Go Radio business show calls for bold reform inspired by Singapore’s success

20 May 2025

In a searing new episode of the Go Radio Business Show (broadcast on Go Radio Sunday May 18), business leaders Sir Tom Hunter and Lord Willie Haughey delivered a stark assessment of Scotland’s economic and social trajectory, warning that without urgent, visionary reform, the nation risks slipping further into decline.

“Scotland’s Future: Lessons from Singapore”, is an episode that draws a sharp contrast between Scotland’s current challenges and Singapore’s remarkable transformation from poverty to prosperity under the leadership of Lee Kuan Yew. The hosts argue that Scotland must embrace similarly bold leadership, long-term planning, and policy stability to reverse its fortunes.

“We are not short of potential - we are short of execution,” says Sir Tom Hunter. “Singapore didn’t wait for permission to succeed. Neither should we.”

Lord Haughey adds a blunt assessment of the stakes:

“We can’t afford to drift any longer. Scotland needs leadership that’s not afraid to make tough decisions and stick with them. If we want different results, we need a different approach.”

Key Themes from the Episode:

• State of the Nation: Scotland’s education system, NHS, and economic performance are all in decline, with international benchmarks like the PISA study highlighting a worrying fall in global rankings.
• Housing Emergency: Despite declaring a housing emergency a year ago, fewer homes are being built. The hosts stress that policy instability is deterring much-needed investment.
• Radical Reform Agenda: The show calls for a “second Enlightenment” centred on clean energy and housing as the twin engines of recovery.
• Fiscal Autonomy: Proposals include turning Scotland into an enterprise zone to attract talent and investment, and addressing income tax disparities that may be driving talent away.
• Leadership & Governance: The hosts advocate for a meritocratic, well-compensated leadership model, drawing comparisons with Singapore’s high standards of governance.
• Immigration & Skills: With a shrinking working-age population, Scotland must adopt a merit-based immigration system and invest in a skills revolution to remain competitive.
• Planning Reform: Planning delays—averaging over 150 days—are stifling economic growth. Singapore’s 35-day approval model is held up as a benchmark for reform.
• Tax Policy: The discussion emphasises the importance of a stable, growth-oriented tax regime that encourages wealth creation and investment.

The episode is a call for Scotland to stop managing decline and start building a future rooted in ambition, innovation, and strategic investment.

Listen here - https://bit.ly/3Fc3r4q 

Watch here - https://bit.ly/4morvSl

The Go Radio Business Show with Hunter and Haughey, broadcasts every Sunday at 11am on DAB across central Scotland on Go Radio. 

The Go Radio Business with Show with Hunter and Haughey is also available weekly as podcast and is available to watch on YouTube.