Meanwhile in Scotland......

Thank you for your understanding of my post mcem
I agree that there is a degree of hope for those North of the border.

I voted REMAIN Paddyann and so did most of the people I know (with the exception of a couple of young lads at work who voted leave for the worst of reasons) . The business community here in the NE are very afraid of a hard brexit and the effect it will have in our already shaky economy. I know that Nissan were holding emergency talks yesterday (not sure of the outcome as I type though).

I think many of us in the NE now feel so left behind and forgotten about by successive governments that we would probably be better off being part of Scotland rather than England.

I know I go on about this a lot and I apologise for going off the subject a bit, but we see all of the various transport projects costing billions of £ concentrated on the South when we can’t even get the whole of the A1 linking the NE of England to Scotland made into a dual carriageway . Stretches of this single carriage road have claimed many lives over the years but hey it’s in the North East so why should Westminster care?

Although I agree with what you say about brexit and misinformation I believe there's more to it when it comes to regional England. I can see that so many people feel ignored and undervalued and I believe that would be the case even without brexit hanging over all of us.
Yes it's huge worrying, energy-sapping issue and has diverted money and attention from what we might see as higher priorities.
The difference is that for many of us in Scotland there is some sense of optimism - not for everyone of course - but we do see small glimmers of success as posted up this thread.
Holyrood's priorities are closer to what many citizens need and want, unlike the unrelenting imposition of Tory policies by Westminster from which there's little chance of relief for those in the south.

the problem is Gilly that a lot of the areas south of the border hardest hit all voted LEAVE which brings into question did they receive the correct information .We voted Remain ,62% of those who voted want to stay in the EU so we're being dragged out against our will DESPITE being told the only way we could stay in the EU was to vote NO in the Scottish referendum....and still the unionists cantsee they've been taken for mugs

gillybob you're so right. This government is incredibly London- centric. Up here we at least have a glimmer of hope but I feel for those in 'the regions' of England.

I'm thinking Tommy Shepherd because I believe he represents the views of the newer members and has impeccable left wing credentials. I am tempted by Phillipa Whiteford and Joanna Cherry but feel they are already making a great contribution in their current roles. Certainly not Ian Borthwick as he already has a high profile as Westminster leader.

Then on Wednesday we discovered that the UK government’s own Brexit impact assessment shows that every part of the UK is going to be negatively affected by Brexit. Scottish GDP would suffer by a hit of 9% under a no-deal Brexit. If the UK remains a member of the single market, the Scottish economy faces a hit of 2.5%, and if there’s a comprehensive free trade deal, the damage to GDP would be 6.1%. These figures are remarkably similar to those published by the Scottish government

....and the North East of England are predicted to be the biggest Brexit losers in the UK with a very realistic possibility of losses of around 16% . We are already on hiding to nothing up here, so not sure where that would leave us....
But as long as Londonia and the South East are okay eh?

who are we backing for the Deputy leader post ,should all be forgiven for Stuart Hosie,he was a silly beggar but a good politician or are we backing Tommy Shepard or someone who isn't so much in the public eye ?

Wee Ginger Dug is my favourite pro-Indy blogger. Here is his latest offering. I hope at least one person will read and comment if only to tell me I'm flogging a dead horse.

weegingerdug.wordpress.com/2018/02/07/going-over-the-top/

Reposting this here as, per usual, it has been ignored on the UK wide Suffragettes thread:

The Scottish Parliament works 'family friendly' hours and MSPs are only allowed to vote if they have been in the chamber during the debate. High time Westminster adopted the same rules.

One of the reasons that there are so many Women MSPs (and a gender balanced cabinet) is that for most (but not for MSPs for Highlands and Islands) it is perfectly possible to have a normal family life, going to work in the morning and home most evenings, living in and spending weekends out and about in their constituency. This is good for male MSPs too, and shows what can be done where there is a will to change.

On the other hand MPs from Scotland (and other far flung parts of the UK) have to split their time between London and Home, maintaining 2 homes, spending hours travelling and seeing little of their families - a horrendous schedule which has destroyed many marriages.

Surely it is time to move to a sensible, centrally located modern Parliament and dispense with all the outdated, arcane rules and practices which lead to bad governance and undue strain on MPs trying to do their job of representing their constituents.

Although the new tax laws don't affect me, the 3 affected family members I've spoken to are ok with it. Only a £few a week.

And today Holyrood put in place the Domestic Abuse legislation.

