Centre for Public Policy Election 2026 webinar series begins with conversation on devolution and the cost-of-living crisis
Published: 24 April 2026
24 April 2026: In collaboration with the Campaign for Social Science, the University of Glasgow’s Centre for Public Policy began its Election 2026 webinar series on the 21 April, looking at what devolved governments can do to address the cost-of-living crisis, across both Scotland and Wales.
24 April 2026: In collaboration with the Campaign for Social Science, the University of Glasgow’s Centre for Public Policy began its Election 2026 webinar series on the 21 April, looking at what devolved governments can do to address the cost-of-living crisis, across both Scotland and Wales.
Expert panel
Hosted by the Centre for Public Policy’s Associate Director Professor Kezia Dugdale, the panel consisted of:
- Professor Nicola McEwen, UofG Centre for Public Policy
- Dr Hefin Gwilym, Bangor University
What happened?
The webinar was opened with a presentation from Professor Nicola McEwen to discuss what the Scottish government can do to address the cost-of-living crisis. Themes covered an overview of the different parties’ views on the most important issues Scotland are facing, manifesto commitments and policy levers, and food price caps and the UK internal Market Act.
Dr Hefin Gwilym then addressed the cost-of-living crisis in the context of the Welsh government. YouGov statistics which compared the views of all Welsh people and intended voters of the two ‘frontrunners’ in the Welsh election, Plaid Cymru and Reform UK, displayed what they believe the Welsh government should prioritise in the context of the cost-of-living crisis.
We also heard about the changes in attitudes in Wales towards taxation and spending across a ~40-year time span. Lastly, policy responses to the cost-of-living crisis in Wales and the potentials for policy direction were examined.
Opening the Q&A section of the webinar, Professor Kezia Dugdale addressed the panel about what policies, in relation to the cost-of-living crisis, from the different political parties’ manifestos were new or stand-out to the speakers.
The framing of policies was discussed in the context of cost-of-living, and how the nature of the proposed policies may change due to the alternate framing within the proposed manifestos.
Speakers commented on how attitudes towards tax are changing and why, and the issue of need for public housing being possible in the context of capital budgets. The discussion was closed by Professor Nicola McEwan addressing the need for the next administration to be realistic in the setting of priorities for the nextfive years and figuring out how to systemically get there.
Visit our YouTube page here to watch the webinar in full.
Join us for the rest of the webinar series
We are delivering a series of four timely, expert-led webinars during the election campaign, to help make sense of the choices facing voters and key policy issues emerging from the parties.
We’ve partnered with leading organisations including the the Institute for Fiscal Studies and Ipsos.
These webinars are free, open to all, and designed to bring clarity, evidence and insight to some of the most pressing issues in Scotland, Wales and across the UK.
- Register: What are the parties' plans on tax, spending and the economy
With the Institute for Fiscal Studies
Monday 27 April, 1.30-3pm - Register: Does Scottish independence still matter to voters?
With Ipsos
Thursday 30 April, 12-1pm - Register: What just happened? Unpacking the election results
Monday 11 May, 1-2pm
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First published: 24 April 2026
Join us for the rest of the webinar series
We are delivering a series of four timely, expert-led webinars during the election campaign, to help make sense of the choices facing voters and key policy issues emerging from the parties.
We’ve partnered with leading organisations including the the Institute for Fiscal Studies and Ipsos.
These webinars are free, open to all, and designed to bring clarity, evidence and insight to some of the most pressing issues in Scotland, Wales and across the UK.