Summary
In this recorded webinar, FAI Director Mairi Spowage and Deputy Director João Sousa join economist Hannah Randolph to summarise our analysis of the General Election party manifestos and to answer all your questions about what they mean for Scotland.
Episode notes
Participants
Dr Hannah Randolph, Associate Economist, Fraser of Allander Institute, University of Strathclyde
Professor Mairi Spowage, Director, Fraser of Allander Institute, University of Strathclyde
Dr João Sousa, Deputy Director, Fraser of Allander Institute, University of Strathclyde
Time stamps
(00:40) Main policy areas in the party manifestos
(02:00) Devolution, devolved issues, and funding
(06:00) Social security
(08:40) Q&A: What would an increase in Housing Benefit in Scotland mean for Scottish taxpayers?
(12:35) Q&A: Is there scope to implement an Essentials Guarantee?
(15:20) Q&A: Are there any plans to reform the Work Capability Assessment?
(17:50) Q&A: Are there prospects for Levelling Up or City Deals funding to come to Scotland?
(21:00) Immigration
(23:50) Energy transition
(25:50) What have the parties said about how they will fund and implement their manifesto commitments?
(33:00) Economic strategy
(35:00) Tax policy and costings in the party manifestos
(41:00) Is cracking down on tax compliance a feasible way to raise revenues?
(45:15) Q&A: Should UK parties have access to independently estimated costings for manifesto commitments?
(48:35) Q&A: Are the economy and living standards set to improve before 2026?
(58:55) Q&A: What are the main challenges facing the next UK government?
(1:03:00) Q&A: Will the new government stick to their tax and spending commitments?
Authors
Hannah is a Fellow at the Fraser of Allander Institute. She specialises in applied social policy analysis with a focus on social security, poverty and inequality, labour supply, and immigration.
Mairi is the Director of the Fraser of Allander Institute. Previously, she was the Deputy Chief Executive of the Scottish Fiscal Commission and the Head of National Accounts at the Scottish Government and has over a decade of experience working in different areas of statistics and analysis.
João is Deputy Director and Senior Knowledge Exchange Fellow at the Fraser of Allander Institute. Previously, he was a Senior Fiscal Analyst at the Office for Budget Responsibility, where he led on analysis of long-term sustainability of the UK's public finances and on the effect of economic developments and fiscal policy on the UK's medium-term outlook.