Labour's "Fear Culture" in Scotland
Blair is losing it, this morning he dismissed the SNP-backing George Mathewson, the ex-Royal Bank of Scotland CEO as "self-indulgent and absurd" after he came out backing freedom for Scotland. He also implied George wasn't a real businessman - despite the man leading RBS from a regional bank to what is now a global investment banking force.As chief executive of the Scottish Development Agency, he is credited by many with creating "Silicon Glen". He took RBS from losses to global profitability. In a letter to The Scotsman today George accuses Labour of scaremongering about the SNP and of creating a "fear culture" about independence - "I have never really seen myself as a political figure, but all I will say is I don't share the fear culture that some people think we should have." He dismisses as "absurd" Gordon Brown's claim that investors would flee if Scotland was free.
All bang on the money, Scotland standing on it's own two feet would be good for Scotland and good for England. Labour opposes independence because it knows without Scottish Labour MPs, England, which votes Tory, would not be ruled by Scottish Labour as it is now.
The whole Labour party thrust is that the Scottish can't well rule themselves alone, when in reality it is the Labour party that fears it can't rule England without Scottish Labour MPs. The scaremongering by Labour is an insult to the Scottish people. The similar sized Republic of Ireland manages to rule itself, have lower taxes and higher per capita GDP than the UK. In comparison, after a decade under Labour, parts of Glasgow now have third-world level health indicators.
46 comments:
the problem is guido, all these fuckers demanding independence - your good self included on behalf of the paddy's - still tend to hang around in england.
so why don't you piss off back to ireland guido?
the similar sized ireland also gets huge EU subsidies, and its economy is located soley in one square mile of dublin. It's its own version of canary wharf.
so are you now pro-eu?
Spot on, Guido, but I think the health thing is Scotland is more to do with their quite appalling diet. This may also explain why they vote Labour.
The sooner the Scots get their independence, the sooner I'll stop hating them for inflicting Brown the present government on me...just think, no more grating Scottish voices telling us what is right and what is wrong, and the thought of Brown as the Scottish PM....well it just does strange things to my emotions.
A couple of more nail's ,well done Scotland.
Err, Guido's main domicile is Wexford, Ireland, summers are in France, but unbfortunately a lot of business is London-centric.
And the anonymong who reckons Ireland lives on EU subsidies is wrong - Ireland is a net contributor now it is rich. As for a major part of the economy being located in the Square Mile of the IFC, err, are you familiar with another Square Mile? Wall Street?
More advanced economies have bigger financial sectors - that is a good thing.
No issue with any of that Guido except the Scotland can rule themselves bit. Labour need Scotland, but Scotland needs a whole lot better in the way of MSPs if it is to go its own way.
Living in Scotland means that I have to suffer the MSPs of all persuasions on an up close and (not too) personal basis. If you take a look at the make up of the parliament you'll see that it's mostly teachers, ex public sector, union and the like - there's the usual smattering of lawyers. Hardly any of them have had a proper job.
The problem north of the wall is a lack of leadership. Given that the Salmond (who is the only leader with anything gong for him) is moving further and further from independence I think they are becoming a better bet - BUT whoever gets in, in May, will I'm afraid be more of the same.
The snouts in the trough brigade, including the Dep. Farce Minister, who have become property speculators should all be packed off soonest.
Rumours up here are rife (or should that be fife) that the invisible man, six pack Jack, is worried that the rumours that the press have been hanging onto are maybe on their way out into the open. Reasons to be (invisible) careful.
so what your saying is guido, is that efeectively national borders are a total illusion.
scotland, ireland and england are all in the eu - so it makes absolutely no fucking difference really whether they're in the uk or not. they still aint going to vote for tories, english or wearing tartan.
the point is scotland got rodgered in the arse because of the the migration of manufacturing jobs off the clyde elsewhere, and the selling of north sea gas and oil on the cheap by tories - with policies in the 1980's whcich the snp are now using.
what utter bollocks this snp thread is.
i refer yo to the sunday times last weekend, with an article by david smith - 15 years of economic brilliance- 10 years by brown. shit the bed guido.
The gNats use of Mathewson is fraudulent - as the geezer is clearly in favour of big cuts in state spending to end the "dependency culture" which the Nats whole heartedly support.
