For every pound the UK government earmarks for the English, according to an economic think tank, it gives the Scottish an extra 30 pence. The Institute for Fiscal Studies (IFS) report says that almost all of the 30 percent gap is down to the controversial Barnett formula. That formula is a fixed way of divvying out money among the UK’s devolved governments for certain services. However, critics say the formula is trapped in historic differences in spending and is too inflexible. According to the IFS, the spending gap is increasing. The report found that the Scottish government will, per person, “almost certainly” get more funding for tackling the pandemic. It claims, however, that First Minister Nicola Sturgeon’s government plans to use money earmarked for the pandemic for other policies—including those central to her re-election manifesto. “Excluding temporary COVID-19 funding, the Scottish government has over £1.30 per person to spend on public …