Institute for Fiscal Studies
UK Independent economic research institute providing fiscal analysis and manifesto costings.
On 21 April 2026, the Institute for Fiscal Studies rejected the SNP's manifesto, completing a six-of-six rejection of major Holyrood parties' fiscal plans.
Last refreshed: 22 September 2026 · Appears in 3 active topics
What does it mean for Scottish democracy when the IFS rejects every party's manifesto costings?
Timeline for Institute for Fiscal Studies
Mentioned in: Adam Smith Institute puts top tax rate at 54%
Is Britain Actually Broke?Warned that mayoral income-tax sharing would expose authorities to revenue volatility
Is Britain Actually Broke?: IFS: mayors to get 6% to 9% of income taxMentioned in: Physics loses 2.7% as STFC holds flat
UK Startups and InnovationMentioned in: Reed holds back two council reorganisations
UK Local Elections 2026Mentioned in: £6.5bn guarantee targets the debt tier
UK Startups and InnovationBackground
The Institute for Fiscal Studies is an Independent UK economic research institute that analyses tax, public spending and the fiscal consequences of policy. Its work matters when political parties make spending or tax commitments that need testing against available funding.
During the 2026 Holyrood campaign, the institute assessed manifestos across the main parties rather than confining its scrutiny to one side. Its rejection of Scottish Labour's plans on 14 April followed similar judgments on rival programmes.
That role makes the institute a reference point in British fiscal debates. Its value lies in applying the same financial test to competing claims, including when the result gives no party a clear advantage.
It rejects every Holyrood manifesto
On 8 April 2026, the Institute for Fiscal Studies rejected the Scottish Conservatives' pensioner tax-cut plans and found no credible evidence that Reform UK's proposed income-tax cuts would fund themselves. Its assessments put the institute at the centre of the campaign's argument over whether promises could be paid for.
By 21 April, its assessment of the SNP manifesto completed a six-of-six sweep across the main parties. That left the institute's fiscal analysis unable to distinguish one campaign offer from another, because every major plan had failed its test.