Of course, in the end, this also all worked brilliantly for Blair who knows that a row is always the best way to get your story in the news.
"self-indulgent and absurd"
Blair's been talking into the mirror again.
ireland may be a net contributer now, but received over 30 years of financial aid from the EU to help the bog-trotters.
you think their recent financial success wasn't down to years and years and years of other eu countries coughing up for the micks?
"Edinburgh has some attractive assets, a better work-life balance and a treasure-trove of good golf courses to choose from. But there are other professional reasons that make the city attractive, particularly as a fund management centre."
http://news.scotsman.com/topics.cfm?tid=439&id=685772002
because its in the uk. nuff said.
When this first flickered on to the horizon, I wondered whether Blair's legacy would be to finally destroy the Labour party as a national force by causing Scotland to semi-detach.
The lack of leadership would be fixed by sending the Westminster MPs back to Scotland for 75 percent of their time.
It would fix the West Lothian question, fix the problem of bloody Scottish voices dominating the airwaves and fix the increasingly uneven settlement (think student fees, nurses pay etc).
You take the high road, etc
Ireland has been successful in attracting busines cos of low Corporation Tax (15% vs UK 30%+) plus a well educated workforce.
Plus EU subsidies no longer needed.
Any Scots .. or English or Welsh etc - who go to Scotland cannot but be struck by the attitudes of what must be a sizeable minority (majority?) - basicaly stuck in the 1960s militant socialism (see the Scottish Socialist Party.. founded on the subsidy paid by the English ammounting to over £1,000 per head under the Barnet formula...
Let them be independent say I..
(and I was brought up there)
PS did anyone mention Trident????
as capital markets don't recognise national borders, the argument that the financial sector in scotland would grow - if independent is bollocks.
in our out of the uk, scotland's financial sector exists because of it link with the london city and eu markets.
ireland's financial services are doing well - anywhere near the Uk's -nah. and any of that financial boom going into irish industry, except nano-technology - and how many jobs does that provide again?
the point is other areas of dublin are as poor as the ones you site in glasgow - because there is no economic trickle down. the mick cabbies hate the city twats.
hasn't the fiancial sector in scotland grown by 50% since 1995?
what happened to "if it aint broke, it doesn't need fixing".
or have the conservative and unionist party really lost the plot?
The latest info I can find says that Ireland is still a net EU recipient.
Ireland still isn't a net contributor over the next financial perspective 2007-2013, despite being the second richest country per capita. Ludicrously some of the new far poorer member states like cyprus are net contributors on the other hand.
The Irish are brilliant negotiators unlike Blair who is a fucking useless fuckwit.
That said, the reason they are super-rich isn't EU dosh but a massive slashing of the tax-to-GDP ratio from 50% to 30% over a couple of years. No fucking chance of that shit here or in Scotland. Independence would be good in principle but scotland would prob end up more like north korea not Ireland.
Agreed. TB insults a Scotsman at his peril. He should know that.
If Alex Salmond isn't caught doing "research" on Salamander Street or Little Nicola doesn't claim membership of Opus Dei, they will have it away! And jolly good luck to them.
if scotland went indie - it'd mean another subsidy for the uk taxpayer to the EU.
damned if they're in - damned if they're out.
the real divide - obviously, is not one of anglo v celt. but city twat v worker, either in ireland, scotland, england or wales.
city boys doo- effectively the minimum, and the go on £20,000 celebratory lunches after lifting their fingers to press a button to put x amount of workers out of a job on an asset stripping deal.
Another good policy point.
We should insist that Scotland goes independent and they start wearing long trousers.
Its very surprising how many people aren't aware - even after 10 years of a labour government - that devolution has occured and westminster can't be blamed for what happens in scotland with regards to things like health
http://www.scotland.gov.uk/About/18060/11552
It's as funny as all the scottish people who posted on the bbc's HYS section about the prison crisis in england and wales. With the general exception of issues that coincide with national security or foreign relations, holyrood has control of scotland, scotland has control of its own laws. Infact its independance is even greater than a federal system. Its criminal courts do not come under the house of lords or UK supreme court.
