Casey Smith

Researcher @ipprscotland, alumni of @UniStrathclyde

[IPPR Scotland @IPPRScotland]

"The debate about public sector reform during the election campaign was utterly lamentable... The elevation of public service reform to a distinct Cabinet Secretary post is encouraging..." @stephenboydecon spoke to @andrewlearmonth for @heraldscotland
https://t.co/LbHIHidnuX

[Casey Smith @CaseySmithIPPR]

Fascinating insights in our latest blog by @davehawkey - 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 make a change before the next election.

[IPPR Scotland @IPPRScotland]

After a lethargic Holyrood campaign, a new @IPPRScotland blog from @davehawkey_ 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.

https://t.co/wmaZwY7LCn

[IPPR Scotland @IPPRScotland]

🗳️Our response to today's Holyrood election result.

More on the website: https://t.co/X0CX7VtNOS

[IPPR Scotland @IPPRScotland]

"Acc to IPPR Scotland, 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_ quoted extensively in @vicky_allan's sobering article⤵️
https://t.co/9iKHVajC3j

[Casey Smith @CaseySmithIPPR]

Given today's findings, the absence of much discussion by parties on the campaign trail about how Scotland responds to this demographic crisis is glaring.

Policies which reconcile with the upcoming demographic crisis (or turn around trendlines) should really be front and centre.

[Hannah Brown @HannahMargBrown]

@heraldscotland Scotland’s population is projected to begin falling earlier than previously expected, according to the latest figures from the National Records of Scotland.

Story for @heraldscotland here: https://t.co/addeelkkGr

[IPPR Scotland @IPPRScotland]

With the 2026 Holyrood election campaign started, 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?

https://t.co/CUx8SyNApu

[IPPR Scotland @IPPRScotland]

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.

[Casey Smith @CaseySmithIPPR]

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. 👇

[IPPR Scotland @IPPRScotland]

⚠️ 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 here ⤵️
https://t.co/cAjD9DhGK2

[IPPR Scotland @IPPRScotland]

📰Great to see our work on the front page of @heraldscotland - finely reported by @andrewlearmonth ⤵️

https://t.co/QS9LbxrHQ7

[IPPR Scotland @IPPRScotland]

⚠️ 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 here ⤵️
https://t.co/cAjD9DhGK2

[IPPR Scotland @IPPRScotland]

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⤵️
https://t.co/UrNMved6SK

[Casey Smith @CaseySmithIPPR]

Good to be at Parliament today hearing from @futureeconscot’s Funding Scotland’s Future report - important heading into the election all parties get real about how we raise the revenues necessary to deliver on public priorities

[Casey Smith @CaseySmithIPPR]

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!

[IPPR Scotland @IPPRScotland]

🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿 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 goes inside the system ⤵️

https://t.co/XsQqkLjadz

[IPPR Scotland @IPPRScotland]

🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿 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 goes inside the system ⤵️

https://t.co/XsQqkLjadz

[Casey Smith @CaseySmithIPPR]

Scotland still feels hemmed in by the idea that the welfare state is purely burdensome, rather than a springboard to national prosperity and a more dynamic economy.

Other countries manage better outcomes with higher rates of spending and investment in social infrastructure.

[IPPR Scotland @IPPRScotland]

High spending on social protection does more than just place a safety net for the economically disadvantaged; it helps economies to become more productive.

The welfare state is more than a safety net.

ICYMI, read our latest report ⤵️

https://t.co/iPb1aYvpvt

[IPPR Scotland @IPPRScotland]

📢It's launch day!🚀

💷Social spending ≠ economic damage.

💪Plenty of countries prove you can have strong social security and strong economies.

Read our new report, More than a Safety Net ⤵️
@stephenboydecon @davehawkey_ @CaseySmithIPPR
https://t.co/iPb1aYvXl1

[IPPR Scotland @IPPRScotland]

For months, we have been digging into a big myth — that strong social protection holds back economic growth.🔍

Spoiler: it doesn’t.💪

We launch our findings tomorrow in our report 'More than a Safety Net'. Stay tuned.🚀

For now, hear it from @stephenboydecon ⤵️

[IPPR Scotland @IPPRScotland]

📢Starting today, we will publish a series of blogs as part of our project on Employment, Productivity and Reform in the Scottish Public Sector.

First up, this blog by @davehawkey_ looking at teacher pay per pupil in Scotland in an international context.
https://t.co/hyJDAaChsj

[IPPR Scotland @IPPRScotland]

Yet again, short-term politically driven tax changes with minimal real impact are prioritised over the development of a serious, long-term strategy to achieve the revenues necessary to deliver on the FM’s priorities. Our full response on the Budget here👇https://t.co/sqOWitdSaL

[Casey Smith @CaseySmithIPPR]

As the Chancellor pulls back on changes to income tax, there are lessons from Scotland - the most taxed part of the UK is also least opposed to further rises. Politicians should be less frightened by tax reform so long as they make an argument for it.

See blog below👇

[IPPR Scotland @IPPRScotland]

"The Scottish tax experiment has shown that people won’t necessarily revolt over income tax increases. It is possible to make the case for progressive increases and win the argument. The world won’t come to an end."
🖊️@CaseySmithIPPR. Read more ⤵️

https://t.co/R6bKH8Q6S7