AIBU to think Scotland are gonna have moring after regret

[Sadoldbag]

Just heard today that Asda and morrisons will hike there prices up as the store in the uk subsidise the ones in Scotland.

Also the persident of the European union has said last week on hard talk Scotland will not be able to jump the que on the back of the uk coat tails and will have to join and fresh and wait in the back of the que


And royal mail have also said they may stop mail to the far flung parts of Scotland if they go ita lone as they loose money in the shetlands ect and they would only be required to provide mail in the uk.


And it seems to me all the bits in the white paper are all assertions and weather they keep the pound ect is not actually up to them.

I think this is gonna be like ringing your boss when drunk it sounds like a good idea at the time

But They will regert it in the morining

[WilsonFrickett]

Can anyone explain to me how or why Scotland and Wales (not sure about NI) get a better deal in terms of freebies than those of us who are English

It's very simple. Some matters are devolved, ie they are in the hands of the Scottish parliament and the Scottish parliament has budgetary powers in these matters. So they can make different choices. So for education, Westminster hands over the budget to Edinburgh and the Members of Scottish Parliament decide how to use it - in this case, for free tertiary education.

Now the cynics amongst us may note that the 'extras' are firmly aimed at key voting segments who presumably won't vote against independence in case they lose these benefits, but no-one likes a cynic, do they

[PostmanPatAlwaysRingsTwice]

I didn't say every SNP vote was one for independence, I said it was for an independence referendum. However I would class as a bit of a numpty, someone who voted SNP but didn't want independence!

Again, I was pointing out to Tabby that she need not be bemused about where the idea comes from that we want independence - it's because we voted the SNP into government. No mystery there, even if it's wrong.

But really, if anyone here voted SNP and doesn't want independence I'd be interested to know their thought processes behind that decision

[GotMyGoat]

Thank you Wilson, very well explained. So your governments are basically nicer people than ours?

King Salmond I, and Queen Moira - yes?

[Annunziata]

You can still pay for the fees if you really want to, it's not free like just turning up. You apply to SAAS and they pay on your behalf.

[Annunziata]

Thank goodness they will keep Elizabeth and not him!

[GotMyGoat]

Prince George will marry Salmond's first born, or cousin or something if they have decided not to have children to keep up good relations between the countries, so we will end up with these weird enemy relations who can cross borders and thrones and all that. Like France and Spain.

Bloody hell.

[ItsAllGoingToBeFine]

So your governments are basically nicer people than ours

Yes Generally speaking, Scots, and by extension the Scottish Government ,nhave very different priorities/philosophy to the Westminster government.

This is one of the reasons many want indepndnce as with independence we could follow a more socialist path, like the nordic nations as opposed to a more capitalist society like the US.

[ItsAllGoingToBeFine]

Truly don't understand the Salmond bashing. Say what you like, but he is a damn good politician. And most importantly *a vote for independence is not a vote for Salmond or SNP to rule in perpetuity. Hell, we might even end up with A Scottish Tory government (independence is pretty much the only way Tories will ever have powder in Scotland)

[littlebillie]

I haven't noticed anything on NHS Scotland , as it is already opting out on some life saving cancer drugs, which will save them a lot of money in the long term. If you are unfortunate to get the diagnosis you may be terminal in Scotland but have a normal life expectancy in England. It won't be anything like the NHS .

[PostmanPatAlwaysRingsTwice]

ItsAllGoingToBeFine is your name part of the Yes campaign?

[PostmanPatAlwaysRingsTwice]

Any references for that littlebillie?

[PostmanPatAlwaysRingsTwice]

Oh here's one!

[PumpkinPositive]

Prince George will marry Salmond's first born

He'll need divine intervention for that - the wife is famously about 82.

[littlebillie]

Some of the new cancer drugs that "manage" cancer and not cure. Scottish news team covered it last year. They said it was a good thing as they would cost a fortune to keep alive anyway. There are big changes coming in England too, but I think the whole medical budget in Scotland will have to be tighter.

[littlebillie]

I think from a idealistic point being an independent country would be wonderful for Scotland however the Scottish government has been playing with all the lovely little extras, the big fiscal shift and financial responsibility will be a big test. As with all things the devil will be in the detail I e government debt and running the social care system. If I was voting I think that would be my main worry.

[venusandmars]

postmanpat I would be classed as one of your 'numpties' having voted SNP despite not supporting independence.

I voted for the party which I thought (on balance) had the best policies, the most able people, and were the best people to administer in a devolved Scotland. I think many, including Salmond, were astonished by an SNP majority - that wasn't how the system was designed.

[WilsonFrickett]

Gotmygoat not nicer, just different. Not Tories for a start, so idealogically predisposed to be nicer, maybe. Not so bothered about capitalism, much more socialist.

But it's politics isn't it, so there's always a pay-off.

1. populist policies means more votes for more of the same
   
2. it's easy to make decisions based on a guaranteed income - economic policy is mainly determined at Westminster so have fewer choices to make
   
3. average number of people employed by govt in England is 1 in 5. In Scotland it's 1 in 4. So there is a massive vested interest in well-funded public services which keep this large % of the population in employment.
   
   This last, as a small business owner actually terrifies me wrt independence...

[TwistedRib]

littlebillie well I guess if we all die off earlier it'll cost the country less...

[venusandmars]

And I get mightily pissed off with people who think that everyone in England subsidises everyone in Scotland.

There are many English regions, and Wales who are in a much worse position than Scotland - are none of them posting here?

[Grennie]

Scotland get more money per head of population from Westminster, than England. That is why they can afford to offer greater care to the population.

[PostmanPatAlwaysRingsTwice]

Yes I can see venus that people were happy with how the SNP had been doing and therefore voted for them but their main aim was always independence for Scotland.

billie I agree it will be a test and won't be easy but I do think that we can do it and make a success of things on our own.

[Earningsthread]

This is all a tad one-sided. Why can't the rest of the union vote whether or not they actually want Scotland in the Union?

I really would vote for not having Scotland in the Union. It would save a whole heap of money and it would stop that belly-aching Salmon once and for all.

Why can't I have a vote on this? Is this another West Lothian question?

[Earningsthread]

After all, it's my flipping taxes that are subsidising those whingeing Scots ...

Go on now, go walk out the door
Just turn around now
'Cause you're not welcome anymore