Salmond and Sturgeon Want the English Fish for More Fat Subsidies

Shakethedisease

wotsthat wrote: »

More powers and compensation for taking on those powers.

Sweet - no wonder Sturgeon's gone mum on independence.

Not so sure. Sturgeon's not having any of it.

Nicola Sturgeon ‏@NicolaSturgeon 2 hrs2 hours ago This '£4.5bn' is difference between UKG opening position of a £7bn CUT and current position of an almost £3bn CUT!!

The Herald has an exclusive story today that the Treasury will offer Scotland £4.5 billion “compensation” if we accept their preferred fiscal framework. This is a stunning admission that Scotland will lose out under the Scotland Bill. The SNP claim that the Treasury’s plan (without the “compensation”) could cost Scotland up to £7bn over 10 years....


...Scotland’s low population growth, fuelled by emigration to make a better life in London and abroad, was a founding issue of the Nationalist movement. If Scotland’s population had kept pace with independent Denmark and Norway’s during the 20th century, there would be around 10 million Scots, rather than 5 million. The Scotland bill gives us no powers to grow our population.
With the Treasury’s desperate offer today, there can be no doubt that Scotland stands to lose out from the Tories’ vision for devolution – and we may head into the Holyrood election campaign with the infamous Vow still undelivered.

http://bellacaledonia.org.uk/2016/02/11/the-treasury-just-admitted-that-the-scotland-bill-is-a-trap/

Rinoa

Shakethedisease wrote: »

Not so sure. Sturgeon's not having any of it.




http://bellacaledonia.org.uk/2016/02/11/the-treasury-just-admitted-that-the-scotland-bill-is-a-trap/

What am I missing here? Yesterday Nicola was complaining of a 3Bn cut over 10 years. You even made a big splash of it.

So Cameron says "OK, here's another £4.5Bn, that's 50% more than you say you could lose"

Nicola now says yesterdays £3Bn shortfall is now a £7.5Bn shortfall.

You just don't want those powers do you?

Generali

Shakethedisease wrote: »

You don't think any of the polling companies are updating their methodology after the GE ? Okaaaaaay....

I can't imagine why everyone is getting their knickers in a twist over Salmonds book. But it sold well in Scotland. Don't believe that if you like. *shrugs*.

Anthony Wells specifically stated that they hadn't.

*shrugs*

As for 'best seller', a book needs to sell in large numbers to be a best seller. Just because those in the SNP/indie bubble all bought a copy doesn't make it a best seller.

kabayiri

Scotland continues to get a good deal out of the rest of the Union, despite the protestations.

It won't change the prevailing mood I suspect. What has to be cut to find this additional £4.5bn?

Thrugelmir

kabayiri wrote: »

It won't change the prevailing mood I suspect. What has to be cut to find this additional £4.5bn?

Increase the duty on petrol and diesel at the pumps.

Shakethedisease

Rinoa wrote: »

What am I missing here? Yesterday Nicola was complaining of a 3Bn cut over 10 years. You even made a big splash of it.

So Cameron says "OK, here's another £4.5Bn, that's 50% more than you say you could lose"

Nicola now says yesterdays £3Bn shortfall is now a £7.5Bn shortfall.

You just don't want those powers do you?

I am sorry. But I'm not actually personally responsible for SNP policy nor what appears in the media regarding anything.

Depending on which mechanism out of the three currently put forward. The SNP, the Smith Commission committee and the Scottish Affairs committee favour one of them. ( per capita index deductions, we'll call it '1' ).

But there are two others which the Treasury are currently putting forward. One is estimated to cost Scotland 3.5bn (2) over the coming years. The other 7.5 billion.(3) I mentioned both earlier on on my posts here re the 7 billion. It seems that that Treasury is now advocating the 7.5 billion mechanism (3), but with a 4.5 billion 'compensation' package. Whereas before today according to reports, they were simply offering the 3.5 billion mechanism (2).

Hope that clears up things for you. It's not all black and white you know. And that's what you've missed. Two mechanisms from the Treasury, with each projected to cost. The larger of which would come with a 4.5 billion compensation package. Which would still cost 3.5 billion anyway.

