General Election FOR DUMMIES

The stakes have never been higher for the country going into a

General Election, with Brexit, perilous public finances and climate change all major issues.

Writing for the Sunday Mail, Professor of public policy at Edinburgh university James Mitchell argues the electorate are being treated like children by politicians obsessed with slogans, soundbites and promises of a quick fix.

The poor quality of debate and scale of challenges ahead make this election galling for anyone looking for serious policy debate.

The complexities of governing are put aside as politicians indulge in soundbites and slogans, exaggerated claims and counter-claims.

We face almighty challenges ahead that do not lend themselves to easy solutions – an ageing population, a climate emergency, low productivity growth for starters.

None of these will be resolved by quick fixes.

Difficult decisions lie ahead but voters could be forgiven for thinking problems will only arise if the “other side” wins.

Brexit is a self-inflicted wound that willl add a layer of problems.

Negotiations with the EU have hardly started and the UK is a minor player in these discussions.

Our public finances are unhealthy.

There will be a short-term respiteite because money can always be foundd when an election is pending.

Pretty lavish spending promises have been made in recent months and will be repeated over the coming weeks.

This is not necessarily a problem and a case can be made that we need significant public investment.

But two major questions follow – how will they be paid for and what exactly will the money be spent on?

This short-term political gratification will have to be financed for over the long haul.

Government borrowing money is no different from anyone borrowing money – it must be paid back with interest.

A big assumption is being made that current, very low interest rates are here to stay.

But if the economy starts to improve, and the parties all claim

“Politicians indulge in soundbites and slogans, exaggerated claims and counter-claims” – James Mitchell

their policies wwill make this happen, then interestinter rates are likely to rise.

If the economy does nonot improve, then we obviously also have a problem.

Whether any growth in the economy will be enough to pay off the staggering levels of debt is far from clear.

Borrowing in itself is necessary – especially for major projects that benefit communities over the long term.

We should no more expect that new schools and hospitals should be paid for when they are built than we would expect to pay for our home when we first acquire it.

This is why what we are spending public money on is important.

Just as we should question whether taking out a loan for a fancy holiday is sensible when we have little income, we need to consider what we’re spending on.

We can anticipate some nifty smoke and mirror tricks but financial wizards are like all magicians.

It is never quite as it seems. Private finance deals and other tricks will likely be entered into to pay for these promises but these are the equivalent of going to a loan shark.

Politically sensitive areas are untouchable but often in most need of serious scrutiny.

The National Health Service is crying out for attention but politicians fear serious discussion of health priorities and treat the NHS as a sacred cow.

There will be much talk about waiting times. But little on how to prevent people having to join waiting lists.

The NHS is capable of putting bodies back together that fall off a cliff but hopeless at preventing them falling off in the first place.

It is not only the country that has an obesity problem. The NHS is like a spoiled child indulged by well-intentioned but misguided parents.

A broader public health debate is needed. Leisure and recreation, areas which play a significant part in mental and physical wellbeing, are health issues.

We do ourselves no favours by failing to have an honest debate on public health.

Twenty years ago, health took up about a third of the Scottish Parliament’s budget. Today, it is over 40 per cent and heading towards half.

This has happened by stealth, without debate, with consequences for other public services.

Elections are fought in slogans and soundbites but government is much harder.

The electorate is being treated like children and promised all sorts of goodies. There’ll be a price to be paid in the morning.