Independant Scotland will never be a success 'cos the oil has nearly run out, what left will have to be split with England and Wales... Salmond is dreaming if he thinks he can walk away with the oil
For Scotland to emulate Ireland would mean drastically cutting personal and corporate taxes. Given that Scotland is basically a Soviet-style state economy where 50-65% of all employment is by the state, I don't see how.
Salmon & Co. don't look like Laffer-curve style, Hayeck reading, tax slashing, supply siders.....
But if they want to go, fuck 'em, it will save my taxes being spent on the DLA for workshy pissed up Scots.
Spot on Guido, Bliar is definitely losing the plot. Does he ever think before he opens his mouth these days? Ridiculous statement to make about a hugely successful business man.
Listening to the Irish Radio (RTE) News most mornings, I seem to be hearing a long (feels like never ending) list of manufacturing jobs moving East (either EU or Far East).
The Irish economy has been buoyed up for the last few years by the house building sector. Clearly that won't last when there are no jobs to pay the inflated mortgages. The end of the gravy train was being hinted at this morning in the morning news business section.
Life there does seem to centre on Greater Dublin, - a bit like the Londonocentric view we have on the BBC.
Under current arrangements, even with the oil revenue, Scotland is a loss-making subsidiary. Nobody should have a problem with letting them go. If their short term model is subsidy from the Euro-zone to stimulate a "modern Irish" economy, well that's fine too. It will cost us something via our EU payments, but not as much as we pay directly at the moment. Clearly, the nature of the EU is that we won't have to pay for it all on our own.
Losing Scotland would clearly lose us the prospect of a future Labour government, which is good for our health, wealth and temper. This has the look and feel of a policy I could vote for.
I can't understand why any Scot would want Scotland to be ruled by England but then again as the Scots rule England from Westminster ruling Scotland from Westminster seems logical too.
The only losers are the English and as everyone hates them that's fine.
It's not a question of Home Rule for Scotland - it's all about screwing the English.
http://www.scotlandvotes.com/
If Labour lose Scotland Brown is Sunk FuckinAce :-D
Interesting, you always here about "Scottish" Oil, but never about "English" Gas. Yeah, that's right; "English" gas. Almost all the gasfields are off East Anglia. If ever a whinging Scotsman moans about Oil, stick two fingers up at him and tell him they benefit just as much from our gas, so they can fuck off.
That aside, Scotland separating would surely lead to the UK being carved up like a roast. Scotland would become a smug self-satisfied little country, happy to snipe from the sidelines without having to take any of the difficult decisions England would still have to make. They would be without the influence or the means to make any noticeable difference on foreign affairs. They would be cut off.
As for their economy, they'd be subservient to the EU. I'm sure they love the Euro, but as that project develops they'll find themselves ever more heavily regulated and powerless to stop it. They'd become irrelevant.
If they really want that, fine, fuck off - I won't shed any tears -watching them try to attract people and investment to their grim, grey, cold, bitter and cunt-ridden shithole of a country is going to be amusing to watch if they split.
But, if I were a Scot, I'd stay with the UK.
You can tell Labour are losing the plot. No vision, just character assassination. Mathewson is self indulgent; critics of the Olympics budget are unpatriotic; critics of NHS chaos are insulting doctors and nurses, etc. etc. ad nauseam.
Y A W N !
Good to see the Tories have left the foul-mouthed, racist yobs behind.
A rich vein of comments from the sort of morons who have taken the Great out of Britain.
Hey hey
happy days are here to stay
Looook independence for Scotland is a win win situation.
Agrregate GDP of British Isles is higher due to bonnie Irish independence than without.
England wins.
Plus depsite what they say about subsidies Ireland joined EU same time as Scotland/UK ..Ireland is in surplues this year UK has £34billion deficit (£46B excluding oil) So is Norway and Iceland in surplus- sadly London not paying its own way
and when Scotland takes its place in the world but not in wars such as Iraq we will have a better planet....
But how will westminster sort itself out without the SNP doing Cash for Peerages....:-)
all together now
Oh flower of Scotland .... hey hey cha cha cha
The problems with Scottish independence are :
a) the rest of Scotland will still be stuck with the central belt stasi socialists
b) brown et al wont just walk away from their gold plated salaries and feck off back home, they will push through a carve up of assets that robs the English tax payer !
