Tories 'only party with realistic cash plans'

"This is quite simply the most transparent and realistic set of policy and financial proposals I have read in the lead-up to the current election and far superior to the creative accounting and rosy assumptions in the policy statements of the other major opposition party, the SNP." - Professor Arthur Midwinter

Read the full text of Professor Arthur Midwinter's report here

Story in full SCOTLAND'S leading public-finance expert, who has criticised the spending plans of both the SNP and Labour, has praised the "transparent and realistic" policies of the Scottish Conservatives.

The positive analysis by Professor Arthur Midwinter is revealed today in the final part of an exclusive series for The Scotsman on the main parties' financial plans.

Prof Midwinter is well known for not pulling any punches in his role as an independent adviser to Holyrood's finance committee. He has already condemned the SNP's plans as "an uncosted wish-list with a 1.8 billion black hole at its heart". He has also criticised the Labour Party for merely "muddling through" rather than taking important decisions on the economy, and he accused the Lib Dems of "confused political and economic theorising".

However, in the final report in the run- up to the election, Prof Midwinter, who is visiting professor at the institute for Public Sector Accounting at Edinburgh University, said the Tories are the only party to give "modest, fully costed proposals", rather than making "fiscally irresponsible" assumptions. Despite being a vociferous critic of the fiscal policies of the Thatcher government, Prof Midwinter praises the party for setting realistic goals for efficiency savings and costing promises made on issues like crime and education.

He wrote: "This is quite simply the most transparent and realistic set of policy and financial proposals I have read in the lead-up to the current election and far superior to the creative accounting and rosy assumptions in the policy statements of the other major opposition party, the SNP."

Prof Midwinter said the Tories are returning to the central ground. "The report is well written and lucid, and returns to traditional Tory concerns, such as families, decentralisation to local government and the primacy of law-and-order issues, with little right-wing rhetoric favouring pro-market approaches across the public sector.

"The Conservatives' return to the centre ground increases the prospects for influencing developments - even outwith a coalition."

However, Prof Midwinter said the Scottish Conservatives are wrong to cite low growth and increased local taxation, which have in fact improved. He also said their policy on mutualising Scottish Water, cutting council tax for pensioners and allocating hospital resources to follow patients must be redrawn.

Annabel Goldie, the party leader, pledged to stick to "credible" plans to influence the next Scottish Parliament: "We know from the doorsteps that our policies are being well received and are in tune with the voters' concerns about the bread-and-butter issues."

Read the full text of Professor Arthur Midwinter's report here