On the @quietriotpod.bsky.social "Kenny Campbell is joined by someone who knows the Scottish political scene extremely well: Stephen Boyd, director of the progressive think tank IPPR Scotland." @stephenboydippr.bsky.social @mrkennycampbell.bsky.social podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/b...

An interesting listen, not least on tax and growth, with @stephenboydippr.bsky.social at @ipprscotland.bsky.social podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/q...

“Inequality is important because it is psychologically harmful to grow up in a society where you know that you’re being left behind,” @davehawkey.bsky.social quoted in this nuanced article on child poverty by @louisewilso.bsky.social in Holyrood Magazine. www.holyrood.com/inside-polit...

🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿 15 years ago today, the Christie Commission set out a bold vision for Scotland's public services. Most agreed change was needed. But its recommendations were never fully implemented. ☠️ What did happen next was what it had warned against. 🎙️Hear it from @davehawkey.bsky.social

New PM and new Scottish parliament must seize “double reset” to deliver for the people and the planet. Read our full statement here ⤵️https://www.ippr.org/media-office/new-pm-and-new-scottish-parliament-must-seize-double-reset-to-deliver-for-people-and-planet-says-ippr-scotland

Our research with @ipprscotland.bsky.social [email protected] shows around 210k children could be lifted out of poverty if children received the child maintenance they're entitled to. The question now is when action will follow. Our full response: opfs.org.uk/get-involved...

The Scottish budget isn't under pressure due to excessive generosity in benefits. Scotland's population continues to get older, and that's an issue we can't hide away from. Was on BBC Radio Scotland speaking about this a couple of weeks ago.

"It’s a strange, timid kind of social democracy; one that lacks the confidence to level with citizens that expanding the range of services... requires all taxpayers to contribute more." @stephenboydippr.bsky.social's latest column in @heraldscotland.bsky.social www.heraldscotland.com/news/2616663...

"McKee should conduct an urgent short-term review of the 'messy, contradictory and wholly unfit for purpose' current policy framework for public service reform." @stephenboydippr.bsky.social spoke to @andrewlearmonth.bsky.social for @heraldscotland.bsky.social www.heraldscotland.com/news/2612526...

Fascinating insights in our latest blog by @davehawkey.bsky.social - the Holyrood election produced a 7th parliament very similar to the 6th. However, voter turnout was much reduced, and frustration among voters heightened - politicians need to ponder what needs to change before the next election.

After a lethargic campaign, a new @ipprscotland.bsky.social blog from @davehawkey.bsky.social reflects on the outcome and pre-election polling showing Scottish voters prefer a government reflecting their values over one focused on resolving issues in day-to-day life. www.ippr.org/articles/con...

What are the challenges faced by the First Minister? @stephenboydippr.bsky.social speaks on BBC Scotland Breakfast.

🗳️ Our response to today's Holyrood election result. More on the website: www.ippr.org/media-office...

🗳️ Our response to today's Holyrood election result. More on the website: www.ippr.org/media-office...

"There is a 'dispiriting retreat from the consensus across '21 manifestos that Scotland should play an ambitious role in the global fight against climate change'." @davehawkey.bsky.social quoted extensively in @vickyallan.bsky.social's sobering article⤵️ www.heraldscotland.com/news/2607071...

🗳️ Before you head out to vote, here are some of our recent publications linked to the election. 1. A blog setting out five key tests on what will make a good manifesto: www.ippr.org/articles/wha...

"It's difficult not to be really disappointed. The manifestos don’t engage with the very significant challenges Scotland faces." Enjoyed my long chat with @neilmackay.bsky.social in today's @heraldscotland.bsky.social www.heraldscotland.com/politics/vie...

‘No political party is offering Scotland what it needs. And none are levelling with the people about how bad things are’ As elections loom, the head of the influential think-tank, the Institute for Public Policy Research, puts political manifestos under the spotlight In @heraldscotland.bsky.social

In @heraldscotland.bsky.social: "... leading think tank IPPR Scotland has warned the plans for job losses in the public sector could see the country 'sleepwalking into austerity'." Yes, we continue to sound the alarm bell. www.heraldscotland.com/news/2607321...

With the Holyrood election less than a week away, @stephenboydippr.bsky.social writes for @prospectmagazine.co.uk on how Scotland's parties have failed to confront the scale of the challenge that awaits them in the next parliament. Read here ⬇️ www.prospectmagazine.co.uk/politics/sco...

All 6 of the major parties have released their manifestos for the Holyrood election - but do they meet @ipprscotland.bsky.social's tests for what makes a good manifesto? In short - they all must try harder. Today's blog gets into the details www.ippr.org/articles/mus...

Can the next Scottish govt revive the economy? Have the parties risen to the challenge? 📈 🎧@stephenboydippr.bsky.social was on the #UofGSpotlight podcast hosted by @graemeroy.bsky.social with other experts Prof Sara Carter and @davidwglasgow.bsky.social Tune in ⤵️ open.spotify.com/episode/4iec...

In which @stephenboydippr.bsky.social tears into Reform's claim that a million people are economically inactive. He points to the "disturbingly wide chasm developing between political rhetoric & empirical evidence during this election campaign.” Read in @thetimes.com www.thetimes.com/uk/scotland/...

Offord on the telly again talking about getting '800,000 economically inactive people back to work'. High time journalists start properly interrogating this abject nonsense. bsky.app/profile/step...

Delighted to be joined by the health secretary Wes Streeting at the launch of our new report! Tune in live here 👇 www.youtube.com/live/93z0rjG...

