Chris

Actually the present figures are just as true and useful, and sobering. Yes, they represent the cost of the Covid-19 crisis, but they place in stark relief Scotland’s structural weakness compared to England. It cost relatively more to deal with the crisis here, while Scotland’s contribution to the cost was relatively less.

Of course none of that matters while Scotland is part of a successful pooling and sharing union which manages all the assets and liabilities arising on this island as a single unified territory. It only becomes a problem if nationalists succeed in tearing that union up. It’s about time we heard from them how they would plan to square that circle, without blaming Westminster or making evasive assertions about making different choices. Especially with regards to Covid-19 it’s very hard to see what different choices the Nats could have made to deal with it more cheaply.