But a report from the Scottish Fiscal Commission says while Uk Government policies have contributed to the pressure, much of it comes from the Scottish Governments own decisions. Heres our scotland editorjames cook. This is the reality of life less than four miles from the scottish parliament. A Community Centre handing out free bread to help the residents of muirhouse make ends meet. And yet, now, here and across scotland, the tough times could be about to get worse. Prolonged westminster austerity, the economic damage of brexit, a global pandemic, the war in ukraine, and The Cost Of Living crisis, have all placed enormous and growing pressure on the public finances. I must take further and more urgent action now to ensure that we can balance the scottish budget in 2024 25. And i call. There is also 800 million of additional spending for new pay offers, and all that means 500 million in direct service cuts, plus a raid on the Proceeds Of Offshore Wind and publicly owned scottish water. Given the recent independent analysis, will the Cabinet Secretary finally put on the record that the large Black Hole in scotlands public finances is a result of the actions of the Scottish Government and not the actions of westminster . This statement is a threadbare attempt to once again pass the buck. After 17 years in power, always someone else. To blame, again and again. Critics of the Scottish Government say the cuts announced here this afternoon are alarming enough, but away from this place, there are plenty of communities across scotland which say they were already struggling even before this statement. The smp talked about her reset over the weekend. S and p. No doubt about it, this was a bad News Day for the Snp Government in scotland. Theyre hoping tomorrow will be a better day because thats been the outline for the government and their bills for the years i suspect it will be the first Minister Tomorrow trying a bit more on the good news front. This report from the Scottish Physical Mission is critically important. Its like the Budget Office Responsibility for the united kingdom. Its a proper independent analysis of scotlands books. And where things have gone wrong for the in the major factor driving these carts is that government is invested more in his Public Sector, and it has more in percentage terms people in the public Sector Payroll than the rest of the united kingdom. When you consistently pay them over the previous years that you have to match increases in pay, it cost more money and somethings got to give. It is somethings got to give. It is obviously somethings got to give. It is obviously true somethings got to give. It is obviously true that somethings got to give. It is obviously true that their budget is determined by what comes in the October Budget at west minister. Rachel reeves will set that out. The Labour Leader before the election said, read my lips, read my lips, no austerity under labour. Was he truthful with the electorate . Labour. Was he truthful with the electorate . Yes, i think he was. The electorate . Yes, i think he was im the electorate . Yes, i think he was im not the electorate . Yes, i think he was. Im not convinced the electorate . Yes, i think he was. Im not convinced that. Was. Im not convinced that this matches the definition of austerity for the reasons that ive outlined. These pressures on public finances are because of the fact that the Public Sector are paid proportionately more than england are. Theyre about to say to the Back Seat further pay increases with the which is something not available to england and wales. I am not sure it matches that traditional definition of austerity. At the Snp Government were hoping for is when Rachel Reeves came in his chancellor is that Spurning Taps would come on and money would flow into scotland and the Government Wouldnt have to make the cuts that it had to dig today. I suspect more money will come to expect when youre just market to see it for a couple of years yet. The blame is being thrown around in much the same way. Throughout the summer, chancellor Rachel Reeves has been talking about a 22 Billion pound Black Hole in the Uk Governments finances. Which she lays at the door of the previous government. That infuriated her predecessor Jeremy Hunt, such that he wrote a letter to the countrys top civilservant, ani a letter to the countrys top Civil Servant, Cabinet Secretary simon Case Complaining that it contradicted Government Spending estimates, that had previously been signed off by The Civil Service. Well simon case has now replied to that letter and thanks to our chief political Correspondent Henry Zeffman we know whats in it. Ive been leaked simon caseys reply toJeremy Hunt, and in passing he says no. The Civil Service was not brought into disrepute. There was just a sort of mismatch because of the fact that parliament didnt have much time between The General election and the summer. But then he goes on to make a couple of really quite pointed comments. He says that he would note, this is simon caseys words, that the sizeable in year changes to spending plans in recent years have resulted from the lack of a new Spending Review to replan departmental budgets since 2021. Now, let me translate The Civil Service speak. Hes basically saying that the previous Governments Decision not to revise departmental budgets at any point since 2021, before inflation, before Russias Invasion of ukraine, was a big reason for uncertainty in public finances. Thats quite a claim from the Cabinet Secretary, i suspect it of rather, it had stayed private, but it got leaked to me. Jeremy has responded and said. If Civil Servant signed off estimates to parliament that are fostered is a breach of civil Service Code for the respect from any government to of