John Downie

John Downie responds to the second report from the Expert Working Group on Welfare. It’s a strong start, but if we don’t aim for more radical change, we all lose Read more

Only 13 Labour back benchers voted against plans to cap welfare. Can the party still claim to represent vulnerable people? Read more

In the race for economic growth we have forgotten about people and communities. Read more

There is nothing permanent except change - Heraclitus Read more

Was anyone really surprised that the latest Scottish Attitudes Survey said that the economy will be the decisive issue for voters in the referendum? It was always going to be the case that people would base their decision on whether independence would be good for the economy. I... Read more

John Downie blogs on the failings of the Procurement Bill to include the Living Wage and to help people and communities. Read more

The bigger picture A new economy – less dependency Examining the future of welfare in Scotland without understanding why people are dependent on a myriad of benefits and allowances is a mistake. Within the third sector, and more widely, there is a growing call for our economy to... Read more

Economic strategy shouldn’t be an experiment just about growing the economy. We need a solution that considers people, their happiness and their jobs. Read more

I thought that the chat over lunch with a friend before the Scotland/Serbia game on Saturday would be more about Craig Levin's team selection rather than a run through the latest but significant happenings in Scottish politics. But, strangely, conversation was dominated by the... Read more