Did you see it ...no ?

Jane10 The SG did not lower taxes, they only ensured that they were more equitably spread, so that the better off paid a bigger share than those (like me) with low incomes.

Granny23 Thank you for that information.That will be an interesting start for research as I take nothing at face value.

Granny23 by your own admission you now pay lower taxes due to SNP action. No wonder you're so keen on them.

Jane I've been 'keen' on them since I was a teenager. Back then they were a centre right party and I worked hard, within the party, to shift the balance to the Social Democratic, left of Centre Party you see today. (That sounds as though I am claiming all the credit but I was simply one of many members in a democratic party pushing for change).

Therefore I take some pride in a Party and Government whose policies are aimed at alleviating poverty, rather than Conserving the Wealth of the Few.

Ruth Davidson often complains that Scotland is the "highest taxed part of the UK".
That's because the Scottish Government did not follow the UK government in reducing the tax rate for higher earners.

They have, however, reduced the rate for lower earners meaning, I'd guess, that the Scottish Government's tax income total is similar to the amount it would have been if Scotland had chosen the same tax rates as the rest of the UK.

Scotland is now more divided than ever. As for "under one banner", there is huge resentment amongst the majority about the misapropriation of the Saltire by the SNP, in the same way that the BNP attempt to misapropriate the Union Jack. Our flags belong to all of us, not to nationalist parties.

I posted on FB info about the march asking people if anyone had seen this on the main UK news broadcast of the BBC. Which is the news we get here plus England and the South East after the main bulletin.
A tongue in cheek comment but so true, I asked a question at a meeting with an MP last week about Scotland and was met with silence, not just from the MP either, I sometimes feel as though I am ramming Scottish issues down peoples throats but get so sick of it.
If I had a Euro for every time I pointed out to people that last weeks elections were not for THE WHOLE COUNTRY, I could go on holiday.
Sorry bit of a rant was coming on there, we used to have a lot of events and interaction at Scotland House here but that is now more concentrated in trade, fair enough, but it was a great way to bring Scottish issues to the fore especially to non-Scots.

Varian There is nothing to stop you flying the flag of your choice, or attending/organising a March to promote any issue you want.

It was not the SNP but rather the wider YES movement who adopted the Saltire as their banner. I noted on the facebook page of my local YES group that of those attending that March more than half were not SNP Members but rather Unaffiliated, Green, Scottish Socialist, Pensioners for YES and Women For Independence. The Indy campaign is much broader and bigger than just the SNP.

With a largely hostile and Unionist Press/media, Nationalists have to find other means to get their message out there. This is not necessary for the Unionists as their every utterance or complaint gets widespread coverage. The only people who March on the Unionist side are the extremely divisive Loyal Orange Lodge, who wave their Union Jacks and sing their sectarian songs. I don't expect for a moment that you would want to align yourself with them.

You are right, Granny23, I am not a fan of the Orange Lodge or any other divisive organisation.

The so-called "yes" movement, took advantage of the stupidity of David Cameron in allowing the SNP to frame the question (which ought to have been "should Scotland remain in the UK?"), then accepted a huge donation from the Euro lottery winners (I believe more than 80% of the cost of the campaign came from that one couple), but still achieved nothing but schism between friends and family, akin to the destructive sectarianism of the Orange Lodge and their ilk.

Varian you set me off on an interesting google search where I found this:

www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/scottish-independence/scottish-independence-no-campaign-receives-1m-more-in-campaign-donations-than-yes-9735514.html

and also the Electoral Comission's full reports of income and expenditure at www.electoralcomission.org.uk

This shows that BetterTogether received over £1,00,000 more in donations than the YES campaign. The Weirs donated £500.000 each which was less than one third of the YES donations, whereas JK Rowling and a Ms Joanne Murray (who she?) both donated £1,000,000 to BT.

I remember that SNP Branches were instructed that they could not donate any Branch funds to the YES campaign, but members could organise fundraising events and collections with the proceeds being donated directly to YES HQ.

the unionists who tried to cause trouble ..all 12 of them with their union flags and nazi salutes were ignored by the marchers and surrounded by police.
They sound more like far-right thugs than any unionist I know paddyann.

Interestingly, we were discussing this at the weekend with visitors from Scotland (so we missed the news as the tv didn't go on at all over the weekend) - and they are very much against independence and said most people they know feel the same.

I agree Jalima having just returned from two weeks travelling round Scotland where we spoke to many old friends and relations and other folk, the only people who were still talking up the separatist agenda were cousins of mine and cousins of my OH who are paid up members of the nationalist party.

There is a huge amount of resentment against the SNP and their mismanagement many of so many aspects of life in Scotland.

Nicola Sturgeon may not be responsible for all the corruption and mismanagement but she is certainly getting the blame.

Our relatives were very apprehensive about work prospects both for him (a few years off retirement) and children and grandchildren if the referendum had gone the other way. They could not see that the economy would thrive.

Anyway, it is all academic - at least for a generation.

They could not see that the economy would thrive.
bad grammar!
They could not see how the economy would thrive which worried them immensely.

Warning! This is a long one, but it does give a different perspective on the March.

bellacaledonia.org.uk/2018/05/07/thousands-attended-millions-didnt/

www.youtube.com/watch?v=GQdkyggLrsc.

This one is for Jalima and anyone else who seriously wants to understand the background.

Ooh, only just found this and have to go out now, but will try to look tomorrow, therefore posting to bump this.

www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=56&v=YtXCfeqQRxo.

Before anyone suggests otherwise, I do not for a moment think this man is representative of English People in General. Do not watch if of a sensitive disposition.

I haven't opened the link Granny23 as I can imagine what it might contain (given your warning).

What I can't understand though, is if you "don't think for a moment that this man is representative of the English people in general* why post it?

Just to illustrate the kind of thing that Paddyann talks about and turns up regularly on Scottish face book pages and the comments sections of Scottish Newspapers. I understand perfectly that these 'people' are not your average man in the street, but not every Scot is as understanding, some take these things very personally. It certainly does nothing to foster good relations between our two nations.

So are some Scottish people and Scottish newspapers deliberately trying to sever or harm relationships between Scotland and England ? It would seem so.

I would take from that, gillybob, that some English people are trying to sever or harm those relationships.
(Also not having looked at the link, but using my imagination.)

Not at all FarNorth , Granny23 particularly said they appeared in the Scottish press and Scottish Facebook pages.

No Gillybob. All the Scottish Newspapers (with the exception of The National) are firmly Unionist, highly critical of the Scottish Government, seldom so of Westminster. It is their unmoderated comments sections which make my blood boil, with many posts denigrating Scotland in general and making highly offensive comments about our First Minister. Many of these posters do not live in Scotland but seem to get their kicks from posting this drivel on a daily basis.