Thread: As @Glackinreports mention in his opinion piece of my @ITVBorderRB interview with @KateForbesMSP has provoked a lot of comment (see @NicolaSturgeon + many others) I have to say when I did the interview I did not think the Cabinet Secretary for Finance was shouting... https://twitter.com/NicolaSturgeon/status/1300053681925222401

As we were, rightly, 2m away from each other, it could be that both of us spoke a bit louder (I'm loud anyway - ask my colleagues!), which is natural even if the mics pick up what you have to say well without the need to 'project'.

It's also true that if questions to a politician are fair but challenging, which I try to be to all, then exchanges can be robust, the way it should be. I asked @KateForbesMSP about latest #GERS figures and Scotland's deficit, including forecasts of the deficit next year....

. @KateForbesMSP replied by forcefully making her case, which is what I would expect. Without sounding too pretentious, it's important for journalists to challenge politicians, and viewers/voters/the public can decide what they make of the answers.

In terms of the wider debate it is important reports like #GERS are examined properly - they are official statistics. What do they tell us? What do they do not tell us? And columnists have opinions. @Glackinreports has a view, as does, eg, @iainmacwhirter today. They differ.

Should you wish to you can watch my interview with @KateForbesMSP here:
https://www.itv.com/news/border/2020-08-26/representing-border-260820
GERS:
https://www.gov.scot/publications/government-expenditure-revenue-scotland-gers-2019-20/#:~:text=Government%20Expenditure%20and%20Revenue%20Scotland%20(GERS)%202019%2D2020,-Published%3A%2026%20Aug&text=Government%20Expenditure%20and%20Revenue%20Scotland%20(GERS)%20is%20a%20National%20Statistics,for%20the%20benefit%20of%20Scotland.
@Strath_FAI analysis:
https://fraserofallander.org/scottish-economy/gers/and-were-off-government-expenditure-and-revenue-scotland-2019-20/

@TheIFS analysis
https://www.ifs.org.uk/publications/14982

I hope that helps.