Now that Salmond looks like he got the third option omitted from the referendum - 'devo max', are we heading for a Federal Britain? It works for Germany.
There may be a demand for devolution of powers amongst those running our big cities but elsewhere and amongst the English public I don't see it. Really any movement towards regional federalism in England is being driven by Scotland. If that's how it has to be it's time that not only the West Lothian question is addressed but also the Barnett Formula - which even Barnett himself thinks is now overly generous towards the Scots.
There may be a demand for devolution of powers amongst those running our big cities but elsewhere and amongst the English public I don't see it. Really any movement towards regional federalism in England is being driven by Scotland. If that's how it has to be it's time that not only the West Lothian question is addressed but also the Barnett Formula - which even Barnett himself thinks is now overly generous towards the Scots.
Salmond has managed to fcuk Scotland with his referendum. If he had won, his sums for the economy just didn't add up.
Now he's lost, focus has been drawn to The West Lothian question and the seeming inequality of Barnett. Well done Alex!
Salmond has not done anything to Scotland other than enliven its population in the purpose of politics which is to make a countries population better represented in a fairer society. The Scottish people have screwed themselves by not voting yes. This has resulted in the current situation. As for Barnett formula re-evaluation I am sure the Scots will be happy to renegotiate on the complete package. However it is Westminster aim to renegotiate small sections of the budget whilst making Scotland essentially poorer.
It will go something like this. You keep giving us the oil wealth and all your taxes and we will give you less back. Given the referendum result i am sure the 55% will be happy to vote for this given this is what they were obviously walking into the way the voted.
Re: Last Comments about Scotland... maybe ever...
Postby Ballysmate » Tue Sep 16, 2014 1:06 pm
IIRC the expenditure plans for iScotland assumed a $110 per barrel price for oil. (Sorry, can't find the link.)
Today Brent Crude is $97.70 and falling.
Quite a volatile market to account for 15% of your revenue would you say?
As I said, Indy Scotland would be impoverished and given the Scots Govt figures, I can't see how Westminster/The English steal the oil revenue.
After Salmond's anti English campaign, people south of the border have at last woken up to the imbalance of Barnett.
I personally hope that we are. The present situation is a complete mess with Scotland able to decide things for itself but England governed centrally and Wales able to decide somethings but not all things.
A federal system where each part has the same devolved powers is the best solution. It might involve breaking England up into regions which I wouldn't have issue with.
Not quite sure how the tribal warlords will be selected - we could use first past the post, single transferable vote, mixed member proportional representation, or the tried and tested most violent/biggest sword ('join me or die') system.
As all financial adviser will tell you past performance is no indicator of future performance and a countries economy is no different. Post independence there are a number of avenues that a Scottish government could have taken to at a minimum break even. Independence was never about oil revenues it was a reaction to a long period of rule by people who have no clear plan as to how the majority of the UK is going to have a better existence.
If every area had to rely purely on its input then large parts of England would also be cut adrift such as the North as uncompetitive censored holes with no worth and their pouplation fed to the dogs. Of course the South East would have no energy, food or water but i am sure you can buy them from say France with all of Londons financial amazingness.
The Barnett formula is a reality of sparse populations but given all of the above comes from these sparse areas i would tread carefully if I were you. Plenty of food, water and energy up here in the North West of England. We could of course sell you this in the free market, free from central government subsidies albeit if you could afford it after the 1% at the top take their cut from londons economy.
Re: Last Comments about Scotland... maybe ever...
Postby Ballysmate » Tue Sep 16, 2014 1:06 pm
IIRC the expenditure plans for iScotland assumed a $110 per barrel price for oil. (Sorry, can't find the link.)
Today Brent Crude is $97.70 and falling.
Quite a volatile market to account for 15% of your revenue would you say?
As I said, Indy Scotland would be impoverished and given the Scots Govt figures, I can't see how Westminster/The English steal the oil revenue.
After Salmond's anti English campaign, people south of the border have at last woken up to the imbalance of Barnett.
Not quite sure how the tribal warlords will be selected - we could use first past the post, single transferable vote, mixed member proportional representation, or the tried and tested most violent/biggest sword ('join me or die') system.
Go back to pre-Roman times before all those bloody foreigners came invading our shores and taking our jobs.
Go back to pre-Roman times before all those bloody foreigners came invading our shores and taking our jobs.
Cant agree with you there Finchy. Saxon Britain was a lot fairer. All our problems started when the f*cking Normans came here in 1066 and brought in the feudal system.
Those Normans got a bit fed up of things back home and changed everything with a revolution. We are going down the federal route because of a bunch of belligerent Scots, well done.
Politics in Scotland has become much more involved and is on the lips of everyone whilst in dear old Engerland, UKIP are making xenophobic strides and Cameroon's bunch are pandering to them. It is a very very worrying trend. If there is a rise of the Euro sceptics and a blind push towards an exit, I could well see a Yes vote in Scotland given another referendum in a few years time.
All the major parties were groveling for us to stay - if you don't like the powers we were given and the Barnett formula, you shouldn't have voted for them :P
As all financial adviser will tell you past performance is no indicator of future performance and a countries economy is no different. Post independence there are a number of avenues that a Scottish government could have taken to at a minimum break even. Independence was never about oil revenues it was a reaction to a long period of rule by people who have no clear plan as to how the majority of the UK is going to have a better existence.
