The SNP is learning there’s no such thing as a free lunch

During his time as Scotland’s First Minister, Alex Salmond was accused by the Scottish Labour leader Johann Lamont of fostering a ‘something for nothing’ culture with vote-grabbing policies like free university tuition, free prescriptions and a council tax freeze – expensive gimmicks that took cash away from where it was needed most. Lamont’s analysis was sound and reflected the consensus among Scottish economists but she was pilloried for her speech and her leadership never really recovered.

Vindication twelve years after the fact might be cold comfort for Lamont but the SNP government has seemingly come around to her way of thinking. A week ago, it scrapped the devolved version of the winter fuel payment, following in the footsteps of Chancellor Rachel Reeves. Social security minister Shirley-Anne Somerville blamed Westminster cuts but adopted the Chancellor’s policy of limiting payments to those on pension credit and other means-tested benefits. On Tuesday, SNP ministers cancelled a £40 million pilot scheme that charged all journeys on Scotland’s nationalised rail service at ‘off peak’ fare rates.