Nicola Sturgeon vows to start process of second independence referendum

The SNP are not as popular as you think.

Eh? Have you actually read any of the posts here concerning the popularity of the SNP? Instead of wasting your time on the Telegraph, read the posts on this thread.

Canny Scots indeed...

I will admit that the Telegraph does wind me up with its biased and inaccurate reporting and undying support for the Tory party. I think that's a virtue of mine, don't you?

I’m not baiting at all Alegrias. Not bored either. Just reading articles in the on line Telegraph that seem to wind you up? The SNP are not as popular as you think. Many canny Scots dislike their policies!

But, but... ferries!. But, but.. promoting independence! But, but... other things I don't really understand.

Here's an idea. Subscribe to the National.

Equally biased, but a whole different slant on things.

Now we hear that the SNP is going to spend £700,000 of taxpayers' money on another publicity campaign for independence.

For everyone else...

That's not what it says. It's not what's happening.

But if you're worried about it, best just let us go so you can sleep better at night.

Are you bored now you're home UG, so decided to bait an indy person?

But fiscal probity?

There's the £200m spent on ferries yet to be delivered, against the budget of £100m. There's the millions lent to a steel business for a handful of extra jobs, together with a financial guarantee for even more millions. The company is accused of fraud and is tied in with Greensill, also accused of fraud.

Now we hear that the SNP is going to spend £700,000 of taxpayers' money on another publicity campaign for independence.

You can also add in the missing £600k donations for an Indy Ref 2 that went missing and is being investigated by Police Scotland!

Urmstongran

These sources of information don’t come from Holyrood. Nicola Sturgeon cannot control the narrative as she usually does!

No, they're all from the Telegraph...

Well known responsible source of unbiased news on all things Scottish.

Or maybe not...

And here we are again. The Telegraph.

As a result English workers can expect to keep subsidising spending in the north indefinitely, as was the case before Covid struck.

This is bl**dy insulting. If your intention is to annoy me, its working.

These sources of information don’t come from Holyrood. Nicola Sturgeon cannot control the narrative as she usually does!

Urmstongran

Nicola Sturgeon relied on the heft of the Bank of England to run up a record deficit during the pandemic, according to a new report that highlights the challenges Scotland would face in an emergency as an independent state.

Britain’s record peacetime deficit of 15.2pc of GDP was dwarfed by Scotland’s implied borrowing of 23.5pc, said David Phillips at the Institute of Fiscal Studies.

...says the Torygraph.

What does implied borrowing mean?

I mean if you are telling us all how awful this is, I'm sure you understand it all.

In a report published by the Economics Observatory he said: “Interest rates would at some point rise without a credible plan to reduce the budget deficit. And one reason why interest rates in the UK and other developed countries have remained so low is that central banks have, in effect, bought much of the newly issued debt.

“Because an independent Scotland would take some time to set up and establish its own central bank and currency, this option would not be immediately available.”

This would pose a particularly acute challenge to an independent Scotland as it already typically spends and borrows more per person than the UK as a whole, said the report.

Even as the UK Government’s finances are projected to recover to a deficit of 1.5pc of GDP by 2026-27, spending in Scotland will run ahead of tax receipts to the tune of 7.5pc of GDP according to Mr Phillips.

That is equivalent to £640 per person in the UK overall, compared to £2,975 per head in Scotland.

As a result English workers can expect to keep subsidising spending in the north indefinitely, as was the case before Covid struck.

This is driven by public spending in Scotland which averaged £1,550, or 12.3pc, more per person than the UK average in the five years before the pandemic, even as revenues were £325, or 2.8pc, lower.

The phrase ‘all hands on deck’ comes to mind.

Do you think we only have 11 Civil Servants in the whole of Scotland?

Nicola Sturgeon relied on the heft of the Bank of England to run up a record deficit during the pandemic, according to a new report that highlights the challenges Scotland would face in an emergency as an independent state.

Britain’s record peacetime deficit of 15.2pc of GDP was dwarfed by Scotland’s implied borrowing of 23.5pc, said David Phillips at the Institute of Fiscal Studies.

Urmstongran

In the FOI response, (my underlining) ....the Scottish Government claimed it was “unable to provide” the budget allocated for the new independence drive but did provide some details of staff involved.

“The work to prepare an independence prospectus will be coordinated by a team in the Constitution and Cabinet Directorate, but will draw on other officials across a range of portfolios,” it said.

Right...so the £700,00 is not from an FoI response, it's made up then?

The phrase ‘all hands on deck’ comes to mind.
No surprise really. It’s the SNP after all.

BTW yes I live in Manchester but my 89y old stepfather is Scottish and he has a great interest in what’s going on. He has taken the Sunday Post every week since adulthood. In fact he laughed at Christmas telling me his newsagent gets a copy for him specially nowadays.

Oh I just noticed...

We could have had a return flight to Australia for that amount, and had some left over to buy tinnies to keep us entertained.

In the FOI response, (my underlining) ....the Scottish Government claimed it was “unable to provide” the budget allocated for the new independence drive but did provide some details of staff involved.

“The work to prepare an independence prospectus will be coordinated by a team in the Constitution and Cabinet Directorate, but will draw on other officials across a range of portfolios,” it said.

Aye...noticed that...the Torygraph, the Express and the Scottish Sun...

Any link to the actual FOI answer without the spin? No? Och well....

Not obsessed at all Alegrias. It’s an article in today’s Telegraph which I read fully every day to get the value of my on line subscription! I even read about financial matters although we live only on our pensions and don’t have any savings!

You're really a wee bit obsessed with the intricacies of Scottish politics for somebody who lives in Manchester, aren't you Urmstongran?

Anyway, far more of a worry is the extension of pandemic powers that have come to light. But Mr Ross and the supporting press haven't said much about that, even at FMQs, because it fits with their agenda, I suspect.

Attachment from the most recent Wanderlust magazine. Read and digest.

Aveline

Doesn't surprise me. However, what does surprise me is that civil servants agree to carrying out this arrantly political activity at the taxpayer's expense. Just don't get me started on SNPs colossal wastage of money.

Civil servants have to carry out the wishes of the government they serve, unless they want to resign on principle.

How much money was spent by the UK government on the Brexit referendum - that was blatantly a political activity by Cameron to appease Tory right-wingers and get Farage off his back.

Doesn't surprise me. However, what does surprise me is that civil servants agree to carrying out this arrantly political activity at the taxpayer's expense. Just don't get me started on SNPs colossal wastage of money.

NICOLA STURGEON has ordered 11 civil servants to oversee the planning of a new sales pitch for an independent Scotland, costing taxpayers £700,000, it has emerged.

A Freedom of Information (FOI) response by the Scottish Government disclosed that the “co-ordinating team” has been set up to draw up the revised prospectus. The First Minister has given them responsibility for pulling together work from “other officials across a range of portfolios”.

The FOI did not specify the number of additional civil servants in this latter group or how much they cost the public purse.

Back to Alegrias' point about affording Independence. Gordon Brown, I think, said there could be 50 years of austerity for the Scots, if they go. Looking at the present disgrace of a Government in Westminster, I believe that if we stay in the Union, the 50 years of austerity is guaranteed

People voted Brexit despite knowing it would mean an economic hit - many voted for emotional not economic reasons - same with those who want independence for Scotland, the economic arguments won't always wash.

Having lived in Scotland and still visits her Scottish friends my DD always celebrates Burns night and eats haggis.

DH likes porridge, haggis and a wee dram, must be the one-eighth Scot in his genes