Sleekit Tories

[rich47]

The tory government has revealed, in glorious technicolour, its true colours when it comes to devolution.
They never believed in it and now are working hard to reverse it. Smug Rees Mogg, odious Boris,
creepy Gove and their pals are all coming out with factually inaccurate statements about Scotland's position within this failing union. Scotland is a nation, not a region nor a district and the existence of the border is enshrined in statutes. The shambles post covid will be as nought compared with the disaster that will be brexit. God help us all.

[ProfessorMaisie]

The problem with that is that small countries have fewer voters - they will be submerged by the voting power of the larger partner. Devolution gives the Scots a sense of nationhood but with very limited powers to influence the direction they want to travel. It breeds resentment.

[KARL]

The tendency for non-Scots and, it has to be said, even some Scots to write off Scots and Scotland as utterly devoid of any ability to look after itself is offensive even to non-Scots (particularly non-UKers). This tendency proves the (own) sense of rejection those holding such opinions fear will be widespread south of the border. An independent Scotland could/would be every bit as viable as the several European countries of a similar and/or smaller size who consistently do better than the UK. It is my opinion that the remainder of the UK (primarily England) would gain from the separation but not in the way so arrogantly assumed by some - it would hopefully prove to be the impetus for the remains of the UK to re-examine and reform itself and get out of the backward facing rut. I live in hope.

[ProfessorMaisie]

The idea that the EU isn't led by its larger countries isn't credible. Whatever generous votes the smaller countries in that bloc get means very little in real terms - they're going along for the ride.

[New Judge]

//If we are such a problem why fight so hard to keep us within your increasingly incompetent and shambolic dictatorship.//

I honestly do not understand why. I'm certainly not among those doing the fighting.

//NJ, what percentage of Scotland's income is provided by English taxpayers?//

No idea, Corby. What I do know is that Scotland runs a deficit of around 10% of its GDP whilst the figure for the UK as a whole is around 3.5%. I also know that the Barnett formula provides public spending of about £2,000 per head per annum more to Scotland than to England (all figures pre-Covid). Those differences have to come from somewhere and since spending in NI (+£2,400) and Wales (+£1,600) show a similar disparity I can only imagine the difference is made up by English taxpayers.

[Old_Geezer]

When one is one nation, there is no submerging. What is good for one part of the islands is good for all. For we are one under the union. Indeed if anything, smaller areas seem to protest the most, and as the proverbial squeaky wheel, are the ones that get the "oil".

[New Judge]

//An independent Scotland could/would be every bit as viable as the several European countries of a similar and/or smaller size who consistently do better than the UK.//

Good luck to them with that.

[ProfessorMaisie]

Then we must try to be one nation, Old_Geezer.

[ichkeria]

I’m not sure what I deplore more: the idea that Scotland would be better off out of the UK or the attitude among the English that they should just let Scotland go.
Probably the latter actually.
There is a terrible risk that the govt in London will alienate the Scots to an extent that makes their leaving the union almost inevitable. It’s certainly currently blinding people to the mess the SNP is making of their country

[Old_Geezer]

Precisely, so let's get rid of this devolution mistake and take our rightful independent nation status in the world, free from foreign control.

[ichkeria]

I don’t think the argument that there are independent nations of a similar size which are viable is really the point.
Of course there are many countries smaller than Scotland

[ProfessorMaisie]

In Scotland alienating the English is a national pastime - the SNP are in power as a result of that simple fact.

[THECORBYLOON]

NJ, if you have no idea what percentage of Scotland's income is contributed by English taxpayers, how can you claim they provide the majority of the funding to Scots universities?

[ProfessorMaisie]

...if that was in answer to me, Old_Geezer - I agree.

[rich47]

ichkeria, feel free to detail "the mess the SNP are making"
if Boris and crew could come close in terms of performance as opposed to their posturing and spouting slogans then England might do better.
Who will preserve us from brexit???

[New Judge]

//NJ, if you have no idea what percentage of Scotland's income is contributed by English taxpayers, how can you claim they provide the majority of the funding to Scots universities?//

Because English taxpayers provide the majority - by a hefty margin - of all public expenditure in the UK (at least that which is financed by taxes - the situation may be different when borrowed Covid spend is calculated). Therefore they must provide the majority of the expenditure on universities in Scotland the same as they do in London, Liverpool or Belfast.

The Scots have acted perversely and it is solely because of devolution that they have been able to do so. They must charge the same fees to EU students as they do to "Home" students because of EU law. This may change when we properly leave the EU but I doubt it. But they can - and do - charge different fees to students from different parts of the UK who, because of devolution, are not termed "Home" students. It is a political decision they have taken just because they can. There is no justification for it and it is one of the many injustices that have arisen due to devolution. I believe that Wales has also capped its tuition fees at £9,000 compared to £9,250 in England. Don't know about NI. The government should legislate to prevent such nonsense as devolution should not facilitate discrimination against UK citizens based on where they live.

[retrocop]

NJ
The Scots discriminated against their own in the UK during their so called vote for Independence. Both my In laws were Scottish born and bred but denied a vote because they lived in England. A young Polish hotel room maid in Edinburgh was allowed a vote and had hardly been in the UK three months. That's democracy SNP style.

[Bobbisox1]

I see Nicola Sturgeon as a zealot who’s only aim is to go against Westminster at every turn, such is her hatred of all things English , I say give Scotland another vote and if they vote to leave then so be it but something tells me that won’t happen

[THECORBYLOON]

NJ, taxpayers in England (as opposed to English taxpayers) are bound to contribute most to the total raised.

A fraction under 85% of UK taxpayers live in England.

[rich47]

Poor Bobbysox1 I am certain that you have never heard Nicola say that she hates England or the English.
Perhaps you can't get your head round the fact that to be for Scotland does not mean you are anti English, nor that to love Scotland means that you hate England. This is the sort of arrogant posturing that we get from our English cousins who have an unshakeable belief that they are superior to every one else on the planet. Brexit will be a very painful lesson for them.

[Bobbisox1]

Of course she hasn’t said it , she doesn’t have to :0)