FORGETTING Brexit for a moment – a dream devoutly to be wished – it might be said that this is a good time, if there ever is such a thing, to be the Finance Secretary in Scotland.
According to the Fraser of Allander Institute, the Scottish economy is on course to grow at its fastest rate since 2014. While levels of poverty remain deplorable, unemployment has fallen to a record low of 3.7 per cent. And an increased settlement from Westminster will see an extra £1.6 billion flowing into Holyrood’s coffers next year.
The latter development in particular has led to calls for Derek Mackay to use his Draft Budget this afternoon to pump £1 billion into public services. It has also, it must be said, made it harder for him to justify any tax increases that would widen further the gap with England. Tax cuts are another matter and, while the Tories not unusually want Scotland to follow England in raising the higher rate threshold, Mr Mackay has said that now is not the time to give tax breaks to the better off.
Mr Mackay and the Tories will never see eye to eye, and there are probably times when he could see the Scottish Greens far enough too. The latter have supported the minority SNP Government in the last two Budgets, but their insistence on higher income tax and council tax reform make co-existence uncomfortable.
Scottish Labour, meanwhile, want the two-child cap ended, child benefit increased by £5 a week, and a rail fares freeze, measures which any left-of-centre government would normally consider with sympathy.
Mr Mackay has said little beyond vowing to protect public services, the least we might expect under the circumstances. Sometimes mentioned as a future SNP leader, this is his chance to make his mark. He is in a position to rule out new tax rises and increase public spending considerably. He should take advantage of that position.
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