James Mitchell

Professor of Public Policy, Edinburgh University

[Anton Muscatelli @AntonMuscatelli]

This is a crucial moment to implement devolution within Scotland. There is a major opportunity for the Scottish and U.K. governments to work together to drive forward economic growth, as I set out in my independent report published last autumn.

My op-ed in @thetimes 👇

“John Swinney must seize a devolution deal with both hands”

https://t.co/h63YVgYdWu

[Romesh Vaitilingam @econromesh]

Fiscal devolution in England: what lessons from Scotland’s experience?

@stuartgmcintyre @ProfGraemeRoy @ProfJMitchell & David Waite @EconObservatory

#Budget2026 #AutumnBudget2026 #FiscalDevolution #Devolution

https://t.co/mAmE8cQwK6

[James Mitchell @ProfJMitchell]

Ask people if they want to pay a tax and vast majority say no. Hardly surprising. Are visitors willing to forego services they benefit from? Ask that too if you want to be taken seriously.

[East Lothian Courier @elcourier]

88 per cent of visitors against proposed East Lothian tourist tax in consultation https://t.co/L9eNdn8e5N

[James Mitchell @ProfJMitchell]

Blair was unusual only in admitting his frustration but typical of politicians who support FoI in opposition and curse it in office - of all parties. Only have to look at extent to which Scottish Govt goes about trying to avoid transparency. They all do.

[James Mitchell @ProfJMitchell]

Blair on himself agreeing to FoI in Memoir, 'You idiot. You naive, foolish, irresponsible nincompoop. There is really no description of stupidity, no matter how vivid, that is adequate. I quake at the imbecility of it.'

[James Mitchell @ProfJMitchell]

I'm a huge supporter of FoI - and beneficiary - but appreciate good governance requires officials to consider variety of ideas and options without fear of daft misinterpretations. We could do with much better understanding of these matters, fewer conspiracy theories.

[James Mitchell @ProfJMitchell]

The 30 year rule applied across the board - in some cases longer periods. This was standard practice. 'Secret' is not unusual on internal documents. Scottish Govt today doesn't release every document even when it should!

[Ian McLean🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿 @embradon]

@ProfJMitchell No doubt McCrone's report was seen by some officials at the time, but it was subsequently marked secret and not released to the public for thirty years.
It included an observation that the SNP had underestimated the economic impact of oil.

[James Mitchell @ProfJMitchell]

Similar legislation by Scottish Parliament. In fact, relaxation was already happening as easier to gain access within 30 years before legislation.

[James Mitchell @ProfJMitchell]

The narrowness (to put it st most generous) in selective ill-informed spin is what I reacted to with well researched evidence.

[James Mitchell @ProfJMitchell]

I have no problem addressing - indeed I have often in published work - on politicians' and oil (inc in my first book in 1990) and again in next with new evidence but issue raised was about Gavin McCrone's paper.

[Ross Colquhoun @rosscolquhoun]

@NoteTaker_X @ProfJMitchell A very narrow view of events. He focused on the civil servants role and internal discussions, rather than the deception by Westminster politicians. The very point he doesn’t want to acknowledge.

[James Mitchell @ProfJMitchell]

Latest on work with colleagues on fiscal devolution and economic growth:
https://t.co/jSfbNJKFk7

[James Mitchell @ProfJMitchell]

Facts can be upsetting.

[Ross Colquhoun @rosscolquhoun]

@ProfJMitchell Patronising twaddle. If you can explain the reports existence whilst successive Tory and Labour Governments painted the opposite picture in Scotland, I’d love to hear it.

[James Mitchell @ProfJMitchell]

SNP needs to get serious. Less propaganda, more engagement with challenges as well as opportunities.

[James Mitchell @ProfJMitchell]

Another crucial dimension when drawing parallels is taking account of differing contexts. Some in SNP in 1970s who wanted Swiss-style economy and politics. Again superficial such references may work as propaganda but don't prepare Scotland for independence one little bit.

[James Mitchell @ProfJMitchell]

Example of what we teach students never to do - selective, context absent referencing. Very poor as public policy whatever it is as propaganda. Civil service seriously considered issues from all angles - vital in good policy.

[James Mitchell @ProfJMitchell]

Example of what we teach students never to do - selective, context absent referencing. Very poor as public policy whatever it is as propaganda. Civil service seriously considered issues from all angles - vital in good policy.

[Ross Colquhoun @rosscolquhoun]

🤔 The report that said an independent Scotland could be as rich as Switzerland whilst Westminster politicians (including Labour) publicly claimed oil would be no advantage to an independent Scotland and would run out quickly…

[Sam Taylor @staylorish]

@ProfJMitchell I wrote about that mythology here:
https://t.co/FtTjY2Df8R

[James Mitchell @ProfJMitchell]

All discussed and sourced at length in forthcoming book. Not that evidence will stop myth making. 4/4

[James Mitchell @ProfJMitchell]

Seeing more ill-informed commentary on a 1974 paper by Gavin McCrone from back then. It was not 'suppressed' but simply a contribution for internal discussion along with many others. When first distributed it was a 'starting point for any assessment' not definitive. 1/4

[James Mitchell @ProfJMitchell]

Indeed. Very extensively debated both in public and in Whitehall.

[James Mitchell @ProfJMitchell]

Douglas Crawford, SNP MP, attempted to get his party to look seriously at range of economic implications but adverse internal reaction stymied by activists. Interestingly the currency issue was focus of ire - not dissimilar to Andrew Wilson's efforts. 3/4