to think that if the SNP hold the balance of power in Westminster it would be a hoot

[grovel]

to be in the room with Salmond, Sturgeon, Balls and Miliband as they discuss co-operation? Salmond and Balls are highly adept at getting under other peoples' skin. Sturgeon has already said she'll give Miliband some backbone.

I remember what happened in the referendum. 45% did want out. that's a high percentage, no?

Euphemia How would that get passed? By the SNP blackmailing a minority Labour Government. it would not be a direct tax, just further "adjustments" to the Barnett formula, under which England subsidises the rest of the UK.

If a Bill which only affects England is passed by SNP votes - that is the tail and the dog. Or if HST begins at the Northern end instead of where it is most needed. The Conservatives and Labour should agree a non-aggression pact to prevent it.

England or a not subsidise the rest of the UK.

Is wealth only generated in England? No one outside of England paying any type of tax?

Not as high as 55% - and as I said, your claim of a SE centric Government wasn't the main reason (or even one of the main reasons) that the minority voted for independence.

A hoot?
Not what I'd call it.

You're citing that as if it's a fact Sir.

It certainly featured heavily in lots of the discussions I was part of.

I think the OP was talking about a meeting or negotiations for a coalition being a hoot in a fly on the wall sort of way.

Or have I misread it?

I will be voting SNP.

In fact it was a huge point for lots of people...

Seems a weird poi t to argue. Did you spend much tome discussing independence? Reading blogs or forums where people were discussing their reasons for voting yes? Westminster bubble features heavily.

As you well know though, the reasons weren't polled, just the answer yes or no.

Euphemia I know Salmond is no longer their leader but Nicola S did not disagree with what he said last week.

Let me give you a concrete example: RTB. It's been abolished in Scotland, with a grace period for existing tenants, and may well go the same way in Wales. It remains popular in England. It is of no great importance to Scotland or Wales whether England keeps it or not.

If there is a Labour minority government dependent on SNP/PC votes - but a Tory majority among English MPs - would you be content to see it abolished by that government?

I spent a lot of time on discussion forums and so on - it was hard not to up here. So the claim that the "current government policies weren't so SE centric" actually equates to a Westminster bubble in your opinion? That wasn't my interpretation of that initial claim - so we may have to agree to differ on that.

Then you should have been shouting for devolution a long time ago.

It's never been too much of an issue because there have only been a relatively small number of nationalist MPs in westminster, and not holding the balance of power.

If the SNP takes a large block of votes from Labour, that could well lead to people finally grappling with the old 'West Lothian Question'. Whether that's by having an English assembly/parliament for purely English matters, or by having 'english only' issues in westminster, it may be one of the results of the election.

Scottish (westminster)MPs have already had their powers castrated by devolution. They cannot affect change for their consitutents as so many decisions are made by the scottish assembly. There is no point in a scottish consitutent writing to their MP on matters like education or health or buy to let as those matters are no longer decided by the UK parlimement as their MP cannot affect change for the area they represent.

Buy to let is a really good example of a difference of opinon across the boarder. Another example is the mansion tax which would disportionately hit London. We would be in the odd situation of london councils having to pay the mansion tax on council housing. Inner city councils would sell of their few properties to avoid the mansion tax and the poor of London would suffer.

I think that answer to the west Lothian question needs to be found. Infact it might be in the SNP interests. The scots voted against outright divorce from the rest of the uk, but clearly a large proportion of scots are unhappy. Maybe a federal form of goverment for the UK would make the scots feel more independent.

I would like an English parliment with English MPs being members of both the UK parliment and the english parliment.

SetPhasersTaeMalkie, indeed my OP was meant to be light-hearted and simply about the chemistry between the players (and not about the substance of the discussions/outcome). Still, some interesting stuff has been written about the latter.

So... SNP push for higher taxes through Westminister to increase spending in all parts of the Union... As Labour will do.

And then leave taxes in Scotland at their current level using their own powers as it is designed to do.

I think this is good - it will finally break the obsession with the South East and reduce housing in this area as everyone will want to go north.

It's not the Scottish assembly, it's a parliament Reallytired.

The concerns above could also apply to a partnership between the Tories and UKIP, which could see us exiting the EU.

SetPhasersTaeMalkie

Best. Name. EVER.

It's gong to be Tory/Lib Dem again.

Thanks whereyouleftit. Couldn't believe no-one else had bagged it.

You've cak aw knob

Well I live in the south east and can't see where all these benefits to me are! (No, I don't live in London!)
I'd like to see more equality with regional decision making for all, including England.