Salmond and Sturgeon Want the English Fish for More Fat Subsidies

CLAPTON

scottish debates aren't widely reported down south


what are SNP policies for Westminster?
obviously independence but what else?
-increased borrowing to reduce austerity
-reform of Barnett formula to make a fair system for all the people of the UK?

Generali

CLAPTON wrote: »

-reform of Barnett formula to make a fair system for all the people of the UK?

AIUI the main economic policy for the UK is to shift Government spending in such a way so as to ensure that the maximum amount of money goes to Scotland via the Barnett formula.

I can't imagine that any coalition with the SNP would last very long if ever discussion of Government spending involves huge amounts of pork.

purch

CLAPTON wrote: »

scottish debates aren't widely reported down south

Neither are English ones :eek:

CLAPTON

Generali wrote: »

AIUI the main economic policy for the UK is to shift Government spending in such a way so as to ensure that the maximum amount of money goes to Scotland via the Barnett formula.

I can't imagine that any coalition with the SNP would last very long if ever discussion of Government spending involves huge amounts of pork.

surely the SNP are fair minded socialists who would want a system that, while fair to all, also subsidised the poor rather a rich geographical area?

Shakethedisease

Generali wrote: »

AIUI the main economic policy for the UK is to shift Government spending in such a way so as to ensure that the maximum amount of money goes to Scotland via the Barnett formula.

I can't imagine that any coalition with the SNP would last very long if ever discussion of Government spending involves huge amounts of pork.

There will be no formal coalition from the SNP. They have too much to lose than end up like Lib Dems in 5 years time. They're far too smart for that. So you can start completely discounting that in any speculations. If it's to be Labour in any hung parliament.. they'll have to run as a minority govt, and gain support on an issue by issue basis. Likewise the Tories. It's that or another general election, which the Tories and Lib Dems have made very difficult to call with the 5 year fixed parliament law.

Or even a grand Labour/Conservative coalition ?

So no need to worry yourself about SNP MP's floating about in Govt provided limo's, spending all the money north of the border just yet. It's all down to arithmetic as we've discussed before. If England wants Tories or Labour as a majority party. Then they're just going to have to vote for them decisively.

ruggedtoast

What happened to that Scottish Independence newspaper that was meant to challenge the MSM and was sold out everywhere? Probably the circulation for that is a more valid indication of a continuing desire for independence than votes for SNP hand outs.

Tromking

Shakethedisease wrote: »

There will be no formal coalition from the SNP. They have too much to lose than end up like Lib Dems in 5 years time. They're far too smart for that.

You've got it bad. I hope the inevitable collapse of the SNP's socialist utopia up there won't be too disappointing for you.
A Tory/Ukip coalition adopting the latter's policy on the Barnett formula would be very popular down here.

Voltaire7

Tromking wrote: »

You've got it bad. I hope the inevitable collapse of the SNP's socialist utopia up there won't be too disappointing for you.
A Tory/Ukip coalition adopting the latter's policy on the Barnett formula would be very popular down here.

It's quite sad that a Tory / UKIP coalition is what you're betting the future of your country on.

You probably dismissed the Greens based on the headlines this week, but still view UKIP as a credible party. Bit mad, aren't we?

Voltaire7

ruggedtoast wrote: »

What happened to that Scottish Independence newspaper that was meant to challenge the MSM and was sold out everywhere? Probably the circulation for that is a more valid indication of a continuing desire for independence than votes for SNP hand outs.

You mean the newspaper that sells a similar amount of copies as The Times, The Mirror, i, and almost twice as much as The Guardian?

It appears to be doing just fine.

Shakethedisease

Voltaire7 wrote: »

You mean the newspaper that sells a similar amount of copies as The Times, The Mirror, i, and almost twice as much as The Guardian?

It appears to be doing just fine.

Website finally went live today also. And I see the Sunday Herald has increased it's circulation by 35% too. There's a pattern there, the Daily Record would be wise to start noting.

Douglas Fraser @BBCDouglasF
ABC newspaper sales for most Scots titles last year: @newsundayherald was only paid-for title on the rise: +35%. Pro-indy stance?