Woe betide politicians who fail to address Scotland's top two priorities
A warning about the need to raise an extra £2.3 billion a year or make ‘harmful’ spending cuts is a reminder about the need for honest politics and costed policies
Just in case any politicians were in doubt, a new poll has highlighted voters’ top priorities: the NHS and healthcare were cited by 48 per cent of respondents, with the cost of living and inflation not far behind on 43 per cent. In other words “it’s the economy and the NHS, stupid”, to paraphrase a famous American election slogan.
The latest Understanding Scotland Economy Tracker, published by the Diffley Partnership and David Hume Institute, also found that 23 per cent named immigration as a top issue, followed by poverty and equality (18 per cent), the economy more broadly (18 per cent), trust in politics (15 per cent) and housing (13 per cent).
Tackling Scotland’s main concerns will be no easy task and one made harder by the state of the Scottish Government’s finances. According to the think tank Future Economy Scotland, ministers will need to raise taxes or make spending cuts to balance the books.
That’s not a message we’re likely to hear much about from the SNP. However, they, as the current party of government, and all those who aspire to replace them must squarely address the situation.
£2.3 billion tax rise?
Future Economy Scotland suggested increasing income tax by one percentage point on the lower and middle bands and two percentage points on the highest three bands, as part of a package of tax increases to raise an extra £2.3 billion a year and avoid “harmful” spending cuts.
Politicians contemplating such a controversial move should let voters know before May 7. Likewise, those promising large tax cuts need to explain how they would pay for them. Voters want honest politics and costed policies, not promises that crumble to dust on contact with reality.
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On the NHS, the SNP has long dodged the difficult decisions required to ensure the health service is fit for the 21st century, resulting in an inexorable and heart-breaking managed decline. Therefore, regardless of who wins the election, all parties need to work together on a long-term solution, to take the politics out of an increasingly desperate situation and make real progress.
Amid considerable political volatility, the consequences of continued failure on the public’s top priorities hardly bear thinking about.
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