Thread examining SNP Westminster leader Ian Blackford's comment on Good Morning Scotland.

He claimed that ScotGov is passing on "every penny" of funding it's receiving for covid.

But just how true is this? What does Audit Scotland say?
#GMS #AuditScotland #IanBlackford
[1/12
▶️GMS 20/12/2021

Ian Blackford to GMS argues "every penny" of money received for covid will be spent on mitigating covid. He describes this as a 'commitment', 'promise', 'guarantee' that ScotGov will deliver.

But what does Audit Scotland say?
[2/12
▶️Audit Scotland News Release 16/12/2021

"The Scottish Government needs to be more transparent about its spending in response to the Covid-19 pandemic, following a year in which its budget grew by a quarter"

Audit Scotland suggests a need for greater transparency
[3/12
Furthermore, Audit Scotland says "The Scottish Government now needs to be more proactive in showing where and how this money was spent,"

Funny...Ian Blackford didn't mention any of that on GMS.
[4/12
▶️Transport, Infrastructure and Connectivity Portfolio

According to the Audit of the Scottish Government Consolidated Accounts...ScotGov has allocated money for covid grants in this portfolio that has *not been spent*
[5/12
But how much of that £321m is actually constituted by the unspent 'covid 19-related grants for concessionary travel?'

Well according to 'The Scottish Government
Consolidated Accounts for the Year Ended 31 March 2021' we see £75m underspent.
[6/12
So Audit Scotland is saying:

1. ScotGov needs to do more to show how it is spending money, arguing for a need for more transparency

2. ScotGov overestimated expected covid-grant demand in the transport portfolio, so millions for covid-mitigation has went unspent.
[7/12
So Ian Blackford is being somewhat disingenuous when painting a picture of ScotGov spending "every penny" mitigating covid.

Not least since millions was allocated and went unspent in Transport because they misjudged demand in that portfolio.
[8/12
▶️Meanwhile in the hospitality sector...businesses are desperate for more covid-mitigation support...

"Talks on further support for Scottish businesses are set to take place as firms feel the pinch on what should be their busiest weekend of the year"
[9/12
Hospitality sector desperate for more covid mitigation support while Transport has unspent covid mitigation money? 🤷‍♂️

Almost as if ScotGov could do a better job directing covid mitigation cash. Maybe then covid support money wouldn't be idling & rolling over to next year?
[10/12
Sources:

▪️ The 2020/21 audit of the Scottish Government Consolidated Accounts (Dec 21)
audit-scotland.gov.uk/uploads/docs/r…
▪️The Scottish Government Consolidated Accounts for the Year Ended 31 March 2021 (see pg 110)
gov.scot/binaries/conte…
[11/12
▪️Audit Scotland Dec 16 Press Release
audit-scotland.gov.uk/uploads/docs/r…
▪️STV 'Scottish Government 'must be more transparent on Covid money''
news.stv.tv/politics/scott…
▪️BBC 'Covid in Scotland: Calls for hospitality support after 'bleak Friday''
bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotla…
[12/12
NB...seems @murdo_fraser was less than impressed by the quality of Ian Blackford's answer on GMS too...
@murdo_fraser Here is Kate Forbes trying to pretend the £321m underspend in transport portfolio is due to lockdown having "a big impact on infrastructure projects"
Pity for her I've just shown Audit Scotland's £75m fig unspent due to misjudging covid mitigation demand..

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More from @DeanMThomson

22 Dec
Thread.

“Perhaps if more people read the report, we’d get fewer ridiculous misinformed political takes on the report.” - Kate Forbes, complaining that too many are “twisting” the facts from Audit Scotland report.

Only problem is, she seems to be having difficulty herself.
(1/8
➡️ It’s all about the underspend

Ms Forbes argument is that the underspend shouldn’t raise eyebrows, in fact it’s all apparently perfectly reasonable. Especially for the Transport portfolio - the carry forward there is due to ‘infrastructure’ projects being delayed
(2/8 Image
She makes this argument explicitly. Saying lockdown has big impact on capital projects for financial year 2020-21 (true). But goes on to imply this is why Transport underspent (£321m) is present, saying these projects would need funding this as opposed to last financial year
(3/8 Image
Read 10 tweets
19 Dec
Following video clip I posted of the first minister's response to journalist Michael Blackley, some tweeted along the lines that it was a 'stupid question' & merited the response he received.

But this isn't fair or reasonable. Let me demonstrate why the FM was rude & wrong
[1/5
I present two scenarios, comparing the question Blackley (Daily Mail) asked the first minister with one Martin Geissler (ITN) asked Prof Leitch.

Very similar questions, but two extremely different answers.
[2/5
Scenario A - Blackley & FM

Q: '...is there anything else that can be done to help such as helping them [businesses] with impact of self isolation for staff...'

A: 'Ah yeah, that'd really help, that would spread infection even further'
[3/5
Read 5 tweets
19 Dec
SNP planned Gender Recognition Act reforms appear to be in serious trouble. And the first minister can’t keep dismissing women’s concerns as ‘not valid’

▪️examining the new Panelbase poll commissioned by @ForwomenScot

(1/7
➡️ On gender self identification…

Only 29% back Nicola Sturgeon’s plans for gender self identification in Scotland. 71% backing medical professionals assessment.
(2/7 Image
➡️ Regarding women only spaces…

A whopping 67% oppose trans-women (biologically male, female by gender self identification) from accessing women only spaces such as hospital wards or changing rooms if they still have make genitalia.
(3/7 Image
Read 8 tweets
18 Dec
Thread on the 'audit of the Scottish Government Consolidated Accounts'. This audit report covers 90% of the budget approved by Holyrood Parliament.

Highlighting false or misleading statements by Nicola Sturgeon and Ian Blackford and setting them against audit realities
[1/20
▶️First minister claims no spare money for covid business relief:
"We’ve found £100m out of fixed Budget, having to take that from elsewhere…every penny we now take, I don’t know where you think I should take it from. The health service? education budget? Justice budget?"
[2/20
👉The reality

The audit for financial year 2020/21 however reveals an underspend of £580m.

"Overall, total spending was £580 million less than budget."
[3/20
Read 22 tweets
17 Dec
Thread exploring how SNP budget cuts on local government and housing will hurt and not help the fight against homelessness.

Exploring homelessness statistics set against the latest SNP budget.
[1/10
▶️Temporary accommodation

Number of households in temporary accommodation as of 31 March 2021 was 13,097. This represents a 12% increase compared to 11,665 at 31 March 2020.
[2/10
▶️Securing settled accommodation

80% of homeless households (18,313 out of 22,967) secured settled accommodation in 2020/21. This is a drop on the 83% from last year. This situation has got worse
[3/10
Read 10 tweets
3 Dec
How can a Scottish Government young persons health and well-being survey be controversial?

Let’s find out…
(1/13
➡️ the idea behind it

School pupils in S4 to S6 will be asked to give their views on a range of subjects.

These subjects cover the full spread of topics you’d expect. From physical and mental health to bullying and the pressures of school work.

So far so good.
(2/13
At this point I doubt anyone would dispute the value of conducting such a survey. It’s good to know more about the health and well-being of school pupils.

But what happens if the survey asks school kids about their sex lives?
(3/13
Read 14 tweets

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