Average Scot '£15k per year worse off due to austerity-hit wages'
The data, published by the independent think tank Future Economy Scotland, found that Scots are earning on average just £8 per week more than they were in 2008 – an increase of just 1% over 17 years.
Before the 2008 financial crash, the think tank said, real-terms earnings were growing by 2.2% per year.
If the trend had continued, projections said that the average full-time worker in Scotland would be £297 better off per week – or around £15,450 over a year.
(Image: Future Economy Scotland) Future Economy Scotland said that in 2024 the average full-time worker in Scotland earned £38,464 a year. If earnings had instead grown in line with pre-crisis trends, the same worker would be earning £53,923 today.
Laurie Macfarlane, Future Economy Scotland co-director, said: 'Never in modern times have Scots seen their earnings grow so little over a 16-year period.
'Our analysis shows that if wages had instead grown as normal since 2008, the average full-time worker would be over £15,000 a year better off. For many households, this is the difference between economic security and living on the breadline.
'Although real earnings are now rising slowly again, the damage inflicted by disastrous austerity and runaway inflation cannot be undone.
READ MORE: Glasgow City Council warn Celtic supporters against 'disruptive' trophy day gathering
'Rather than scapegoating migrants for the country's economic failures, the debate must focus on the real culprit: a broken economic model.
'As we enter an election year, there is an urgent need for political parties to embrace bold new ideas to transform the economy. Scotland simply can't afford yet another five-years of economic failure.'
The think tank said that it used data from the Office for National Statistics (ONS) and its Annual Survey of Hours and Earnings.
It added that all figures have been adjusted for inflation to represent 2024 prices using the Consumer Price Index (CPI).
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When the Palestinian management of Lajee Celtic visited Glasgow in December, the club ignored all requests to meet with them or offer any kind of welcome for them at the club. This is in stark contrast to how the club has engaged with other foreign supporters bases, such as the 'Thai Tims' who were welcomed on to the pitch at Celtic Park. Or how the club has taken a clear stance on showing support and solidarity with other victims of the conflict, such as those from Ukraine. Read more: Green Brigade defy Celtic Park tifo ban with 'out of touch' blast Stephen McGowan: Is Dermot Desmond absentee landlord or Celtic mastermind? It is an awkward position for the club to hold. There is a sense that they are hesitant to make any signal which might suggest that the Green Brigade have had a point all along when it comes to Palestine. As for the ultras group, they believe there is a clear hypocrisy when it comes to what politics are seen as acceptable or not within the football stadia. 'When anybody, whether it be FIFA or Celtic, tells you that politics has no place in football, it's just bulls***. What they're telling you is that they will decide politics. The Russian example is the perfect demonstration of that. When the war in Ukraine broke out, Russia was removed from competition almost immediately and there were displays of support and solidarity for Ukraine across all of European football. This was a directive from UEFA. The contrast with Palestine is unbeliev-able and I think that could only be put down to racism.' The Green Brigade's track record on the issue meant that they were uniquely positioned to lead when it came to the Red Card Israel campaign. Through networks developed over many years, they managed to spark action from groups across so many countries, including fans of teams at top-flight clubs like Sevilla, Corinthians, Empoli, Galatasaray, and even fellow Scottish Premiership rivals Hibernian. 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With Palestine, everyone is so aware of how Israel's violence is used, specifically targeting the reality of football. It's so clear that in the hypocrisy of like, what's allowed to be said and what's not allowed to be said, there's this huge elephant in the room' he told The Herald. Of course, this campaign is not the first time that the Green Brigade have caused headlines. Indeed, there would be pages to fill in the Scottish press on a weekly basis if the group were to ever disband. But this time, the message went far beyond Scotland in a way that even the group itself didn't expect. 'I would say it's far more successful than we ever imagined,' the Green Brigade organiser told the Herald. ' I can remember sort of sitting in a room discussing this idea and we thought that just us doing our action would certainly grab headlines and get a lot of attention. We said at the time, even if we were able to get, say, 10 other similar actions happening across the world, then it's been worthwhile. But there's been over 200, some of them have been very big in football stadiums, which have been hosting thousands of people and then the TV audiences which means millions across the world see it.' Among the millions to see the banners were the targets of the campaign – the Israeli Football Association. 'We encounter quite a few incidents of ignorance, self-righteousness, and abysmal hatred that ostensibly express protest. The facts and reality are well known to us and to many others, and no stupid sign will change them,' the IFA said in a statement. But for Palestinians, the 'stupid signs' held up at Celtic Park seem to resonate far greater than anyone could imagine. 'I think all these campaigns tell the Palestinian people that they are not forgotten,' says Susan Shalabi. 'You know, even in Gaza where the people are being massacred, they know what Celtic is. Ask a Gazan child, and he will tell you what Celtic is. People are appreciative of what Celtic fans and the Green Brigade are doing for them because such actions give people hope that humanity didn't die out yet.' As the bonds between Celtic fans and Palestine continue to grow ever deeper, the position of the club to ignore it and pretend the connection doesn't exist seems untenable. In Palestinian football circles, the hope is to organise a friendly match between Celtic and the Palestinian National Team with proceeds going to support humanitarian efforts in Gaza. Shalabi says the offer will always be open. 'When Celtic are ready to play, then let's plan it. We would love to make it happen.'
