Barnett formula

Fair Deal (Slugger O'Toole): The Barnett formula has fundamental flaws and failed in its aim of equalisation. The IPPR report Fair Shares attempts to offer a new way forward for the UK, but the alternative has its own flaws, key questions are sidestepped and it will probably be Alex Salmond who determines whether Barnett reaches 40 years of age.

Tom Griffin (London, The Green Ribbon): The Barnett formula for financing the UK's devolved governments is unfair and should be replaced, according to a report issued by IPPR North on Thursday.

Scotland and Wales have already begun considering alternatives. Northern Ireland should be looking to do the same, according to one of the report's authors, Iain Maclean in the Sunday Times today:

Gareth Young (Lewes, CEP): During Prime Minister's Question Time on 21st November 2007 Gordon Brown misled Parliament when he claimed that the Barnett Formula was based on need. His error was highlighted at the press briefing afterwards, but just two weeks ago he did it again:

Jon Bright (London, OK): Brown's slow suffocation of Wendy Alexander's constitutional commission - which is now a mere working party - continued today, with the news that there are no plans to review the Barnett formula, "now or in the forseeable future." Only a couple of weeks ago, Brown was speculating on whether revenue raising powers should go to Holyrood - which would have meant some kind of review of Barnett. The question not must surely be - what kind of proposals is Alexaner's working party going to come back with? And will they manage the difficult task of pleasing both Number 10 and Scotland?

Jon Bright (London, OK): Anyone who has worked in a busy office will know how quickly the first draft can turn into the final copy, how an off the cuff suggestion can turn quickly into a policy, how a quick fix can become a permanent feature. No-one must be more aware of this than Lord Barnett, whose political mission it seems to be to destroy his own formula - which was developed as a temporary solution for distributing money round the UK in the 1970s - and has since become a feature of our much maligned constitutional landscape.

Gavin Yates (Edinburgh, GYmedia) The Smith Institute, often cited as Gordon Brown’s favoured think-tank has released a paper gaining publicity today calling for the end of the Barnett Formula. Lord Sewel, the former Scottish Office minister who wrote the report says that a new formula is needed that is based upon need rather than population.

Gavin Yates (Edinburgh, GYmedia): Scotland’s First Minister, Alex Salmond appears to have got himself into a bit of a pickle over his dual role of MP and MSP.

Mr Salmond represents Banff and Buchan at Westminster and has not been in the chamber for 100 days but has been collecting both a Holyrood and Westminster salary since he became FM. The LibDems have called on him to resign but he has repeatedly pointed out that former FM Donald Dewar held the dual role until he resigned his Westminster seat at the occasion of the UK General Election. However, Mr Dewar represented the same constituency whilst Mr Salmond represents Gordon at Holyrood.

Anthony Barnett (London, OK): I have just been sent a thoughtful warning for me not to answer my front door: “the new Prime Minister has sounded the death knell for the controversial Barnett formula”. Then I breathed again, it’s from the Scotland on Sunday and it refers to (no-relation) Joel Barnett’s historic arrangements for giving Scotland a fair deal, which has now created an alleged subsidy that is stoking English fury. It will suit Brown well with Daily Mail readers to treat the whole of the UK the same way financially. Alex Salmond says it is "just a euphemism for slashing Scottish spending" but after the pictures of Salmond next to the Queen waving to the crowds one can imagine Brown’s desire to wipe the smile of the face of the SNP leader. So now it's leaving us, what is the Barnett formula? And what is so wrong with it?