.
See https://www.thersa.org/reports/uk-cities-unleashing-potential
It makes recommendations on how to enable the development of UK cities in order to boost the UK’s faltering economy. Its initial description of the UK is revealing, or should be for those in Scotland persuaded in 2014 that Scotland is ‘better together’ with a UK as characterised by this Commission. Here are some of this Commission’s assessments (with my emphasis):
– ‘.. the UK economy is stalled. The SOCIAL FABRIC IS FRAYED’
– on the UK government: ’Its approaches to investment and financing are among the ROOT CAUSE OF DECADES OF UNDERINVESTMENT in our cities’
– on the UK economy: ‘standard measures of economic success show ANAEMIC RATES OF GROWTH ALONGSIDE FLATLINING PRODUCTIVITY AND PAY OVER AT LEAST THE PAST DECADE’
– ‘In many ways, these trends reflect a series of shocks: the global financial crisis in 2008, our departure from the EU and Covid-19 pandemic in 2020 and, most recently, the war in Ukraine and cost of living shock. However, that the impacts of those events have been so deep, and recovery so sluggish, is TESTAMENT TO THE UK’S LACK OF ECONOMIC RESILIENCE IN THE FIRST PLACE’
– ‘Our economy immune system has been weak, making us susceptible and sensitive to shocks. That, in turn, is A REFLECTION OF OUR FAILURE TO INVEST IN A WIDE RANGE OF THE THINGS WE KNOW ARE VITAL TO ECONOMIC SUCCESS, from physical and digital infrastructure to innovation and technology to education and skills to health and wellbeing.’
– looking more broadly: ‘… longstanding improvements in life expectancy are beginning to slow, while rates of poor physical and mental health are on the rise. A case in point is the current alarm around rates of economic inactivity linked to ill-health, which have increased significantly since the pandemic. The UK’S HEALTH VULNERABILITIES ARE LONG-STANDING but were then amplified by the pandemic. Then, A FAILURE TO INVEST NOT ONLY IN PREVENTING ILL-HEALTH, BUT IN PROMOTING GOOD HEALTH, manifested itself in THE HIGHEST EXCESS MORTALITY RATE AMONGST COMPARABLE EUROPEAN COUNTRIES FOR UNDER-65S.’
– on societal matters: ‘Various measures highlight the fraying of our social fabric over the past decade, with the people’s sense of belonging or neighbourliness declining and rates of loneliness declared an ‘epidemic’.’
– ‘a common denominator in explaining all these challenges, and the accompanying FRAGILITY IN OUR ECONOMIC, SOCIAL AND ECOLOGICAL SYSTEM, is a DECADES-LONG HABIT OF SHORT-TERMISM over sustained strategy and investment in replenishing our economies, societies and environments.’
I read this damning assessment of the state of the UK and its governance shortly after reading an article on the BBC News website by the Corporation’s economics editor Faisal Islam. Under the headline ‘The deep rooted problem holding back the UK economy’, Islam writes: ‘The future of the economy and prosperity depends on investment spending. THE UK HAS AN UNDERINVESTMENT CRISIS, and it affects both the private and the public sector.’
I expanded on Mr Islam’s assessment of the state of the UK in an earlier btl post for TuS. I pondered then and do again: how on earth do Unionist politicians expect a devolved government to buck these long term, intrinsic weaknesses and failings of the UK and its governance?
And so often we in Scotland by a majority reject at the ballot box the political party responsible! ‘Better together’? The UK doesn’t even merit the 2014 ‘UK OK’ slogan!
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The new login process for WordPress is a pain.
I ‘admit’ to authorship of the above post!
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