Labour, Green and Lib Dem MSP's from the Smith Committee back Swinney up on (1 ). As do the Scottish Affairs Committee of MP's ( SNP, Conservative and Labour MP's ) today.

But in a report, the committee – which it was highlighted has four Nationalist, four Tory and three Labour members – came out in “unanimous” support of Mr Swinney’s preferred option

antrobus

Generali wrote: »

... As for 'best seller', a book needs to sell in large numbers to be a best seller. Just because those in the SNP/indie bubble all bought a copy doesn't make it a best seller.

Well The Herald did report that it was a "Sunday Times bestseller for two consecutive weeks", so I suppose the book qualifies. (We are talking about the Dream Shall Never Die, aren't we?)
http://www.heraldscotland.com/news/13588703.The_dream_shall_never_die__publishers_order_new_10_000_print_run_of_Salmond_s_indyref_diaries/?ref=mr&lp=8


Mind you, they also quote Ashdown's description of the book as the "longest exercise in literary masturbation since politics began", but more importantly....


TAX AVOIDANCE ALERT! TAX AVOIDANCE ALERT!


.... they note that all the royalties from the book go to Chronicles of Deer Ltd whose sole shareholder is one Alex Salmond.

wotsthat

Shakethedisease wrote: »

Not so sure. Sturgeon's not having any of it.

Where did she mention independence in that tweet?

She's just trying to give the money tree a firmer shake.

Shakethedisease

Generali wrote: »

Anthony Wells specifically stated that they hadn't.

*shrugs*

As for 'best seller', a book needs to sell in large numbers to be a best seller. Just because those in the SNP/indie bubble all bought a copy doesn't make it a best seller.

Ok a best seller in Scotland then. And there are more polling companies in the UK that just YouGov. Going by YouGov there would be a Brexit, as they have Leave 9% ahead. But up until that point support for independence would have stayed static at around 45%. And the Conservatives 'may' come a poor second in Scotland.

Brexit itself however would push independence support up by 5 or 6 percentage points. According to John Curtice ( am presuming you don't have any problems with his analysis ).

In my own opinion. YouGov are weighing Conservatives more heavily than before. As well as likelyhood to vote ( a key factor in their overestimations of Labour seats last May ). This imo is why YouGov have such a very large Brexit lead, support for independence static/falling and the Conservatives 'reviving' in Scotland. Despite such a poor showing by the Conservatives in reality in Scotland last May, as it was their worst vote share ever. Is all a bit strange.

But the other polling companies have problems too. Real life/telephone polls aren't always weighting by referendum vote in Scotland. Which may lead to them having too many Yes voters in their samples. Ipsos Mori also has very high 'certain to vote' numbers.

So who knows where they all are. Best to take all with a pinch of salt really. Especially when they diverge so much.

Shakethedisease

antrobus wrote: »

Well The Herald did report that it was a "Sunday Times bestseller for two consecutive weeks", so I suppose the book qualifies. (We are talking about the Dream Shall Never Die, aren't we?)
http://www.heraldscotland.com/news/13588703.The_dream_shall_never_die__publishers_order_new_10_000_print_run_of_Salmond_s_indyref_diaries/?ref=mr&lp=8


Mind you, they also quote Ashdown's description of the book as the "longest exercise in literary masturbation since politics began", but more importantly....


TAX AVOIDANCE ALERT! TAX AVOIDANCE ALERT!


.... they note that all the royalties from the book go to Chronicles of Deer Ltd whose sole shareholder is one Alex Salmond.

Yes his spokespeople replied to that one.

They continued: "The fact is, there were more people at Alex's book signing at Waterstones in Aberdeen's Union Street than at the entire Lib Dem conference."

The royalties went to charity mainly. As does his MSP salary, and a lot of his speaking fees. His affairs are set up to be a tax efficient in terms of giving to his various charities. One of which is in memory of his mother. Every so often this will come up, and as yet, no-one has ever been able to lay a glove on him as regards being straight down the line with the money HE earns. And it is Salmond himself who earns that money at the end of the day.

Which is a lot more than can be said for a lot of politicians these days. Don't you think ?