Holyrood Magazine issue 395 / 15 January 2018
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Interview with Darren ‘Loki’ McGarvey on living with a legacy of poverty; No recourse to public funds: How the UK's hostile environment policy is driving people into destitution; SPECIAL SECTION on Scotland’s economy including an interview with Finance Secretary, Derek Mackay, comment from Economy Secretary, Keith Brown, and a Q&A with leading economists.
3 Editor’s note
This reshuffle was meant to be her new start. It was meant to stamp some authority over a team that has made no pretence of being collegiate
6 Roundup
Pictures and numbers from the past two weeks
8 Talking Point
More transparency could help combat pay inequality
10 Political Spotlight
Theresa May’s muffled reshuffle
12 Political Interview: Darren ‘Loki’ McGarvey
Interview with Darren ‘Loki’ McGarvey on the legacy of his upbringing in Glasgow’s Pollok
16 Feature: Immigration
Destitution among people with insecure immigration status is on the rise, but there’s a limit to how much councils can do to help
19 Scotland’s Economy: Emphasis on enterprise
How does Scotland change course after a decade of weak growth?
27 Economy Interview: Derek Mackay
Scotland’s Finance Secretary on his budget and reputation
34 Economy Comment: Keith Brown
The Economy Secretary takes stock of what 2018 holds for his brief
38 Economy Q&A: Ask the experts
As MSPs prepare to debate the draft budget, five economists give their suggestions for future investment and growth
46 Roundtable
Can Scotland be a global tech hub?
50 Event Report
Holyrood’s festive drinks reception at the Scottish Parliament
52 Getting to know you
Tory MSP Miles Briggs on his experience of running through a greenhouse
54 Comment
Henry McLeish: More protection is needed for workers in Scotland
55 Book review
Alex Cole-Hamilton reviews The Public Affairs Guide to Scotland
56 Diary
Trouble with buttons, rap battles, and getting lost in the Amazon
57 Politicians and their pets
Rachael Hamilton introduces her dog Pippa
58 Last Word
Parliamentary sketch: A debate on Brexit gets side-tracked by Stewart Stevenson’s fishy tales