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Reposted by Martin Brogaard

The Institute for Fiscal Studies @theifs.bsky.social · 17/02/2026

📗 Read our Scottish election report on Scottish government funding, the first of our Scottish election analysis funded by @therobertsontrust.bsky.social and @nuffieldfoundation.org, here: ifs.org.uk/publications...

Quote from IFS Research Economist Martin Brogaard: "Without substantial increases in devolved revenues, improvements in public sector efficiency or cuts to other spending, it will be increasingly difficult for future Scottish Governments to continue to provide a wider range of free services – such as university tuition and personal care – than their counterparts elsewhere in the UK. The tricky funding outlook also has implications for assessing the plans different parties put forward in the election campaign. Cuts to some taxes or increases in spending on priority items are feasible but will require tough choices elsewhere in a Scottish budget which will already be under strain."

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Reposted by Martin Brogaard

The Institute for Fiscal Studies @theifs.bsky.social · 17/02/2026

After a decade of real-terms falls in the 2010s, Scottish Government funding has increased in the 2020s. We estimate that, adjusting for changing responsibilities, funding in 2025–26 is 12.4% (or 6.0% per person) higher in real terms compared to 2010–11.

Chart shows Scottish Government resource funding, 2010–11 to 2025–26, adjusted for inflation (2010–11 = 100). Title states: "Despite the squeeze in funding relative to England, overall Scottish Government funding has risen substantially since 2019."

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Reposted by Martin Brogaard

The Institute for Fiscal Studies @theifs.bsky.social · 17/02/2026

NEW: The next Scottish Government will face tough choices as their funding advantage relative to England falls, making it harder to continue providing more generous services and benefits than England. 🧵 THREAD on David Phillips and Martin Brogaard’s new Scottish election report:

Scottish funding per person as a share of comparable spending in England, selected years. Title states: "The Scottish Government receives 26% more per person than is spent in England, but this funding advantage is being reduced by the ‘Barnett Squeeze’.

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Reposted by Martin Brogaard

The Institute for Fiscal Studies @theifs.bsky.social · 21/02/2026

📊#IFSSatStat: Scotland's per person funding advantage over England has fallen from close to 32% in 2019–20 to 26% today, and is set to shrink further by 2028–29 as the so-called 'Barnett squeeze' bites.

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Reposted by Martin Brogaard

The Institute for Fiscal Studies @theifs.bsky.social · 10/03/2026

NEW: Welsh health and education systems are performing substantially worse than before the COVID-19 pandemic, and worse than comparative services in England. 📗 Our new Welsh election report, funded by @nuffieldfoundation.org, investigates:

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Reposted by Martin Brogaard

The Institute for Fiscal Studies @theifs.bsky.social · 07/03/2026

📉 #IFSSatStat: Despite higher per-pupil, Scotland’s performance on educational PISA tests has fallen relative to England over the last decade. This has likely been driven by other parts of the system such as changes to the curriculum, assessment and accountability.

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Reposted by Martin Brogaard

The Institute for Fiscal Studies @theifs.bsky.social · 25/03/2026

NEW: Extensions to the soft drinks sugar levy announced last autumn will affect 12% of soft drinks, but are forecast to have a tiny impact on average sugar consumption. 📊 Martin Brogaard and @gautamvyas.bsky.social’s new report examines changes to the Soft Drinks Industry Levy: [THREAD]

Chart shows reduction in daily calories per person from the implementation of the Soft Drinks Industry Levy and Budget 2025 extensions. Title states: "While the original soft drinks levy reduced average sugar consumption by almost 20kcal per day, the Budget reforms will have almost no effect."

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