Peter MacMahon: As the UK spending review looms, it's time for politicians to cut to the chase and set out a plan of action

Not long now and we'll know. A week today the UK government will unveil the results of its review of public spending, and we should then have a clear idea what the consequences of the Barnett consequentials will be for Scotland.

We already know it won't be good, if one defines goodness as continuing the steady increase in money which has been allocated to Scotland over the past decade as Labour put its foot on the spending accelerator after –ahem – ending boom and bust.

So in terms of a contraction in spending it will be 'bad' and, as we have known spending was bound to be reduced since the banks had to be bailed out, we might hope our leaders are well advanced in planning what to do.

If only that were so. If you listen to the debate between politicians in Scotland you would be forgiven for thinking they lived in a Lewis Carroll world where, Humpty Dumpty-like, the world "cut" means what politicians want it to mean: currently nothing of substance.

The debate on student tuition fees – for that is what they are, and will be, if students are asked to make a contribution – is a case in point.

All Michael Russell, the education minister, will say is he doesn't want up-front fees, opposing something Lord Browne specifically ruled out in his report yesterday, and there should be a debate after he publishes a Green Paper.

Labour is just as bad, if not worse. It's response has been high on condemnation of Mr Russell for not having a plan but their big idea is, well, an independent review into higher education. Ah yes, the old independent review strategy – the oldest, most feeble trick in the political book.

As with much of the rest of the public services in Scotland everyone knows what the problem is, numerous reports have set out options, including the incisive analysis from the David Hume Institute we are carrying this week.

We don't need new reports, Green Papers, commissions, working parties, seances with Mystic Meg or slaughter of animals to read their entrails for signs, what we need is some action – some decisions from ministers and solid policies from the opposition.

Observing Scottish politics in this pre-election state, you would be forgiven for thinking our leaders and would-be leaders have been taking lessons in tactics from Craig Levein, such is their caution.

With the honourable exception of the Tories but they can be bolder because they are still regarded as unelectable – Labour, the SNP and the Liberal Democrats are all lining up with a 4-6-0 formation supposedly aimed at thwarting their opponents' attack.

This means no-one knows what they will do when, as they will be forced to, they have to make cuts. Have they, one wonders, stopped to think through the consequences? To continue on the footballing theme, you set up only to defend you might get a draw, but there is a high risk of defeat.