Nicola Sturgeon vows to start process of second independence referendum

The question was posed, “where is the money coming from”. The answer is, as given above, taxation, revenue…all the places that any other country might want to raise money from. So as an independent country, Scotland will be just as able as any other country to raise money on which to finance its society. In fact, with Scotland’s natural resources and knowledge economy, amongst other things, it is very well placed to raise money.

So the question is really, I think, can they be trusted to spend it and manage it properly? So the implication is that in all the 5.4 million people who inhabit this country, we can’t find people who know enough about economics to put together a decent budget. Which I don’t believe is the case. But for those who think it is, the answer is just to stick with the devil we know and let rUK decide how much money we get to spend and how we spend it. As if we were immature teenagers.

Whisper it – perhaps we won’t have all the benefits we currently have. Perhaps we’ll have to give up baby boxes. Finland, with almost the same population as us seem to have found a way through. Maybe you think they’re just cleverer than us?

As for the insulting term “neverendum”. Sturgeon and the SNP, and the Greens of course, put the commitment to another referendum in their most recent manifestos and that’s what the people of Scotland voted for. Whether all SNP voters support independence or not, they voted for the SNP and by extension they expect what is in the manifesto to be acted on. Or if they don’t they need to pay more attention to how politics works. However it suits some factions to personalise the desire for independence into the person of Sturgeon, but what you are actually doing is being scornful of the people of Scotland who actually voted for this course of action, whether you like it or not.

Almost as ridiculous is the insistence on talking about separatists, because it’s a device for painting the independence supporters as people who want to break things up, make things divisive. The only divisive comments on this thread have come from the people suggesting we are racists, scroungers and idiots. (I paraphrase).

I was remembering with nostalgia the happy days when Gransnetters used to wish one another Happy Burns night etc!

Now it just seems to be acrimonious threads about Scottish independence



Hope Scottish Gransnetters enjoyed their haggis, neeps and tatties.

My haggis (veggie) was too dry. I think I microwaved it for too long.

DH (about ⅛ Scottish) forgot so I'm cooking him one tonight.
(I'll have something else.)

Oh, that was one-eighth

I have no real connections to Scotland- visited twice as a touris, loved it, but that is it. And was always a strong supporter of keeping the Union whole, including at the last Independence vote. I'd hate to see Scotland choose to go. But I would totally and absolutely understand why- and how much the Union has changed since the last vote- Brexit being a huge factor.

Seeing the way other European countries sees England now- and all the distrust and negativity, and damage done by the current Government via Brexit and reneging on the Deal- I am absolutely sure Europe would rally round and make sure Scotland is given all the support, and trade links/financial links- required to make it a success.

Had to laugh last night chatting to my (almost) 90y old stepfather, born in the West Highlands to wish him a happy Burns Night. He doesn’t like porridge or haggis either. I love both! He does enjoy a wee dram every afternoon though.
?

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

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

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.

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

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.

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.

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.

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.

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!

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

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

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.

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.

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.

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?

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.

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

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

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.

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.