Wellbeing Economy Alliance Scotland responds to Scottish Government draft Budget
In a just and compassionate Scotland, everyone should have the opportunity to thrive. We welcome measures in the Scottish Budget to enable people and communities to live a dignified life.
Government budgets are one of the most powerful tools for redesigning our economy so that it delivers social justice on a healthy planet - a Wellbeing Economy. Budgets show us in black and white what we value as a society and how we care for each other and our natural environment.
Essential investment in our NHS, climate change mitigation, affordable housing, free bus travel for asylum seekers alongside free ferry travel for young islanders and abolishing the unjust two child limit are all welcome. These are small steps in the right direction.
But tinkering around the edges and implementing expensive sticking plaster solutions is not enough, given the scale and urgency of the challenges we are facing.
We have the resources, skills and passion in Scotland to ensure good lives for all on a healthy planet. But we need creative and bold budgets to leverage our wealth for the right ends.
The Scottish Government fails to use the full budgetary powers at its disposal to make our communities thrive and protect our natural environment for current and future generations.
This budget fails to pursue the deep reforms to our tax system necessary to share our wealth fairly, and to support lasting change, such as replacing the unfair Council Tax. As a result the Scottish Government is unable to ensure that everyone can live with dignity and that we tackle the climate and nature emergencies.
We will continue to work with our partners in the newly formed Tax Justice Scotland Campaign, calling for the Scottish Parliament to use its tax powers to help deliver a greener, more equal Scotland where everyone can thrive.
It is essential that government budgets are transparent, joined up and aligned with the priorities of people and planet. The Scottish Government needs to put forward a strong and participatory Wellbeing Budgeting process that delivers for the people of Scotland.
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