Debate: The fiscal and political tensions of sustaining a devolved public sector workforce

Citation

Montgomery T (2026) Debate: The fiscal and political tensions of sustaining a devolved public sector workforce. Public Money & Management. https://doi.org/10.1080/09540962.2026.2699170

Abstract
Introduction One aspect of devolution in the UK, often overlooked, is the power to create and sustain a workforce that delivers public services. In Scotland, this task is infused with an added layer of political importance. While much has been discussed, debated and critiqued around a ‘Scottish approach’ to policy-making (Cairney et al., Citation2016; Sinclair, Citation2024), the focus is often on wider debates around fiscal responsibility and tax-raising powers (McIntyre et al., Citation2023) rather than those more everyday implications of workforce planning. Nevertheless, in the aftermath of the 2026 Scottish Parliament elections, it is entirely possible that the future of the devolved public sector workforce may move centre stage.

Journal
Public Money & Management

• Debate The Fiscal And Political Tensions Of Sustaining A Devolved Public Sector Workforce