These Labour Bullies are going to lose so many Council seats in Scotland to the SNP because :
1. so many Scottish Catholics are rightly going to refuse to have homosexuality rammed down their throats, after the Government refused to exempt Catholic Adoption Agencies from their Homosexual legislation
2. these Catholics are not going to vote Conservative after Mr Cameron supported the Government on this point
3. They will vote SNP in large numbers
Good fucking riddance
The place is full of miserable incomprehensible cunts who make the Welsh look warm and friendly who only exist as debt collectors or govt parasites.
When we have our new trident missiles I suggest that instead of wasting the old ones we fucking annihilate scotland and wales, anything left over can be fired at the French.
Every loyal English man or woman should vote SNP to get rid of the whinging , self righteous , parasites .
Only trouble is the SNP are getting cold feet - the latest is the want to " prove themselves in government for 4 years " before going for a referendum for Scottish independence .
Perhaps England can have a referendum on English independence NOW and then get shot of them anyway .
Amazing how quickly this descends into racism
Scottish and Welsh independence will only come when England has hers.
And what's with all this bitterness towards the Welsh and Scottish with your 'redundant trident'?
Truth is, England has benifitted as much from Wales and Scotland as has Wales and Scotland from England. London being an international economic city, Welsh coal and Scottish oil.
>The Hitch
" suggest that instead of wasting the old ones we fucking annihilate scotland and wales, anything left over can be fired at the French. "
Trident is based in Scotland near Glasgow...
unlikely to fire missiles aginst its own base:-))))
If Scotland does do indepence, new home required...Scots do not want it...
Fortitude said: "Amazing how quickly this descends into racism"
Amazing how quickly these threads attract pompous buffoons. The only racism I've ever suffered was from Scots, in Scotland. They seem to be innately racist, as if they have little else to think about but alcohol, football and how much they hate the English. Personally, I'd love to be rid of them.
I blogged about this tonight mentioning the Royal Bank and, incidentally, HSBC. Shortly afterwards I had a look at my sitemeter. Eight out of the latest twenty hits were from China.
HSBC used to be based in Hong Kong and the Royal owns part of the Bank of China.
Spooky...
madasafish I know where the subs are based
I meant that they could leave base, get into the Irish sea and then bust a few caps on to the jocks the Welsh and those cunts you know where.
Radiation poisoning is over rated so we would be OK.
Most people who lived in the vicinity of the Chernobyl melt down didnt come down with cancer , yet another green hoax.
Splendid article..who cares about all the silly "racist" jibes from all these comments, simple clear headed rational thought leads to the inevitable conclusion that small nations are more dynamic, responsive to need and successful than large bloated, alienated, division riven bureaucracies such as the UK!!
read more on http://smallnation.org/drupal
I live in Scotland. Am I Scottish? Well I have a Scottish surname, but I was born in England with parents born in Scotland and Ireland. So I suppose I'm British. The UK is much stronger than its individual countries. It's not broke so let's keep it.
The one thing about Scots independence I notice is this. For 300 years we acted as one, both in the UK and across the Empire. Now we have these tinpot little Napoleons who tell us that they are right and Scotland and England would be better apart, ignoring the past 300 years of close ties.....mainly because it doesn't suit their arguement.
Their arguements are based on emotion, poor hard done to Scotland and all that.
As long as they ignore the past 300 years, their arguement holds up.
Like I said earlier in this rant:) they are just little Napoleons, self obsessed ego's wanting something NO MATTER THE REAL CONSEQUENCES! Salmond may try to paint himself as some sort of saviour, but all he wants is HIS WAY, and bugger the people of scotland.
He's just another arrogant arsehole of a politician like all the rest, but the idiot mob who follow him can't see the emperors clothes for what they are.
I have a large scots family. Have any of them ever been asked about the destruction of the union? Have I? No, because Salmond knows better than me and them. Fool.
This post is bang on the money.
My only concern about an independent Scotland is who would actually end up running it. Despite the SNP's cosying up to business and so on, it's difficult to imagine a country as left-wing as Scotland not electing a whole stack of Marxists like Sheridan who'd end up with the balance of power in an Edinburgh parliament. I'm not sure an independent Scotland would be able to resist bumping up top-rate taxes, which would lead to a nasty brain drain down the M74.
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