The SNP’s four day week won’t work

Pigs will surely sooner fly over Glasgow Pollok than business will take inspiration from Humza Yousaf’s approach to running government. Nonetheless, the claim made by Scotland’s First Minister and his advisers is that moving state employees to a four-day week could be a catalyst for the private sector to follow suit.

In the clearest sign yet that the SNP exists for the welfare of its public sector workers at the expense of the taxpayer, Yousaf has announced a pilot scheme in his programme for government, Holyrood’s version of Westminster’s King’s speech, despite warnings that it could ‘blow a £2.5 billion hole‘ in his budget. The SNP’s day-to-day spending is already on course to exceed their funding by £1 billion in 2024/25, rising to £1.9 billion in 2027/28.

The public sector in Scotland employs 21 per cent of the workforce — level with Wales and higher than any region in England. The majority of its civil servants continue to work from home post-pandemic: fewer than a third of desks are occupied in 16 major office buildings and 10 are under half full.