The silence rolls on
Posted: 27 Nov 2014, 14:04And the politicians think it’s all a done deal bar the horsetrading according to the Telegraph.
The Telegraph makes some salient points, especially about whether Scots MP’s can hold certain ministerial roles when their home country is already blocking UK wide financial changes. There was much made about losing the £ but, if Scotland starts making tax decisions incompatible with the UK as a whole, England may have to force Scotland out of the £ anyway, in order to protect it. Because the value of the £ is always a combination of economic output and fiscal responsibility.
In fact if they give full tax raising (and by definition spending), powers to Scotland then they have created exactly the same situation as they denied they would allow in the event of a yes vote. That Scotland was in the £ but able to control its own taxation. Granted interest rates would still be under the power of Threadneedle street, so it is kind of a half-way house.
Also the article failed to address the fact that Gordon Brown has decided to leave politics. Perhaps in the same mould as his former boss who clearly realised that his time in UK politics was over and decided to switch power for money. For Brown leaving politics saves him from the ignominy of losing his seat at the next election. Perhaps losing the election has made him a little more aware of how much damage losing his seat would do to his job prospects. He might get a job as chief rat catcher, but not for long. The place would be overrun with rats.
Another point the article fails to address is the fact that the SNP may, just possibly, hold more than 50% of Scottish Westminster seats and Scottish Parliament seats at the same time, come 2016. A message made in hell for the unionists…
As ever the myopic press focus on UKIP and their ability to upset the apple cart in the coming election. As ever, they completely ignore the ramifications of the SNP who could, possibly, be even more of a wildcard in May.
I’ve been going on about this, every now and again, for a while now. It’s not “over”. It was “never” over and the fact that the independence question for Scotland is clearly not over is going to have major ramifications at the next general election. You can be sure that if the Telegraph is going on about how little influence Scotland will have left in the UK after they have finally mashed out some form of “MadMax”, the Scottish pro Independence papers will be reminding the Scots daily.
Simply put, Devo Max is independence by the back door. Really all that the “promise” did was to ensure Scottish independence within the next generation. That’s why Cameron did not want it on the docket. It’s why the three stooges should never have promised it.
However, it’s going to make for one of the most interesting general elections of my lifetime; come May…
The Telegraph makes some salient points, especially about whether Scots MP’s can hold certain ministerial roles when their home country is already blocking UK wide financial changes. There was much made about losing the £ but, if Scotland starts making tax decisions incompatible with the UK as a whole, England may have to force Scotland out of the £ anyway, in order to protect it. Because the value of the £ is always a combination of economic output and fiscal responsibility.
In fact if they give full tax raising (and by definition spending), powers to Scotland then they have created exactly the same situation as they denied they would allow in the event of a yes vote. That Scotland was in the £ but able to control its own taxation. Granted interest rates would still be under the power of Threadneedle street, so it is kind of a half-way house.
Also the article failed to address the fact that Gordon Brown has decided to leave politics. Perhaps in the same mould as his former boss who clearly realised that his time in UK politics was over and decided to switch power for money. For Brown leaving politics saves him from the ignominy of losing his seat at the next election. Perhaps losing the election has made him a little more aware of how much damage losing his seat would do to his job prospects. He might get a job as chief rat catcher, but not for long. The place would be overrun with rats.
Another point the article fails to address is the fact that the SNP may, just possibly, hold more than 50% of Scottish Westminster seats and Scottish Parliament seats at the same time, come 2016. A message made in hell for the unionists…
As ever the myopic press focus on UKIP and their ability to upset the apple cart in the coming election. As ever, they completely ignore the ramifications of the SNP who could, possibly, be even more of a wildcard in May.
I’ve been going on about this, every now and again, for a while now. It’s not “over”. It was “never” over and the fact that the independence question for Scotland is clearly not over is going to have major ramifications at the next general election. You can be sure that if the Telegraph is going on about how little influence Scotland will have left in the UK after they have finally mashed out some form of “MadMax”, the Scottish pro Independence papers will be reminding the Scots daily.
Simply put, Devo Max is independence by the back door. Really all that the “promise” did was to ensure Scottish independence within the next generation. That’s why Cameron did not want it on the docket. It’s why the three stooges should never have promised it.
However, it’s going to make for one of the most interesting general elections of my lifetime; come May…