I'm happy with the budget and pleased the Greens supported it,as usual the Unionist parties voted together ..why they wouldn't want an EXTRA £400 MILLION for the SNHS and a pay rise for Nurses is beyond me .Derek McKay did a good job here lets hope this fairer budget gets more people onside for Independence.As it is apparently Tory support has slumped in the past few months ..that'll be the Labour voters who were told to vote tory to keep SNP out deciding that wasn't a good move

I have been gathering a few comments from family/friends viz:

'I don't mind paying a little more when I know it will be used for services here in Scotland and not to buy more nuclear bombs'

'Well done the Greeens, although I think Derek McKay held back some money specially so that he could bribe them with it'

'I'll be about £600 per a year better off - what's not to like?'

I must admit that these quotes come from SNP voters

As for me, I think it is a fine example of cross party working. I've no comment on the Tax changes as I don't pay tax (income well below the starting rate) except to say that it makes the Scottish Tax regime the fairest in the UK' tho still some way to go.

I asked much the same questions yesterday (17.25) "granny23 and would still be interested to hear how people do or would feel about the extra penny in the pound for higher earners.

Back to Scotland......

Any thoughts on the Scottish Budget? Can anyone explain why Scottish Labour would vote against it, when it contains some good 'socialist' policies, when even some of the Liberals felt able to give their support?

www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-scotland-politics-42358522

I came to the same conclusion about why Wales wasn't mentioned in the article, although it seems a bit off to me to do that.

The bottom line is the Leave voters in Wales believe things can't be any worse than they are now when we're in the EU. Wales might be a net beneficiary when it comes to the EU, but the money was often spent on infrastructure and the voters haven't felt the benefit in their wallets.

As far as I can see, the way things stand Wales will always be the poor relation. Poverty in Wales has been steady for the last decade at about 22/23%, the highest country in the UK. The industries which used to employ big numbers are gone. The huge number of SMEs are very vulnerable to small economic changes. I don't know what the answer is, but I think being outside the EU will hit Wales hard.

" people in Wales were voting AGAINST the Government who had neglected them and the perceived problem of excess immigration just as poorer areas in England did. "

Quite possibly but let's be honest about that and say governments past and present.

The other side to that statement however is this, if that was the only reason that would mean as Scotland and Northern Ireland voted Remain they DID NOT feel as the voter in Wales and England so they don't feel the government has neglected them or perceive a problem of mass immigration. I would think the reverse argument I have just used has you laughing your socks off.

Sometimes it is easier to accept people hold an opinion , a view and vote as they deem fit and not try to either second guess or make assumptions as to why others vote in opposition or in favour of our own. It is what it is .

Harking back to Imperialism to try and make a point as to why people chose to vote on a 21st Century issue just doesn't have any rational use. Most people can and have moved on.

Well I've taken the bait and googled 'why did Wales vote for Brexit' and found this : www.independent.co.uk/voices/south-wales-valleys-brexit-vote-leave-a8021051.html

and this:

www.walesonline.co.uk/business/business-news/areas-voted-brexit-more-exposed-14059588

and there is lots more in the same vein, which leads me to the conclusion that people in Wales were voting AGAINST the Government who had neglected them and the perceived problem of excess immigration just as poorer areas in England did. No distinctive Welsh dimension to the debate when there should have been as Wales is set to suffer more than most from Brexit.

"Maybe you need to start a similar one with a focus on Welsh topics."

Why? I asked a perfectly reasonable question to an article you put forward Granny 23.

Had you not posted the article I would not be giving it a lot of thought.

POGS I have no idea why the author did not mention Wales. Now that you press the point I can only assume that like many commentators he views Wales as a mere adjunct to England. (I must stress this is not MY opinion).

This thread was started because there was a tendency to ignore the Scottish perspective on general GN Threads. Maybe you need to start a similar one with a focus on Welsh topics.

I have read the link again by Granny 23 Tues 11.15 to make sure I had not misrepresented the article.

I find I have not. I did ask a question and nobody has given any response to it and I wonder why. Is it a question of no interest to some?

I asked:-

"It was the usual English / Imperialist rhetoric and I have to ask why was Wales not mentioned if the purpose was to define why some voted Remain some voted Brexit. Is there another article headed 'Welsh Mental Breakdown' , after all Wales voted Brexit too."

On the 1911 Wales census it has to be specified whether they spoke Welsh or English.
(sidetracking)

I know people who voted Brexit but I don't know what they vote in a GE.

Happy with Holyrood budget and that the Greens are backing it.
Tories of course are criticising tax increase but I don' t understand the 'dirty little deal' comment from Labour.

In a yougov poll I voted in favour of this move and tiny though my contribution would be, I'd hand over 1p in the £ without hesitation.

More Good News www.bqlive.co.uk/entrepreneurship/2017/06/19/news/brain-power-26161/

Why don't we hear these things on the 6.00pm News?

Good News?

www.fircroft.com/blogs/massive-find-for-bp-could-radically-extend-life-of-north-sea-oil-83131914017