IPPR Scotland reacts to Labour government's first budget in 14 years

The additional funding to Scotland will not resolve all the funding challenges but will boost health and education, IPPR Scotland says.

Stephen Boyd, Director of IPPR Scotland said:

"The previous UK government left behind an ailing economy, marked by persistently low productivity, high inequality, catastrophically weak investment and rising debt servicing costs. Today’s budget marks a turn in the right direction for the UK economy, with the Chancellor correctly focussing on raising investment and increasing tax revenues to support public services.

"Clearly, over the course of this Parliament, more ambition will be needed to deliver on all five of the government’s missions including ‘breaking down the barriers to opportunity’ and ‘making Britain a clean energy superpower’. All eyes now turn to the Scottish Budget.

"The additional £3.4 billion allocated to Scotland will not resolve all the long-term funding challenges of the Scottish Government, but it can provide a much-needed boost to struggling public services such as health and education."

ENDS

CONTACT:

Sukhada Tatke, media and impact officer, IPPR Scotland: 07901169121 or s.tatke@ippr.org.

AVAILABLE FOR INTERVIEWS: 

Stephen Boyd, director of IPPR Scotland

Dave Hawkey, senior research fellow, IPPR Scotland

NOTE TO EDITORS: 

IPPR Scotland is a progressive think tank, dedicated to supporting and improving public policy, working tirelessly to achieve a progressive Scotland. For more information, visit ippr.org/scotland.