Salmond and Sturgeon Want the English Fish for More Fat Subsidies

Generali

cepheus wrote: »

A deal between the SNP and Labour looks easier than ever to strike – here’s why

https://theconversation.com/a-deal-between-the-snp-and-labour-looks-easier-than-ever-to-strike-heres-why-40567

Congratulations for linking to an article with the single most innumerate sentence I hVe read so far in 2015:.

Both want to find the right form of words to claim that they are cutting the budget deficit without cutting important public services, while investing for the future and avoiding austerity.

I can think of little worse than having Nationalists attempting to call the shots in Government whether left or right wing. That they want to get rid of any sort of oversight or limit to their powers tells you all you need to know about the SNP.

skintmacflint

Shakethedisease wrote: »

Err, you've missed the point. It isn't me that's writing about it in newspapers frothing as you call it. It's in the main, English political commentators and Alex Massie ( staunch unionist ). Feel free to apply the 'melodramatic' label to them if you wish. But in this case your 'lol's' are misplaced towards me am afraid.

http://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2015/apr/22/anti-scotland-cameron-last-resort-snp


Lifelong Labour to Conservative ? That sounds a little far fetched. Especially in regards to Holyrood. Where the PR system means tactical voting is very confusing, and liable to backfire massively. But hey, if it makes you feel better.


I was certainly out enjoying the sunshine yesterday and today with my family, don't worry. I don't live in a cave.

You are welcome to your opinions as always.

Not sure why you mentioned tactical voting. That's not what I said. Not sure why you think professional Labour voters couldn't shift to voting Conservative in today's economical circumstances, and political climate. I'd expect SNP to also lose some of the Tory voters they gained in the late 80s and 90s, only time will tell on that one. Their decision has no real effect on my general well being tbh. Was simply stating a fact or 4 facts as it happens. But you believe what you want if it makes you feel better.

What is cheering me up immensely though, is contrary to one of your earlier stated opinions, SNP don't appear to have learned a thing from their failure in the referendum last year.

I don't expect it to have much impact on this GE, I'm thinking of the long game.

kabayiri

Shakethedisease wrote: »

...
I was certainly out enjoying the sunshine yesterday and today with my family, don't worry. I don't live in a cave.

No, but you do seem to believe that what's written in the papers represents normal life and political views down here.

I am not sure this is a good thing to say, but most people don't get their news from the printed media nowadays.

kabayiri

skintmacflint wrote: »

...
I don't expect it to have much impact on this GE, I'm thinking of the long game.

Exactly, long game. We need to focus on this, not some political shenanigans that might happen over the summer because of a possible non-majority scenario.

We may think we have already had austerity but we haven't. The current administration has borrowed £100bn more than planned. National debt has risen from £900m to £1,500bn.

I should think every region of the country understands the need to address this, and make their contribution. Scotland needs to find ways of closing the additional £7.6bn funding gap to provide the conditions for autonomy. That isn't going to happen by promising even more spending.

Generali

kabayiri wrote: »

I should think every region of the country understands the need to address this, and make their contribution. Scotland needs to find ways of closing the additional £7.6bn funding gap to provide the conditions for autonomy. That isn't going to happen by promising even more spending.

The problem is that by voting in the SNP the Scottish electorate is voting for a group that will want to make the UK as hard to govern as possible whilst extracting as much cash as they can for Scots.

AIUI, Ms Sturgeon's reason for wanting to vote on English matters is to force up spending in Scotland by forcing the English (Londoners) to spend more money they don't have.

kabayiri

Generali wrote: »

The problem is that by voting in the SNP the Scottish electorate is voting for a group that will want to make the UK as hard to govern as possible whilst extracting as much cash as they can for Scots.

AIUI, Ms Sturgeon's reason for wanting to vote on English matters is to force up spending in Scotland by forcing the English (Londoners) to spend more money they don't have.

Personally, I believe that when you get the right processes and systems in place, then you have by definition got the right measurement standards and control mechanisms in place. Our political system should not be different.

What you describe Gen is the modus operandi of a group within the UK parliament who have every intention in working against the collective interest. It feels like a broken system.

We should not be naive. Every extra £1bn concession given to a region like Scotland is £1bn not available to spend elsewhere, like supporting key research and industrial growth wherever in the country it is needed - not just which region happens to shout loudest.

Generali

kabayiri wrote: »

Personally, I believe that when you get the right processes and systems in place, then you have by definition got the right measurement standards and control mechanisms in place. Our political system should not be different.

What you describe Gen is the modus operandi of a group within the UK parliament who have every intention in working against the collective interest. It feels like a broken system.

We should not be naive. Every extra £1bn concession given to a region like Scotland is £1bn not available to spend elsewhere, like supporting key research and industrial growth wherever in the country it is needed - not just which region happens to shout loudest.

The problem as I see it is that the SNP are happy to vote through £10,000,000,000 of useless spending in England to gain £1,000,000,000 for Scotland. It is a big problem if you have a party in power that hate the majority of the electorate.

Froggitt

...........and only 2% of the electorate will have voted for the party in favour of this useless spending.

Generali

Froggitt wrote: »

...........and only 2% of the electorate will have voted for the party in favour of this useless spending.

Well indeed. I hate this division. I blame Labour for starting this ridiculous referendum and giving the SNP a platform.

IveSeenTheLight

Generali wrote: »

Well indeed. I hate this division. I blame Labour for starting this ridiculous referendum and giving the SNP a platform.

Like it or not, the SNP have the 3rd largest party membership, ahead of Lib Dems and UKIP

Even the Greens have a larger membership than UKIP and the Lib Dems.

In fact, the SNP party membership is twice that if the UKIP.
Not bad for a party which is not UK wide.

Therefore, the SNP and Greens should have a platform to articulate with the electorate.

Like it or not, other provincial parties such as Plaid Cymru membership is also increasing and they openly are aligning themselves and following Scotland's lead

Like it or not, if the SNP attains a significant MP base at Westminster that could impact the ability for a government to be formed, there will be discussions to be had

Like it or not, the political landscape is changing and the old two party race is likely to be long gong. Maybe proportional representation is a better option to represent the electorates wishes

One thing for sure that is refreshing as a result of the referendum, is that interest in politics is increasing and the electorate needs to be satisfied more as a result.