The New Fat Scotland 'Thanks for all the Fish' Thread.

cogito

Wonderful quote from a member of the Growth Commission:

'It is a proper body of work that will inform thinking for the months and years ahead.

It acknowledges that Scotland!!!8217;s economy is not firing on all cylinders and maps out how we can address that once we have the full powers of an independent country.

Lessons have been learned from the 2014 White Paper on independence.'

It appears that bringing in lots of immigrants will do the trick. Even desperate people fleeing from war zones don't go to Scotland now. How do they think they will attract the best brains?
Most Scots I meet are eminently practical and perceptive. Why on earth do they put up with Sturgeon and co?

Shakethedisease

kabayiri wrote: »

Wasn't it your hope Shakey that an independent Scotland could negotiate a good separation deal?

Hasn't Brexit demonstrated that the split will be divisive and bitter, and the bigger party will try and coerce the smaller player to accept any deal?

Hmmm in 2014 certainly. These days I think a lot of us just want to get the hell out before Resse-Mogg or Johnson ends up as PM.

While Cameron would've 'negotiated'. Tories like May, Johnson, Mogg etc never will. Preferring instead to play to the gallery and 'slapping down' instead. Sturgeon will reissue her request to hold another referendum in the next few months and May will refuse. While there IS a hard core of about 30% who will agree with May ( and 99% of the Scottish media).. there's the best part of 60% + of Scots who rather like having some sort of say. Either through devolution as it stands or future independence as to which future paths Scotland chooses.

May is driving a coach and horses already through the devolution settlement in order to a enact Brexit Scots voters didn't vote for. To refuse an indy vote that Scots voters DID vote for on top of that is playing right into the indy campaign's hands.

baldelectrician

cogito wrote: »

Most Scots I meet are eminently practical and perceptive. Why on earth do they put up with Sturgeon and co?

Maybe for a few reasons that do not get published often

• Scottish Government stopped using normal PFI and actually started their own PFI company- this allows them to cap excess profits that would go to shareholders and divert them back to the Scottish Government - remember that there is no other option than PFI due to Westminster constraints https://www.scottishfuturestrust.org.uk/
• Started NHS Procurement Scotland - this allows NHS health boards to access group savings on things they may buy- such as power and telecoms. This is often talked about elsewhere in the UK but it is not done. http://www.nhsscotlandprocurement.scot.nhs.uk/news-and-performance/business-summary.aspx
• Recorded crime in Scotland has reached its lowest level in 42 years
• Road Equivalent Tariff rolled out to all ferry routes in the Clyde and Hebrides, cutting fares by around 40%
• All children in primaries 1 to 3 – around 135,000 pupils – benefiting from free school meals, saving families around £380 per child per year
• Expanded the Education Maintenance Allowance in Scotland – now scrapped south of the border – to support even more school pupils and college students from low income families
• Scotland is the top destination, outside of London, for foreign direct investment
• Public sector procurement has been simplified, with more small and medium-sized enterprises now competing for and winning public sector contracts

and on.....

Tromking

baldelectrician wrote: »

Maybe for a few reasons that do not get published often

• Scottish Government stopped using normal PFI and actually started their own PFI company- this allows them to cap excess profits that would go to shareholders and divert them back to the Scottish Government - remember that there is no other option than PFI due to Westminster constraints https://www.scottishfuturestrust.org.uk/
• Started NHS Procurement Scotland - this allows NHS health boards to access group savings on things they may buy- such as power and telecoms. This is often talked about elsewhere in the UK but it is not done. http://www.nhsscotlandprocurement.scot.nhs.uk/news-and-performance/business-summary.aspx
• Recorded crime in Scotland has reached its lowest level in 42 years
• Road Equivalent Tariff rolled out to all ferry routes in the Clyde and Hebrides, cutting fares by around 40%
• All children in primaries 1 to 3 – around 135,000 pupils – benefiting from free school meals, saving families around £380 per child per year
• Expanded the Education Maintenance Allowance in Scotland – now scrapped south of the border – to support even more school pupils and college students from low income families
• Scotland is the top destination, outside of London, for foreign direct investment
• Public sector procurement has been simplified, with more small and medium-sized enterprises now competing for and winning public sector contracts

and on.....

....and don’t forget the multi billion pound bung from the rUK the Scottish Government gets to spend also.

mollycat

cogito wrote: »

Most Scots I meet are eminently practical and perceptive. Why on earth do they put up with Sturgeon and co?

Because the people who either can't think through, (or don't care about) the economic argument and actively vote for the SNP number about 32%

The remaining 68% of the vote is split between the other 3 main parties and the substantail chunk of people who don't care to vote.

Hence the make up of the current scottish "government".

If the anti-independence movement could somehow unite itself the SNP and the whole debate would be done and dusted in the proverbial weekend.

Then we could get back to more important issues.

Thrugelmir

baldelectrician wrote: »

• Scottish Government stopped using normal PFI and actually started their own PFI company- this allows them to cap excess profits that would go to shareholders and divert them back to the Scottish Government

Public sector running an operation on a commercial basis. Little chance of that. While capitalism is imperfect. Much better than any other system that's been tried over the years.

PS profit doesn't equate to cash. A common misconception from those that have never run a company.

islandannie

Wow the seperatists are still screaming out their pernicious message.
The following quote should shake decent families to their core.


