Scotsnet does not represent Scotland

[kamalasshaman]

At a time when polls are showing unprecedented support for independence and even John Curtice agrees the polls are clear, why is Scotsnet such a bastion of unionist opinions? Is it just due to the demographic of Mumsnet? Why has this site become such a right wing enclave?

Good to see a lot of people calling out the LSE report for what is, unsubstantiated nonsense.

www.taxresearch.org.uk/Blog/2021/02/04/the-lse-report-on-the-increased-costs-in-trade-for-an-independent-scotland-is-based-on-unsubstantiated-data-and-absurd-assumptions/

Also, the author of the report has admitted on his Twitter that they didn't account for transient trade or intra - UK trade in service..

Richard Murphy, the individual behind tax research.org.uk also tweeted
twitter.com/RichardJMurphy/status/1321356153817862144?s=20

'Scottish independence would be a disaster for the people of Scotland if the Growth Commission plans were to be followed taxresearch.org.uk/Blog/2020/10/28/scottish-independence-would-be-a-disaster-for-the-people-of-scotland-if-the-growth-commission-plans-were-to-be-followed/

@L__Macfarlane
is right: the SNP needs to rethink, and urgently'

'

Would Scotland be able to rejoin the EU under its existing fiscal policies? And how do other Scots regard the EU vaccine debacle? I for one am happy we are in the UK and are being vaccinated at such a rapid rate!

Despite all the posturing, I don't think that the SNP really care whether they are in the EU or not, just another bandwagon to jump on that they think will bring votes. I suspect when our application is rejected it will be met with initial bluster but really with "oh dear, never mind.." and they'll crack on with doing what they want.

Lots of well qualified people are not calling it out starry - just because you can find one website doesn't mean that top trade academics have been discredited...

Like the tories jumped into Brexit to win votes then?

So now the EU’s vaccine roll out is a reason against independence?

Is there anything unionists won’t use as an anti independence argument?

Is there anything the independence supporters won't use in support of independence?

@anon444877

Lots of well qualified people are not calling it out starry - just because you can find one website doesn't mean that top trade academics have been discredited...

They are. Others at LSE called him out as soon as he published it. Have you read it in full?

that's not calling the report out, that is academic discussion on the paper. There is no serious academic push back, the SNP's own rebuttal is that they're using mysterious economic levers to mitigate the effects. They're going to have a huge pot of (borrowed) money to attract foreign direct investment.

You're not interested in the balance of proof or what most reputable sources think though, you're cherry picking anyone that has any criticisms.

Dunleavy's (political scientist, not economist) criticism is that there will be no such trade frictions introduced. The SNP made a big deal of the costs of increased trade frictions with the EU post Brexit. You cannot have it both ways, it cannot be true that Brexit means increased trade frictions, but Scexit mysteriously does not.

And indeed, the SNP are not trying to argue that there won't be increased frictions, they're arguing they are going to be able to mitigate these frictions in ill defined ways.

WaxOn - what do you think the SNP's longer term plan for Scotland is, then?

@slitheringsnakes

WaxOn - what do you think the SNP's longer term plan for Scotland is, then?

Honestly? I have as little idea as they seem to. I await their fully costed manifesto for the true enlightenment.

Hope these upload correctly starry. Restricting public spending by a percentage not exceeding GDP growth is austerity.

I can link you to analysis by Richard Murphy, George Kerevan and other left wing pro indy analysis agreeing. And also anti indy analysis but that would be pointless I'm sure.

In my opinion the Growth Commission is the SNP's way out when all of the benefits of indy scotland fail to appear. They'll point to the growth commission report and say, but we did tell you there would be austerity.

@Sarahandduck18

Like the tories jumped into Brexit to win votes then?

So now the EU’s vaccine roll out is a reason against independence?

Is there anything unionists won’t use as an anti independence argument?

No one has answered the question yet on the economic levers and what they are? What interest rates will we be paying? Kate Forbes hasn’t worked that one out yet . Remember the promises on the big bus? Similar ones will be made by SNP . Buyer beware 😂 How many people said they would have voted remain if they knew what they know now?

The bulk of our trade is with rest of uk - why would anyone want to damage that?

Maybe to true supporters of independence inflicting economic hardship on others isnt an issue? Maybe that’s a better question.

There will be a brain drain - see Eires early years .

@Graffitiqueen

Hope these upload correctly starry. Restricting public spending by a percentage not exceeding GDP growth is austerity.

I can link you to analysis by Richard Murphy, George Kerevan and other left wing pro indy analysis agreeing. And also anti indy analysis but that would be pointless I'm sure.

In my opinion the Growth Commission is the SNP's way out when all of the benefits of indy scotland fail to appear. They'll point to the growth commission report and say, but we did tell you there would be austerity.

This doesn't say what you said in your comment.

' Turbo austerity for 25 years to get to where we are now.'

Anbabelinda, Scotland was given S and P's highest rating for credit.

Really, this is wasting my time as you believe that London subsidises Scotland.

Put simply - Scotland under the UK has a boyfriend who takes your wage, gives you some back , buys things you don't want or need and charges you for them ( plus interest).

Two simple, fairly big economic levers we don't have control over- borrowing and spending.

• Also in reply to your comment re your 'neighbour'. You do realise that Wales and NI are in the UK too, right?

They don't explicitly use the word austerity, but that is what the effect would be. How do you rationalise that with your comments about poverty?

Oh and you're out of date when it comes to rating agencies grading of an Indy Scotland.

www.investmentweek.co.uk/investment-week/news/3006760/moodys-warns-scotland-exit-leave-country-facing-junk-rating

This is the most bonkers bit of the growth commission, pretty much admitting that an indy scotland couldn't afford to bail out the banks, but this won't apply as they'll all leave anyway!

Barclays is currently building huge new premises in Glasgow and promising 2500 new jobs

I'm not a Tory and I don't want independence

[quote Graffitiqueen]They don't explicitly use the word austerity, but that is what the effect would be. How do you rationalise that with your comments about poverty?

Oh and you're out of date when it comes to rating agencies grading of an Indy Scotland.

www.investmentweek.co.uk/investment-week/news/3006760/moodys-warns-scotland-exit-leave-country-facing-junk-rating[/quote]
OK, up to date, post Brexit analysis.

Fitch cited the possibility of Scottish independence in their downgrade of the United Kingdom. They observed that such an outcome would be negative for the United Kingdom’s rating, as it would lead to a rise in the ratio of government debt/GDP, increase the size of the United Kingdom’s external balance sheet and potentially generate uncertainty in the banking system.”

Moody’s, which was the first rating agency to cut the United Kingdom’s AAA rating has gone on record as saying it would only assign Scotland an A rating.

And again,no- the report does not say what you said it does.

I think both pro Indy and anti Indy economists are in agreement that the growth commission means austerity for decades. But clearly you with your economics degree (I presume you haven't used it in industry as otherwise you would have said) know better. Oooookaaaay.

I guess californiabakes Barclays are betting on no Indy in the near future.