Will Scotland Leave the UK?

[Kursk]

Originally Posted by Chris

Referendum = 3 months from now.
General Election = 11 months from now.

I think you're getting a bit confused ...

Facts should not be allowed to get in the way of a good ol' fashioned bit of UKIP bashing.

I despair.

[Pierre]

Originally Posted by Kursk

Facts should not be allowed to get in the way of a good ol' fashioned bit of UKIP bashing.

I despair.

As far as as I can tell, this thread has sod all to do with UKIP.

Would it be possible to have one thread on this forum that isn't to do with UKIP/ Farage?

Hell, let's throw in some Muslims and we'll have the full set.

[richard s]

Originally Posted by Chris

Referendum = 3 months from now.
General Election = 11 months from now.

I think you're getting a bit confused ...

No one is not... I know the dates for elections... just been looking at my crystal ball.

Now the FT is bullying Alex Salmond.

John McDermott, analysing the SNP's panic stations 'report' into their claimed 'independence bonus' yesterday:

Nowhere is there an analysis of how productivity will increase or how Scotland will improve its demographics. The “bonus” is therefore not a reflection of the Scottish National party’s proposed policies, as laid out in Scotland’s Future, its white paper. It assumes good things will happen and works out how to share the bounty. There is nothing wrong in speculating what a more productive Scotland would look like but to pass fantasies off as robust pieces of analysis is an insult to the country of David Hume and Adam Smith.

http://blogs.ft.com/off-message/2014...endence-bonus/

(Free to view with registration)

Oh, dear.

[Osem]

I dare say Salmond will be wanting to take full credit for this demonstration of how to get the job done in Scotland:

Edinburgh's tram service has taken its first paying customers as the long-awaited route from the airport to the city centre opens to the public.

The first tram services set off at 05:00 BST from the Gyle Centre in the west of the city.

It follows six years of disruption and problems, including a bitter dispute between the council and its contractor.

The Edinburgh tram route cost £776m and covers 8.7 miles (14km) from the New Town to Edinburgh Airport.

In the decade since the first money was allocated to the project, the price has doubled, the network has halved and it has taken twice as long to build as originally planned.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-27602618

Actually, to be fair to the Nats (much as it pains me), they tried to can the whole thing back in 2007, when they first became a minority administration, but they didn't control the Holyrood parliament and the other three main parties voted to force them to continue funding it. Then a couple of years ago when Edinburgh Council tried to cut their losses and terminate the tram line at Haymarket (so that it wouldn't even come into the city centre, much less through it and down to Leith docks as originally planned), as they were by now a majority in parliament they threatened to withdraw all funding unless the council agreed that the line had to come into the city centre.

The tram project has been one disaster after another, but the incompetence is firmly located in Edinburgh City Council chambers and, for once, the SNP's instincts were correct, in first of all trying to kill it, and afterwards insisting that if it was going to be done, it had to be doe properly.

---------- Post added at 11:05 ---------- Previous post was at 10:50 ----------

Meanwhile, it's B&Q's turn to bully Alex Salmond. Kingfisher has already suspended openings of new Screwfix branches, B&Q itself will suspend investment in the event of a Yes vote until issues surrounding currency and tax rates are resolved.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/finance/n...ependence.html

Be sure to scroll down to the Diqus panel, some of the cybernat comments are absolutely priceless.

[Derek]

Some of the cybernats aren't taking B&Q operators comments well.

The cause of separatism is becoming like a cult. The way some of the real hardcore nats react when someone says something they don't like is quite chilling. Heaven only knows what's going to happen when September comes and they lose the vote ...

[Ignitionnet]

They should go to Tower Hamlets to do a fact-finding mission on election rigging.

[Osem]

Originally Posted by Chris

The cause of separatism is becoming like a cult. The way some of the real hardcore nats react when someone says something they don't like is quite chilling. Heaven only knows what's going to happen when September comes and they lose the vote ...

Odd how people who reckon they're the victims of 'racism' so often fall back on the sort of stereotyping they claim they've suffered from...

So some twit in Scotland reckons B&Q are 'racist ****' because they've made a business decision based on the inevitable uncertainty. How very pathetic...

[Chad]

I'm voting NO as I can't face the lunatics running the asylum

[Kursk]

Originally Posted by Pierre

As far as as I can tell, this thread has sod all to do with UKIP.

Would it be possible to have one thread on this forum that isn't to do with UKIP/ Farage?

Hell, let's throw in some Muslims and we'll have the full set.

My comment was made in direct response to another which specifically mentioned UKIP. You'd be better off quoting that one if you want to deride someone's opinion. Here you go:

Originally Posted by richard s

I think the Scots may well vote YES now, especially if the UKIPers win the next general election.

Incidentally, I see nothing wrong in anyone making a comment that is associated with the thread content even if we are all probably a bit UKIP punch-drunk following the recent exchanges.

Most Scots think oil revenue should be shared across the UK.

http://www.scotsman.com/news/politic...poll-1-3429680

[Derek]

A blueprint for the future endorsed by the SNP.

Scotland should embrace a shorter working week, higher wages, an expanded welfare state and higher taxes, according to a new blueprint.
...
Among the main recommendations are:

a high-skill, high-wage economy and a 30-hour working week
An expanded welfare state with universal public services and an expansion in affordable housing
A minimum income for all
Raising the 40p income tax rate to 50p, and the 45p rate for those earning more than £150,000 to 60p
Higher taxes on land, industry, retailers and whisky production
...
Deputy First Minister Nicola Sturgeon welcomed the publication of the paper.

She said: "As the Common Weal publication makes clear, Scotland is ready for change and independence is the only way to secure a better future for the people of Scotland.

"With the full set of economic and fiscal levers, independence would unlock Scotland's full potential as a vibrant and dynamic economy and a fairer society.

http://m.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-...itics-27655214

As much as I'd like a 30 hour week I'm a realist and know there isn't a magic money tree, I also pay a not insignificant chunk of my wages in taxes and don't relish the thought of paying more.

Is imagine the guess camp will be flogging this guaranteed income message to the less salubrious areas that they've already been leafleting about the independence bonus and who won't be effected by whacking great tax rises.

Alec actually thinks he's God. He thinks he can declare a 30 hour week, wage rises and free money for the poor and it will all just happen. His delusions are getting dangerous.

How hard do they think it is for someone to move from Edinburgh or Glasgow to Leeds or Newcastle, or Manchester or London, to escape such inane tax rates as 60pc?

No doubt there are some real thick people out there who will be taken in by this, but I have to hope that there are enough Scottish voters who are educated enough to see that this would be a recipe for disaster.