If every area had to rely purely on its input then large parts of England would also be cut adrift such as the North as uncompetitive censored holes with no worth and their pouplation fed to the dogs. Of course the South East would have no energy, food or water but i am sure you can buy them from say France with all of Londons financial amazingness.
The Barnett formula is a reality of sparse populations but given all of the above comes from these sparse areas i would tread carefully if I were you. Plenty of food, water and energy up here in the North West of England. We could have course sell you this in the free market, free from central government subsidies albeit if you could afford it after the 1% at the top take their cut from londons economy.
Re: Last Comments about Scotland... maybe ever...
Postby Ballysmate » Tue Sep 16, 2014 1:06 pm
IIRC the expenditure plans for iScotland assumed a $110 per barrel price for oil. (Sorry, can't find the link.)
Today Brent Crude is $97.70 and falling.
Quite a volatile market to account for 15% of your revenue would you say?
As I said, Indy Scotland would be impoverished and given the Scots Govt figures, I can't see how Westminster/The English steal the oil revenue.
After Salmond's anti English campaign, people south of the border have at last woken up to the imbalance of Barnett.
No problem with areas being given the resourses they need. But bilge like
"You keep giving us the oil wealth and all your taxes and we will give you less back. "
Cant agree with you there Finchy. Saxon Britain was a lot fairer. All our problems started when the f*cking Normans came here in 1066 and brought in the feudal system.
I just can't stand the Romans. What did they ever do for us?
Cant agree with you there Finchy. Saxon Britain was a lot fairer. All our problems started when the f*cking Normans came here in 1066 and brought in the feudal system.
I just can't stand the Romans. What did they ever do for us?
Still alive?! Thought you might have got food poisoning.
Oh no, not me - it was just Mrs Bomp and the kids, you don't think I would go anywhere you recommended myself do you? And I'm sure it's totally unrelated coincidence that Bompetta has been sick non-stop since they arrived in NI.
Cant agree with you there Finchy. Saxon Britain was a lot fairer. All our problems started when the f*cking Normans came here in 1066 and brought in the feudal system.
I just can't stand the Romans. What did they ever do for us?
Posts
Salmond has managed to fcuk Scotland with his referendum. If he had won, his sums for the economy just didn't add up.
Now he's lost, focus has been drawn to The West Lothian question and the seeming inequality of Barnett. Well done Alex!
It will go something like this. You keep giving us the oil wealth and all your taxes and we will give you less back. Given the referendum result i am sure the 55% will be happy to vote for this given this is what they were obviously walking into the way the voted.
Brent Crude is trading at $72.25
http://www.bloomberg.com/energy/
As I said, Indy Scotland would be impoverished and given the Scots Govt figures, I can't see how Westminster/The English steal the oil revenue.
After Salmond's anti English campaign, people south of the border have at last woken up to the imbalance of Barnett.
A federal system where each part has the same devolved powers is the best solution. It might involve breaking England up into regions which I wouldn't have issue with.
http://thehistoryofwales.typepad.com/t/2012/12/
Not quite sure how the tribal warlords will be selected - we could use first past the post, single transferable vote, mixed member proportional representation, or the tried and tested most violent/biggest sword ('join me or die') system.
If every area had to rely purely on its input then large parts of England would also be cut adrift such as the North as uncompetitive censored holes with no worth and their pouplation fed to the dogs. Of course the South East would have no energy, food or water but i am sure you can buy them from say France with all of Londons financial amazingness.
The Barnett formula is a reality of sparse populations but given all of the above comes from these sparse areas i would tread carefully if I were you. Plenty of food, water and energy up here in the North West of England. We could of course sell you this in the free market, free from central government subsidies albeit if you could afford it after the 1% at the top take their cut from londons economy.
Go back to pre-Roman times before all those bloody foreigners came invading our shores and taking our jobs.
Cant agree with you there Finchy. Saxon Britain was a lot fairer. All our problems started when the f*cking Normans came here in 1066 and brought in the feudal system.
Those Normans got a bit fed up of things back home and changed everything with a revolution. We are going down the federal route because of a bunch of belligerent Scots, well done.
Politics in Scotland has become much more involved and is on the lips of everyone whilst in dear old Engerland, UKIP are making xenophobic strides and Cameroon's bunch are pandering to them. It is a very very worrying trend. If there is a rise of the Euro sceptics and a blind push towards an exit, I could well see a Yes vote in Scotland given another referendum in a few years time.
All the major parties were groveling for us to stay - if you don't like the powers we were given and the Barnett formula, you shouldn't have voted for them :P
No problem with areas being given the resourses they need. But bilge like
I find irritating.
What, worse than that flea outbreak you had?
Still alive?! Thought you might have got food poisoning.
I'll have you know that my brush is pristine.
I just can't stand the Romans. What did they ever do for us?
Are you the people's front of Judea?
Actually they went somewhere else
Those splitters? F**k off.
Oh yeah, well obviously the aqueduct.
And the sanitation.
Allegedly her daughters had a night out with a couple of pro footballers.
Not Chedius Evanius and his mate, surely?
Some might say that, but I could not possibly comment.
Were they dogging in the back of a chariot after too many amphora's of the then best seller 'Veni vidi vice' ?
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-30491801
Oil $59 / barrel
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article ... rency.html
Interest rate hike. Oh dear!!