Kerry Lorimer

Freelance journalist and parliamentary reporter

[Kerry Lorimer @Kerry_Lorimer]

Fewer than one in four senior local government figures believe boundary shake-up will tackle crisis in council finances

[Public Finance @public_finance_]

Councils sceptical about reorganisation, survey finds
https://t.co/7GK9p5hQZm

[Public Finance @public_finance_]

Read our deep dive into new governance arrangements in football. Will they clean up the beautiful game?

https://t.co/4uOEl1p5Sv

[Public Finance @public_finance_]

'Former PM Brown backs football regulator'

An independent regulator of UK football would improve the game’s governance and financial resilience, former prime minister Gordon Brown has told PF.

https://t.co/DzECbpq8lS

[Public Finance @public_finance_]

Analysis: cautious welcome for Levelling Up and Regeneration Bill

Local authorities embrace powers to resuscitate town centres, but remain concerned over government intervention.

https://t.co/mV4XZUQjPH

[Public Finance @public_finance_]

IN DEPTH: Many believe that the public sector could operate with far lower levels of office space. But does selling off buildings present a risk?
https://t.co/ahmkmbZWTf

[Public Finance @public_finance_]

Pressure is growing on central banks to bear down on global inflation – but could raising borrowing rates create more problems than it solves?
https://t.co/mewgBBSqtx

[Public Finance @public_finance_]

The price of freedom - Has local government commercialisation succeeded?
A wave of local authority commercialism has been hampered by the financial squeeze that unleashed it, finds Kerry Lorimer.
https://t.co/VK5ixXecwo

[Public Finance @public_finance_]

News analysis: Experts have talked down chances of unsustainable spike in green asset valuations.
https://t.co/WH9jOBNSwk

[Kerry Lorimer @Kerry_Lorimer]

Review of #fiscal framework should be accelerated to ensure @scotgov has the powers it needs to drive economic recovery, according to new report

[Public Finance @public_finance_]

Advisors call for greater fiscal autonomy

Scotland must have greater fiscal autonomy to deal with the economic fall-out of the coronavirus pandemic, a group of economic advisors has warned.

https://t.co/It5oZZTrcL

[Kerry Lorimer @Kerry_Lorimer]

New monthly figures estimate GDP fell 18.9% in April, as Scottish Government unveils £230m "return to work" package

[Public Finance @public_finance_]

Covid-19 effect on Scottish economy revealed

Scottish GDP slumped by almost a fifth during the first full month of lockdown, according to the latest provisional figures.

https://t.co/FyW5Qk6WoR

[Kerry Lorimer @Kerry_Lorimer]

Scottish Government @scotgov warns of 1.1% hit to GDP by end of 2022 if extension to #Brexit transition period is not negotiated

[Public Finance @public_finance_]

Brexit delay ‘would hit Scottish GDP’

An additional £3bn could be lost from the coronavirus-hit Scottish economy over the next two years if an extension to the Brexit transition period is not agreed, the Scottish Government has warned.

https://t.co/K97pEWnMFM

[Kerry Lorimer @Kerry_Lorimer]

"Planned and orderly return to business is better than speed and disorder": economy secretary @FionaHyslop says Scotland will take precautionary approach to easing restrictions

[Public Finance @public_finance_]

Scottish Government wary of ending lockdown too quickly

A “precautionary” approach to lifting the lockdown in Scotland will limit the risk of a second wave of the virus north of the border, the Scottish Government has said.

https://t.co/KZGQQktOmD

[Kerry Lorimer @Kerry_Lorimer]

Former @North_Ayrshire chief @ElmaMurWall appointed interim chair of local government watchdog @AccCommScot as Graham Sharp steps down for health reasons

[Public Finance @public_finance_]

New chair of Scottish local government watchdog: Elma Murray has been appointed interim chair of the Accounts Commission following the resignation of Graham Sharp. https://t.co/yPFqZQQh3e

[Kerry Lorimer @Kerry_Lorimer]

Finance secretary @KateForbesMSP calls for increased borrowing powers under the fiscal framework, which @AuditorGenScot says is under "unexpected and unprecedented pressure" because of #covid19

[Public Finance @public_finance_]

Scottish call for ‘greater fiscal flexibility’: The Scottish Government has pressed for greater fiscal flexibility to allow it to manage the impact of coronavirus on the Scottish economy. https://t.co/KomJgrZvZ3

[Public Finance @public_finance_]

'Coronavirus threatens Scottish budget'

The Scottish budget could be at risk if the coronavirus pandemic has a disproportionate fiscal impact north of the border, economists have warned.

https://t.co/1XMKtNmxiz

[Kerry Lorimer @Kerry_Lorimer]

Chief economist @scotgov warns that the longer measures stay in place, the greater the impact on public finances and the less the scope for a fiscal stimulus to boost recovery

[Public Finance @public_finance_]

Covid-19 ‘could cause 33% fall in Scottish GDP’: Economic output in Scotland could fall by a third as a result of measures to tackle the coronavirus pandemic, according to the latest government commentary. https://t.co/aXFNqC8v8H

[Kerry Lorimer @Kerry_Lorimer]

"Likely to be a long road to recovery": growth warning for Scottish economy in wake of restrictions

[Public Finance @public_finance_]

Scotland's economy expected to shrink because of Covid-19 lockdown: Scottish GDP could contract by up to a quarter if coronavirus restrictions remain in place for three months, economists have warned.   https://t.co/Jxc7a4A1qR

[Kerry Lorimer @Kerry_Lorimer]

No longer "realistic or reasonable" for Scottish councils to deliver ambitious childcare expansion: statutory duty suspended in wake of pandemic

[Public Finance @public_finance_]

Scotland halts early learning initiative to focus on coronavirus: An ambitious plan to expand early learning and childcare in Scotland has been halted to allow councils to focus on tackling the coronavirus pandemic. https://t.co/5FRdIAdi1d

[Kerry Lorimer @Kerry_Lorimer]

Economic, social and political divergence between Scotland and the rest of the UK can only continue to grow, finance secretary Kate Forbes tells @public_finance_ magazine

[Public Finance @public_finance_]

Advocate for change: PF hears finance secretary Kate Forbes’ plans for a uniquely Scottish approach to economic and welfare policy  https://t.co/32a6lupPxg

[Kerry Lorimer @Kerry_Lorimer]

Stephen Boyle to take on top #audit role at critical time for Scottish public services

[Public Finance @public_finance_]

Stephen Boyle set to become new auditor general for Scotland.: Stephen Boyle was nominated as auditor general by members of the Scottish Parliament on Tuesday afternoon to replace Caroline Gardner, who has held the position for the last eight years,… https://t.co/9yPd8rS4iR