@ProfJMitchell

Professor of Public Policy, Edinburgh University

sps.ed.ac.uk/staff/politics/james_mitchell
Joined March 2014
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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@ProfJMitchell8h
Replying to @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.'
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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🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿@embradon9h
Replying to @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.
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Similar legislation by Scottish Parliament. In fact, relaxation was already happening as easier to gain access within 30 years before legislation.
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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.
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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@rosscolquhoun12h
Replying to @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.
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The narrowness (to put it st most generous) in selective ill-informed spin is what I reacted to with well researched evidence.
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Latest on work with colleagues on fiscal devolution and economic growth: economicsobservatory.com/sco…

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

The UK government aspires to boost regional growth by letting local leaders retain a share of tax revenues such as income tax and business rates. Scotland’s experience suggests that any benefits of...

economicsobservatory.com
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Facts can be upsetting.
Ross Colquhoun@rosscolquhoun16h
Replying to @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.
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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@ProfJMitchell16h
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.
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SNP needs to get serious. Less propaganda, more engagement with challenges as well as opportunities.
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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@rosscolquhoun16h
🤔 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…
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James Mitchell retweeted
Sam Taylor@staylorish16h
Replying to @ProfJMitchell
I wrote about that mythology here: these-islands.co.uk/publicat…

The McCrone Mythology

A 1974 memo written by Scottish Office economist Gavin McCrone has acquired a mythical status for Scottish nationalists. But how much of the mythology is true?

these-islands.co.uk
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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@ProfJMitchell17h
Indeed. Very extensively debated both in public and in Whitehall.
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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
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All discussed and sourced at length in forthcoming book. Not that evidence will stop myth making. 4/4
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Indeed. Very extensively debated both in public and in Whitehall.
Sam Taylor@staylorish17h
Read some history! The idea of an oil fund was extensively debated in the 1970s and 80s. It’s all in Hansard. Criticising the decision not to establish one is perfectly legitimate. But pretending the possibility was denied until yesterday is just idiotic.
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