[nomadking]

Originally Posted by 1andrew1

We need a bit of clarity on how that £12bn is being spent - is it central UK services like defence, is it infrastructure-building, is it tuition fees etc.

I'm not pretending that leaving the UK won't impact Scotland's finances and that it may have to raise taxation or cut spending. But for some Scots, a penny on income tax could be worth the feeling of having a government in power that they voted for and not a bunch of remote Brexity Tories whom they have little affinity with.

---------- Post added at 12:12 ---------- Previous post was at 11:59 ----------


Yes, agree with most of this but suspect the uptick would be shorter than two generations.

The £12bn isn't UK wide spending. It is Scotland only spending. Things like Defence spending are taken out of the UK level taxes arising in Scotland.

They already have higher rates of income tax, and of course any increase only directly impact those that pay income tax in the first place.
Link

BandTaxable incomeScottish tax rate Personal Allowance Up to £12,500 0% Starter rate £12,501 to £14,585 19% Basic rate £14,586 to £25,158 20% Intermediate rate £25,159 to £43,430 21% Higher rate £43,431 to £150,000 41% Top rateover £150,00046%

Link

There are projected to be 4.5 million adults in Scotland in 2018-19 and 2.5 million income taxpayers. Around 2 million adults, or 44% of the total number of adults, will not pay income tax as they will earn less than the PA.

Easy for that 44% to agree to income tax rises.
Even excluding capital spending(eg infrastructure) they have a large deficit.
Link

Current Budget Balance 2018-19
This is the difference between total revenue and current expenditure only (i.e. excluding capital investment). The current budget balance:

• Including an illustrative geographic share of North Sea revenue, was a deficit of £7.9 billion (4.4% of GDP).
• Excluding North Sea revenue, was a deficit of £9.4 billion (5.7% of GDP).
• For the UK, was a surplus of £18.1 billion (0.8 per cent of GDP).

---------- Post added at 13:09 ---------- Previous post was at 13:07 ----------

Originally Posted by Mr K

I don't want Scotland to leave the UK, but if I was Scottish I'd be sorely tempted.

Brexit and the last General Election, have made it increasingly likely at some point. The UK govt. doesn't represent Scotland, and is openly dismissive. Brussels for us, read London for Scotland.

People wanting to leave a Union (be it the UK or the EU) have the right to do so. Can't have different rules for each, can we? It's their sovereignty if nothing else

Where do you draw the line? North Wales doesn't consider that Cardiff represents them. IIRC The Highlands don't consider that Edinburgh represents them. Etc, Etc. They have devolved powers, which is a lot more than England has.


It is unbelievably hypocritical of the Scots to complain that London doesn't represent them, when the EU represents them even less.