The SNP fully met little more than a third of its key targets for government, the most detailed analysis of the party’s record has revealed.
In conjunction with the Mitchell Library, The Courier has undertaken a major project to assess the record of the current Scottish Government.
Our final verdict has awarded pass marks but only just. We’ve given them an overall “C” grade.
Next week we will outline exactly how that conclusion was reached through five in-depth pull-out supplements, packed with facts and figures on how ministers have performed.
We focused on the five key areas identified by the Scottish Government itself: Healthier, Wealthier, Safer, Smarter, and Greener.
The findings gave a fascinating insight into a government which has a reputation for competence, with 10 of the 28 areas receiving pass marks, seven failing altogether and a further 11 being ranked “Could Do Better”.
The SNP’s worst performing area was health, where it received a grade of C against its own targets.
Perhaps surprisingly for some, it came up with its best results within the education sector, scoring a solid B+.
The economy and justice system both recorded C+ while attempts to help the environment were marked C, the same as the overall result.
Deputy First Minister John Swinney said the SNP had improved the country during its time in office.
He said: “Scotland is a far, far better place than when the SNP first came to office in 2007.
“We have regularly outperformed the UK on jobs, in spite of our limited economic powers and the effects of the financial crash and our economy enjoys among the highest levels of inward investment in the whole of the UK, while exports have risen and the small business bonus has saved companies around £1 billion in total.
“We have also protected household budgets through the council tax freeze, saving the average Band D payer around £1,500, as well as abolishing prescription charges and scrapping university tuition fees.
“Police numbers have reached a record high, while crime is at a 41-year low, our hospital waiting times performance is far better than anything achieved by the previous administration and we have provided a huge boost to green energy while leading the world in climate change ambition.
“But there is still much to do, and a re-elected SNP Government will continue to try and make life better for everyone in the country, with a particular focus on education and on narrowing the attainment gap between children from the least and most deprived areas.”
The results chime with the Government’s own 55 National Indicators, which “do not provide comprehensive measurement of every activity”.
Fewer than half of those, 26, have seen improvements, while 14 have seen performance get worse and 20 have remained static.A competent but unspectacular record in office“Our record in government is one of delivery and achievement.
“It’s not perfect of course it’s not the recession and Westminster austerity have created a financial climate much tougher than anything we could have contemplated back in 2007.
“But make no mistake it is a record I am proud of.”
Nicola Sturgeon’s message in her keynote speech to the SNP conference in Aberdeen could not have been clearer.
She wants her party to be judged on its performance in government.
It’s a bold move by a First Minister who has just shepherded her party past the end of its second term in office.
But we don’t like to disappoint.
In conjunction with our partners at the Mitchell Library, The Courier has undertaken an extensive six-month project to do exactly what she asked.
Using a mixture of the Scottish Government’s own figures alongside international statistics, our team has carried out the most in-depth research ever into where the SNP has met its targets and where it has fallen short.
The Courier’s political reporter, Gareth McPherson, Andrew Liddle, Scottish political correspondent for the Press and Journal, and I have pored over screeds of data.
Spreadsheets and various types of charts have practically been coming out of our ears.
We did it so the Scottish Government could be analysed, fairly and by its own standards.
Heading into an election where the question of who will form the next executive is almost a foregone conclusion makes this exercise especially important.
A quick word on how we came to our final marks.
In an exam, you get graded either A, B, C, D or the dreaded F (fail). We have assessed the Scottish Government in the same way.
Ministers were awarded five points for every Pass, three points for a Could Do Better and just the one for a Fail.
Each of these equals either an A, C or F on the exam scale.
We added the totals up, divided them by the number of areas being assessed, and were left with our grade.
There were 10 full pass marks (A), seven fails (F) and 11 efforts which were middle of the road (C).
That totalled a score of 88 over the 28 categories, which left a 3.1 average.
Pretty much bang on a C grade.
Are the results surprising? Probably not, but they are incredibly important.
It is vital governments are held to account without fear or favour.
This is an honest and detailed
assessment of an administration that has prided itself on its competence.
Our report card seems to back up that reputation.
Competent but unspectacular. It’s underwhelming but is it the best we can expect from our Government?
You get to decide that next month.
The Scottish Government is being analysed, fairly and by its own standards.