Scottish General Election

I’d rather Westminster than Holyrood: I’d get rid of the SP

This is the problem with the UK being too Westminster centric: Sir Keir this, Sir Keir that; will he resign, won't he resign? Andy Burnham, Angela Raynor, Wes Streeting will they won't they?

O.M.G.

As if there's nothing else going on.

So why are you over spending? You are racking up huge debt. You can have ours as well when you leave, if you believe what you want to.

I will be pleased for you if you get Independance.
You wont be able to blame anything on everyone else then. My children were all born in Scotland, but would never ever choose to live there.

I sometimes wonder if people remember that a 2014 'Yes' vote meant leaving the EU regardless? It feels like that part of the history has been completely rewritten lately.

Because it makes sense to have the financial powerhouse in one area. But that area attracts people from everywhere. One of my daughters works there. So the contribution comes from far and wide. But if Scotland walks away, you won’t have a slice of that. I have lived in Scotland, so I know the passion to become independent.
But despite getting more money per head and having slightly higher taxes, your education system is failing and your NHS is even worse than ours. I don’t see how you can blame that on the rest of the UK.

Look it up, there is plenty out there. What you are trying to say is you can keep spending what you want and hold no liability.

62% voted to Remain

You haven’t quoted how much Scotland pays in, compared to how much per head they get back. England pays in more per head and receives far less. You also run higher debt per person, which no doubt you will try and dump on the rest of the UK.

London is a net contributor, but most subsidies paid to make it so are part of national debt.

But it costs a huge amount for the rest of the country to afford.

Edinburgh was a net contributor last year without massive subsidies, so it can be done. And if London is the only profitable region in the UK forever the whole place is doomed anyway.

This is nonsense.

Scottish vote -

Remain - 1,661,191 = 62%

Leave - 1,018,322 = 37.9%

Brexit was rejected by almost two thirds of Scots who voted, and "Remain" was the preference in every single Council Ward without exception.

Scotland would be fucked with Scexit

So bored of the mince of nationalism

Away and fly your wee flags

48% wanted Brexit in Scotland, so very nearly half.

London is the financial powerhouse of the UK and provides around 25% of the UK tax revenue.
England gets far less per head than the other 3 countries. So we are definitely subsidising other regions in the UK. Take away London and the rest of the UK woukd struggle.

Independence does not necessarily have to be the answer, but neither is maintaining the status quo or worse, revoking devolution.

Constitutional reform is needed because the way that the UK is set up - dominated by London - harms us all economically at regional levels.

I have voted SNP/SNP because they are the thorn in Westminster's side - as is Burnham in Manchester.

The United Kingdom is considered one of the most hyper-centralized, developed nations in the world, with London serving as the primary hub for politics, finance, media, and culture.

This differs from the United States, Germany, and even France, because of a unique combination of early unification, legal structures, and geographical factors that developed over centuries.

Here is why the UK is hyper-centralized compared to these nations:

1. Lack of Federalism and Parliamentary Sovereignty. Unlike the USA and Germany, the UK is not a federal state.Unitary Structure: In the UK, legal authority is concentrated in the Westminster Parliament. While Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland have devolved legislatures, these powers are granted by Westminster and can, in theory, be revoked.No Written Constitution:

The UK lacks a single written constitution, meaning there are few constitutional safeguards guaranteeing local autonomy, unlike in the US.

1. Historical Development: Early Unification and ConquestThe UK unified much earlier than its peers, allowing centralization to become deeply embedded in its institutions.

The Norman Conquest (1066): William the Conqueror established a "blank slate" in England, replacing local nobility with loyal vassals. This created a strong central monarchy, whereas continental feudalism (France/Germany) allowed local lords to become practically independent.

Wessex Foundation: Early Anglo-Saxon reconquest of Danish-occupied lands under the Kingdom of Wessex allowed England to create a highly efficient, national taxation system early on.Compared to Germany: Germany did not unify as a nation-state until 1871, retaining multiple regional power centers (e.g., Bavaria).

1. Geography and Size.

Island Status: As an island, the UK had "clearly delineated boundaries," allowing the central government to focus inwardly.Small Size: The UK is small enough that it only needed one major city to manage its affairs, whereas larger nations like Germany and the US require multiple urban hubs.

The "London" Effect: London became the center of an empire, attracting wealth, banking, and talent, growing to a size that makes it an extreme outlier in economic output compared to regional cities.

1. Comparison to Other Nations:

United States: A federal system where states have constitutional sovereignty, independent tax systems, and power over education and law enforcement.

Germany: Strongly decentralized with Lander (states) holding significant power, and unlike the UK, Germany’s capital city (Berlin) has a lower GDP than other German cities, showing a more balanced economy.

France: While France is a unitary state like the UK, its history involved stronger regional cultures (like Alsace-Lorraine) that had to be incorporated over time. However, France has recently made more significant moves toward regional decentralization compared to the UK.

1. Culture and Government "Hoarding" Power - Whitehall Culture: The House of Commons Public Administration Committee noted a "prevalent culture in Whitehall" that is unwilling to let go of its levers of power.Financial Dependence:

Local councils are financially dependent on the central government for funding, reducing their autonomy.Uneven Devolution: England, holding over 80% of the population, has no separate parliament, leading to direct rule from Westminster and aggravating the central focus.

The UK’s "hyper-active incrementalism"—constantly changing local policies from the top down—has failed to solve regional inequalities, often exacerbating the dominance of London.