📻 We are delighted that @stephenboydippr.bsky.social was with Bernard Ponsonby on Go Radio in a debate structured around our blog on what will make a good Holyrood manifesto. Was he assured that the manifestos would pass the test? Listen and find out! 👀 www.youtube.com/watch?v=C41V...

The @scottishtuc.bsky.social is hosting a webinar on industrial strategy at 12.30. I'll be contributing with Chris Hamilton, convener at Grangemouth refinery, Stephen Boyd @ipprscotland.bsky.social and Satwat Rehman of the Just Transition Commission. Join🔽 events.teams.microsoft.com/event/5148ed...

Our recent report on public services and productivity in Scotland we published a series of blogs on the topic @davehawkey.bsky.social outlines the limits of comparing teacher pay between Scotland and England, and not emphasising an international perspective t.co/hyJDAaChsj

With the starting gun fired on the 2026 Holyrood election, the public deserve an honest conversation about governing Scotland. Party manifestos will be soon be released - which begs the question: What makes a good Holyrood election manifesto in 2026? Here are 5 tests: www.ippr.org/articles/wha...

Growing demand for services requires further investment in public services, not less. There is a need for genuine public sector reform by way of preventative spending as set out in the Christie Commission. Cutting public sector workforce, however, is not a credible solution. 👇our latest report

Our latest report warns further public sector job cuts could hollow out essential services just as demand rises. Public services need more investment not less. 📣@CaseySmithIPPR outlines how choices made now will shape Scotland’s public services for years.

In other news, @mariemcnairmsp.bsky.social asked @sa4dunfermline.bsky.social if she agreed with IPPR Scotland's assessment that high spending on social protection does more than just place a safety net for the economically disadvangated, that it helps economies to grow. The cabinet secretary did.

Cutting public sector jobs when public services are already stretched risks real harm, to services and those most reliant on them. Moving towards a preventative public service provision model will require more investment over the next parliament, not less! Important new report by IPPR Scotland.

Plans to reduce public sector workforce when satisfaction and access to public services is under strain is...a choice. With growing and increasingly complex demands on the state, now is not the time to cut state services further. Rather genuine public sector reform is needed. Read our latest report

📰Great to see our work on the front page of @heraldscotland.bsky.social - finely reported by @andrewlearmonth.bsky.social ⤵️ www.heraldscotland.com/news/2598166...

⚠️ Scotland could be sleepwalking into austerity ⚠️ 🔴Our new analysis warns looming public sector job cuts could hollow out essential services just as demand rises. 📢The choices made now will shape Scotland’s public services for years. Read the report ⤵️ www.ippr.org/articles/mor...

As @stephenboydippr.bsky.social @ipprscotland.bsky.social put it yesterday. Investment is good! bsky.app/profile/ippr...

Thread ⤵️

With Scotland going into a major election, parties pledging to tackle child poverty must be clear that the issue is a structural feature of an unequal society. We respond to today's child poverty stats⤵️ www.ippr.org/media-office...

“It’s essential that the UK and Scottish governments work together to ensure this project is pushed forward and that ground is broken on the factory as soon as possible." Read our full response to Vesta's decision to invest in a new nacelle and hub factory in Scotland⤵️ www.ippr.org/media-office...

New child poverty stats are due tomorrow, but Scotland is already projected to miss its 2030 target by a wide margin. In this blog, @davehawkey.bsky.social looks at why progress has stalled and why reducing child poverty requires a more equal distribution of income⤵️ www.ippr.org/articles/wha...

Reducing child poverty isn't easy but we have a very good understanding of what works. With the Scottish govt set to announce child poverty statistics this week, @stephenboydippr.bsky.social in this piece for The Daily Record argues benefits play a huge role. www.dailyrecord.co.uk/news/politic...

As global conflict brings another round of inflation into view, the imperative to support low-income families becomes ever more acute. The government must keep kids afloat if the cost-of-living crisis deepens. Our response to the child poverty plans announced today: www.ippr.org/media-office...

David Clarke, chairing; Klyzza Lidman, Amanda Young and Andrew Milligan the participants. A lively audience of 65 fully engaged. And tonight Smith on Capitalism - with @enlightenscot.bsky.social @futureeconscot.bsky.social @ipprscotland.bsky.social : www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/the-smith-...

👱🏿‍♀️On the occasion of International Women's Day, we revisit this old blog by @sukhadatatke.bsky.social. ✍🏿"Women in Scotland are far likelier than men to take on childcare and other caring responsibilities, which puts them at an economic disadvantage." www.ippr.org/articles/wom...

Lovely to be named one of this year's 100 'Women in Westminster', and proud to to be alongside such an incredible group of women helping to shape policy and politics for the better. #wiw100 www.politicshome.com/in-focus/wiw...

There are plenty of assumptions about public servants and their attitude to change - we spoke with workers across the public sector & heard their thoughts on public service reform - unsurprisingly views are more nuanced than commentators and politicians would have you believe!

🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿 With fiscal pressures mounting ahead of the Holyrood election, reforming Scotland’s public services is back in the spotlight. ⏰But what do public servants themselves say needs to change? In our latest blog, @caseysmithippr.bsky.social goes inside the system ⤵️ www.ippr.org/articles/on-...

Rapid technological advances and the implementation of AI has the potential to transform healthcare - however this does not necessarily translate into reduced costs for public services. Read our latest blog on the limits of new technology in making healthcare cheaper www.ippr.org/articles/wil...

👥 Local democracy is about to change... 🗳️ Government’s plan to scrap district councils in favour of unitary authorities risks moving local residents further from power - unless action is taken to empower communities. @ryanswift93.bsky.social explains why that matters...