More hardship and hollowing out of public spending are the very last thing Scotland needs when economic inequality is rising, poverty rates are stubbornly high and climate change targets are crumbling. Our response to the statement in Scottish Parliament by Shona Robison MSP ⬇️

“The lesson of the past decade is clear: Scotland can’t cut its way to a wealthier, fairer, greener economy" Our full response to the Scottish Government’s decision to make £500m of spending cuts:

In the last year, Common Weal, Future Economy Scotland and @Scottish TUC ALL published reports with progressive measures to prevent public spending cuts through reform of council tax, taxing wealth and land reform. This could have been avoided if ScotGov showed any imagination. 🧵

The SNP ended it years back.

Neoliberalism has reduced politics to the level of farce taxresearch.org.uk/Blog/2024/09/0… The collective denial of unionist parties for the austerity that the SNP is being forced to introduce in Scotland as a result of the absence of any alternatives being provided by Westminster was

The right approach… one we are signed up to, and one the SNP conference endorsed this past weekend. #SNP24

Delighted to hear rent controls will be brought forward in the Housing Bill. Rent prices have increased drastically across Scotland in recent years but rent should not be a way to for landlords to make an obscene amount of profit at the expense of someone else’s need for a home.

Delighted to be able to share that a Community Wealth Building Bill has been included in the Scottish Government legislative programme for the coming parliamentary year. Looking forward to continued engagement with stakeholders and colleagues.

We need to do better.

These need to happen…

Jamie is right here…

This is really good news…

Defend rent controls against predatory housing operators.

"There are three forms of austerity: fiscal, industrial, and monetary. They reinforce each other to reduce workers' consumption and power while solidifying the wealth and power of the wealthiest." #austerity #economics thenational.scot/news/24561039.…

SPEAKERS ANNOUNCED Trade unions, football fans & campaigners #StandUpToRacism in #Glasgow on Saturday We've revealed racist rally we're opposing has links to Islamophobes, antisemites & fascists We will reject them in unity & through mass numbers #RefugeesWelcome #StopFarRight

Nor should they ever have to. #solidarity #JoinAUnion

Great speech by STUC General Secretary Roz Foyer at todays Defend The Arts rally at Parliament , as Roz said of our members in the creative sector “you are our roses” #breadandroses Brilliant work by the creative unions Bectu @EquityScotNC and Musicians' Union in organising

This is very welcome news. #MentalHealthMatters

I spoke with Good Morning Scotland on how fiscal constraints will undermine policy ambition, and the need to explore redistributive revenue raising options to protect public services, invest in a sustainable future and heal inequalities.

We must stop going backwards and look at serious action on tax and revenue to head Scotland towards a sustainable energy and climate future.