Galloway Smashes Scottish Separatists with Stellar Speech in the Spectator

Tromking

beecher2 wrote: »

Do you seriously believe that the fees policy was established because we're all racists against the English?! Blame EU policy for EU students having access to free tuition. I agree it is unfair but think the solution is for Westminster to do away with fees.

Ah, the Scots mentality to public spending for all to see, everything is affordable just vote for it and the rest of the UK will pay for it!
I look forward post the no vote to the end of the Barnett formula and the stark realism in Scotland that the salad days courtesy of the English taxpayer are finally over.

ruggedtoast

IronWolf wrote: »

A good speech from a great orator. I don't usually agree with anything Galloway says but here I agree whole-heartedly.

In many ways I can see a reflection of Scotlands debate with the English debate over the EU, they want to be governed by themselves and not another country, which is how many of them feel. But what the SNP need to do is stop avoiding the tough and difficult position independence will put them in. They wont have the pound, and who will buy their debt? Investors are already calling up the Treasury and panicking in case their gilts end up owed by Scotland and not the UK.

And the strangest thing for me is that Scotland wants to join the EU and Euro! Are they crazy!? They just break free from one union in order to jump into another which is far worse!? Have they not see what the big EU countries do to the likes of Greece when they run into trouble? They say tough s**t, pay us what you owe and we dont care if you cripple your economy doing it. They are the equivalent of a loan shark breaking the legs of those that cant pay.

I don't think the EU is a good analogue. You have to go a long way back in history to the last time England had any real political affiliation to any part of Europe. Otherwise Britain has spent most of it's existence actively being separate from them with a different culture and language.

The EU is also totally undemocratic. The complete opposite of the UK, basically.

Nationalists claiming they want to leave the democratic UK to have no say in some inscrutable monolith like the EU is totally quixotic.

beecher2

Whatever - I gave my reasons but they can't possibly be real reasons, I must be secretly anti-English but won't admit it. Sad to see everything through a purely English prism, but I don't feel the need to justify my beliefs to anyone here.

Buzby

Ah yes - Galloway, like Stanley Baxter, cannot cut it in his own country and has to go elsewhere. As an orator, he's OK, but that's just his opinion. I've lived and worked here for longer than he has and I don't recognise his view.

Still, I don't believe has a vote anyway - so just more hot air from Georgie.

Lastly, I just live how the uninformed home in on the 'SNP' this and that as if it was UKIP. The Greens, many Labour and the odd Liberal are voting YES, so I'm happy with the company I'm in.

BillJones

beecher2 wrote: »

Where do you get the idea that 'an awful lot' of nationalists dislike the English?!

As I've said previously, being in Scotland while having a Geordie accent means that people have always been keen to let me know their view of the "other" English.

It's quite often been rather unpleasant.

BillJones

beecher2 wrote: »

I was asked my reasons, and I've given them.

Fees policy is based on residence, not race or nationality. Scottish students studying in England have to pay fees

Do you really believe that to be true?

You allow Spanish students to study for free, but not English ones. EU rules insist that if your own students get a free education, that so do other EU countries.

The scots decided to charge only the English, and then to complain that since it is not an "other" EU country (it's part of the same one when it suits them, you see), the rule did not apply to the English.

BillJones

beecher2 wrote: »

Do you seriously believe that the fees policy was established because we're all racists against the English?! Blame EU policy for EU students having access to free tuition.

Yes, absolutely. The English are the only nationality that you charge. It's absolutely clear where this policy comes from.

I'm staggered that you'd pretend otherwise.

You can't even claim it's reciprocal. You do not charge every country who charges your students over there, you only charge the English.

mystic_trev

beecher2 wrote: »

I don't really rate George Galloway's views - he was the worst MP I've ever had and never seemed to interested in anything other than his own ego.

It seems he meets all the criteria to join the SNP.

antrobus

BillJones wrote: »

Do you really believe that to be true?

You allow Spanish students to study for free, but not English ones. EU rules insist that if your own students get a free education, that so do other EU countries.

The scots decided to charge only the English, and then to complain that since it is not an "other" EU country (it's part of the same one when it suits them, you see), the rule did not apply to the English.

If the Scots could, they would charge Spanish students as well. They don't like the fact that the EU obliges them to to do, moan about it, and are constantly trying to find a loophole.

Of course, one of the consequences of Scottish independence (should it come to that) would be the Scots would be unable to continue charging English students. Or indeed Welsh or NI students for that matter. Although I understand that if you're NI, the thing to do is get yourself an Irish passport and address to qualify for you fee-free education.

DaveTheMus

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5hMFYvPGUjI

Jim Sillars and George Galloway debate.

Galloway didn't do much smashing here.....