civil Service Code for the respect from any government to hold the Spending Review for hold the Spending Review for the if those estimates were not the if those estimates were not balls in the Cabinet Secretary is code the balls in the Cabinet Secretary said the County Offices acted said the County Offices acted appropriate and labours claim appropriate and labours claim is exposed as bogus. In reality is a political device to justify tax rises. I suspect wills, this row is going to Go On And on for the clearly labour trying to roll the pen before you delivered that important in our will. It you delivered that important in our will. you delivered that important in ourwill.. you delivered that important in our will... our will. It seems also that theres a our will. It seems also that theres a lot our will. It seems also that theres a lot of our will. It seems also that theres a lot of plane our will. It seems also that theres a lot of plane being thrown around. In the past 2a hours of the go from side to side. It will as you said lay the groundwork for the budget that comes. Were talking about the Kamala Harris Campaign early wrong, shes focusing on m early wrong, shes focusing on joy and this seems to be focusing on going towards misery in the uk. Looking at the details and Spending Cuts and Budget Reviews for that there is a very bleak picture. Again it complicates matters. And the couege it complicates matters. And the college had to translate what it all meant. It will go back and forth in the headlines as we go and then when the budget does come down that were going to see those Headline Numbers from Rachel Reeves end of the public and decide for themselves with the bad is whats could be what matters most to every break. Because ou most to every break. Because You Ismaily most to every break. Because You Ismaily because most to every break. Because You Ismaily because she most to every break. Because You Ismaily because she doesj You Ismaily because she does this will Go On And on. It seems to me, what do i know but it seems to me that both sides are guilty of hiding reality. The conservatives certainly knew that that during the pay deals would be expensive and have a cost for them appropriately. Labour has settled the pay deals in line with the independent Pay Review bodies but is trying to say it wasnt a political choice, which he clearly was. As in Scotland Labour is making a big play of that. Theyre making a big play of the fact that it is a political choice for the snp to settle the Public Sector pay row. ~ to settle the Public Sector pay row. ~. ,.. row. Yes, i think thats a fair analysis row. Yes, i think thats a fair analysis. What row. Yes, i think thats a fair analysis. What i row. Yes, i think thats a fair analysis. What i think row. Yes, i think thats a fair analysis. What i think is analysis. What i think is really analysis. What i think is really interesting about that remark really interesting about that remark from Jeremy Hunt on x is his Feeling Remark from Jeremy Hunt on x is his feeling of all around this idea his feeling of all around this idea of his feeling of all around this idea of it being false. Thats not really what i think labour is trying not really what i think labour is trying to assert here for that is trying to assert here for that what theyre trying to demonstrate is that theres been demonstrate is that theres been so demonstrate is that theres been so much Uncertainty Or Lack been so much Uncertainty Or Lack of clarity around public Finances Lack of clarity around public finances that they werent able to Get Finances that they werent able to get to finances that they werent able to get to grips with the Spending Cuts until they were in Office Spending cuts until they were in office. I think thats a personable reasonably positioned to take. I also dont positioned to take. I also dont take a Labour Government actually dont take a Labour Government actually wants to make these cuts actually wants to make these cuts it actually wants to make these cuts it is actually wants to make these cuts. It is not ideologically in their cuts. It is not ideologically in their bones for the they know in their bones for the they know they have to do this though. Know they have to do this though, they are there for marshalling the rationale for based marshalling the rationale for based on the records of the past based on the records of the past if based on the records of the ast. ~. past. It striking that we obsess about past. It striking that we obsess about the past. It striking that we obsess about the debt l past. It striking that we i obsess about the debt and past. It striking that we obsess about the debt and the cost of borrowing here in the uk and how we must trim spending on Government Departments to get the finances under control. You never hear any of that in the United States for the where the debt is growing, the Deficit Rolls on from year to year to year, even over the debate about taxes, the trump taxes that come to an end in 2025. There is no conversation about well, we cant reinstate those Tax Cuts before we can afford it. It doesnt seem to be part of The General debate. Ida. It doesnt seem to be part of The General debate. It doesnt seem to be part of The General debate. No, it only comes on The General debate. No, it only comes on every The General debate. No, it only comes up every so The General debate. No, it only comes up every so often. The general debate. No, it only comes up every so often. Andl The General debate. No, it only| comes up every so often. And a very large headlight number, which i apologise but i cannot remember of the top my head because it grows all the time. Is up to 35 Trillion . It because it grows all the time. Is up to 35 Trillion . Is up to 35 Trillion . It is, oure is up to 35 Trillion . It is, youre right. Is up to 35 Trillion . It is, youre right. I is up to 35 Trillion . It is, youre right. I probably i is up to 35 Trillion . It is, i youre right. I probably last looked when it was 33 trillion. I apologise for that it keeps going on and on. Especially in the election year, talking about the deficit is not something that either side wants to mention. Post election it may come to the forefront when congress returns in the next week then were going to be talking about how the government wants to want to shut down for the end does take over, whether its Harris Or Trump administration then that will be one of the issues that comes to the forefront. Because the us keep spending and they keep pushing economic prosperity, pushing trump especially Tax Cuts for the Kamala Harris is talking about big Tax Child Tax credits for that making it more affordable for low income housing. Those will add for low income housing. Those willadd up. It for low income housing. Those will add up. It will come to the fore in the next ten or 20 years where theres going to be a point we can come back from it. As you said, nothing comes to the forefront here. Someone can mention the number every so often and its remarkably impressive how big it is. That will be a seismic impressive how big it is. That will be a seismic events impressive how big it is. That will be a seismic events when it happens. Will all go to america for holidays when that happens. We havent been able to afford at the last five years. Lets talk about something else. The way we view ourselves is changing we are as a nation less proud of our history, our economy our political influence in the world than we once were but we are now more proud of our sporting, cultural and artistic achievements. Thats the picture that emerges from the british social Attitudes Survey carried out by the national centre for social research. Robert tombs, is Emeritus Professor in history at the university of cambridge. Two out of three still say they are proud of British History, despite the tsunami of negativity that weve had over the last few years. And oddly, even most of those who dont identify as british say theyre proud of British History. Nevertheless, the number of those who do say theyre proud, though proud, is not the term i would ideally have asked people about has certainly fallen, as has pride in democracy in our system of government, which is a bit worrying. Theres nothing wrong with having a critical view of our past, kezia. Its a good thing we visit them better understand our history. But there is a growing tendency to perhaps look ideologically at our shared history without fully contextualizing it. Is that a problem . Contextualizing it. Is that a roblem . ~ problem . No. Ithink youre riaht, problem . No. Ithink youre right. Its problem . No. Ithink youre right. Its all problem . No. Ithink youre right, its all about problem . No. Ithink youre right, its all about the right, its all about the balance. Theres a danger of studies like this that think that a particularly the fallen pride in British History in and of itself is a bad thing. It might be a good thing. It might bea might be a good thing. It might be a good thing that is a country we decided that our past as an empire and dominating other countries around the world is well and truly behind us and not something we should have been proud of for the culture Wars Reference in that package i think play here as well. We had a lot of debate about our relationship with slavery in trying to make reparations for that. If thats less people feeling a bit less proud of their history, i think its a good thing. I their history, i think its a good thing their history, i think its a good thing. I think he was makin good thing. I think he was making the good thing. I think he was making the point good thing. I think he was making the point that good thing. I think he was making the point that we | good thing. I think he was l making the point that we all know that britain profited usually from slavery, Blood Money Slavery in the 18th century. If you get to contextualize it youll see britain stood in the way of more slavery in the 19th century, that was the point he was making. There is across over here in how we view our history for them is become a partisan debate i know in the United States, especially when it comes to slavery. Do we more generally know, do we have to be cautious about replacing a national identity, National Pride with conflicting versions of history, conflicting identities . I of history, conflicting identities . Of history, conflicting identities . ~. identities . I think if we do have conflicting identities . I think if we do have conflicting Versions L identities . I think if we do l have conflicting versions of history have conflicting versions of history they are there to be siudied~ history they are there to be studied. And they are there for various studied. And they are there for various people whether students, children or adults to look students, children or adults to look and students, children or adults to look and analyse yourself and make look and analyse yourself and make your own conclusions. 0ver make your own conclusions. Over the past make your own conclusions. Over the past few years people are too quick the past few years people are too quick tojump the past few years people are too quick to jump to conclusions, to say remember this very conclusions, to say remember this very tragic, horrific part of our this very tragic, horrific part of our history. And they make it into of our history. And they make it into a of our history. And they make it into a partisan issue. And they it into a partisan issue. And they say it into a partisan issue. And t