[FONT=&quot]Head gardener: [/FONT][FONT=&quot]To help pupils understand Named Persons, the Children Parliament encouraged them to imagine Scotland as a garden, with each child as a special plant growing within it. Kids were told that all the adults in their lives are ;Gardeners and the Named Person is the Head Gardener.[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]
[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]TERRIFYING.[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]
[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]I warn every supporter of this policy that you will be met by the full force of not only public opinion but also by the full force of law.
[/FONT]

Arklight

Shakethedisease wrote: »

It'll be news to the BPC and Panelbase that their polls aren't genuine...

No, I don't think it would be.

I'm not going to go into statistical confidence intervals with you because I suspect it would be a waste of time for both of us. But do try and bear this in mind.

Panelbase polled 1000 people online for the Rev as part of his nerve centre of Scottish independence from the mean streets of Bath.

There is a difference of about 4% in the reported difference between "English" people's preference for Scotland or NI over Gibraltar to remain in the UK.

That is all of about 50 people.

So because 50 people clicked Gibraltar in an online poll run by a company that pays people to complete online surveys, run by a Scottish man who intentionally lives as far away from Scotland as he can get while remaining in the UK himself, and probably supplements his jobseekers allowance by doing Panelbase polls. you conclude English people hate Scotland?

Shakethedisease

Arklight wrote: »

No, I don't think it would be.

I'm not going to go into statistical confidence intervals with you because I suspect it would be a waste of time for both of us. But do try and bear this in mind.

Panelbase polled 1000 people online for the Rev as part of his nerve centre of Scottish independence from the mean streets of Bath.

There is a difference of about 4% in the reported difference between "English" people's preference for Scotland or NI over Gibraltar to remain in the UK.

That is all of about 50 people.

So because 50 people clicked Gibraltar in an online poll run by a company that pays people to complete online surveys, run by a Scottish man who intentionally lives as far away from Scotland as he can get while remaining in the UK himself, and probably supplements his jobseekers allowance by doing Panelbase polls. you conclude English people hate Scotland?

I somehow doubt very much that Stuart Campbell is on job seekers.

The new crowdfunding platform we used this year is a curious and arcane beast, and as a result the honest truth is that we!!!8217;re still not quite 100% certain what the precise final total (including !!!8220;offsite!!!8221; donations and a few that squeezed in after the technical deadline) is. But as best as we can make out, including everything, it!!!8217;s this: £153,215

He raised that in a few days. But he knows he wouldn't be needed if the Scottish media start doing their jobs properly and with a bit more balance. Anyway, I've debated lots of polls here over the years. I know a bit about them, and know that even if the methodology differs between pollsters, that Survation and Panelbase are just as legit as each other as well as the polls they produce no matter who commissions them.

The SNP are definitely on the move, talk of indyref 2 everywhere. Seems they're also taking the Growth Commission report on tour round the country.

The report, entitled Scotland The New Case for Optimism: A Strategy for Inter-Generational Economic Renaissance, is split into three sections, looking at opportunities for economic growth, public finances, and the issue of what currency an independent Scotland could use The SNP will convene a series of National Assembly meetings over the summer to discuss its findings, ahead of the party!!!8217;s annual conference in October.

http://www.thenational.scot/news/16242956.Sturgeon_says_Growth_Report_is_a__breath_of_fresh_air__ahead_of_summer_of_independence_debate/


Salmond's interview last week looking back at it now was an excellent bellweather. He talked about how Sturgeon will deal with media bias and sure enough, the SNP have gone on the offensive this week.

THE BBC is failing to deliver on its Charter commitment to reflect, represent and serve Scotland, according to a SNP submission to the broadcasting regulator. Nicola Sturgeons party has given its views to Ofcom which is consulting on the licensing of a new BBC Scotland channel, due to launch next February. The SNP said the new channel must address these vital public purpose concerns.

http://www.thenational.scot/news/16240549.BBC_is_failing_in_its_duty_to_Scotland__SNP_tell_watchdog/

Salmond also mentioned he favours EFTA. I reckon that's the proposal the SNP are going to put in front of us within the Growth Commission rather than full EU status.

Shakethedisease

This is also an interesting read about the dilemma facing Theresa May re Holyrood's refusal to pass the Withdrawal Bill.

The UK-Scottish dispute may pave the way for a second independence referendum

The Prime Minister will meanwhile also hope that the Supreme Court strikes down Scotlands rival EU Continuity Bill, which UK ministers believe may fall outside of Scotlands devolved competence. The risk for the Prime Minister is that to legislate without consent would make the SNPs argument for it. Nicola Sturgeon yesterday asserted that if Westminster were to carry on regardless this would demonstrate that we were right not to take on trust that UK ministers would not misuse the powers in the Withdrawal Bill to rewrite the law in devolved areas.
That in turn will be used to bolster the case for a second independence referendum..


..The Prime Minister, therefore, faces a choice. Concede defeat on the Withdrawal Bill, at the expense of losing some control over post-Brexit regulatory arrangements. Or hold course on Brexit, and prepare for a bigger battle over the future of the British Union.

http://blogs.lse.ac.uk/brexit/2018/05/22/the-uk-scottish-dispute-may-pave-the-way-for-a-second-independence-referendum/


Full article at link. But the bolded sentence above pretty much sums up the problem Mrs May has.