Is everything broken? It sometimes feels like it. Take one example. Edinburgh City Council is considering reductions to the education budget, with provision for children who have additional support needs (ASN) facing cuts. Officials suggested in September inclusion spending could be slashed by a whopping £4m from 2026. Appalled parents whose children rely on ASN services are desperately trying to resist.

Objectively, it’s madness. The number of children identified as having ASN has increased enormously and more support is needed for them, not less, for the sake of the whole school population. Instead, all around the country, cash-starved councils are proposing cuts to education budgets, with ASN spending often targeted. It’s ludicrous and damaging.

Everywhere you look, the squeeze is on and with all the fat long since pared away, people are suffering real harm. NHS waiting lists reached a record high in May and National Treatment Centres to reduce waiting lists have been delayed because of a squeeze on public sector infrastructure spending.

Read more Rebecca McQuillan

Waiting time targets for child and adolescent mental health services (CAMHS) are still being missed.

The council tax freeze has deepened local authorities’ financial woes. We have record homelessness. The attainment gap for Highers is wider than ever. Drugs deaths are up sharply in 12 months, and the highest in Europe.

And what’s behind it all? Policy problems, wrong-headed priorities and a lack of cash.

That is the backdrop to the Scottish Government’s budget, due to be published on December 4. All the focus, you would........

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