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

.string.

Shakethedisease wrote: »

I wasn't deflecting, I was just getting weary of the same 'Scottish govt has run up a deficit' nonsense. They can't, and never have been able to do so. End of story.

Chuckle --- I was agreeing with your point about your deficit as you use it, the deflection was about avoiding the deficit that others are addressing.

What's this ? A deflection about a deflection? We're approaching the apex of deflectioneering.

A_Medium_Size_Jock

Shakethedisease wrote: »

They do underspend. It's gets rolled over into the next years allocation. But by law they have to either balance the books exactly or roll anything left over into next years budget. No deficit.

The other political parties kick up a right fuss when there is an underspend mind you. I thought you lived in Scotland ? You should know this ?

Ha ha ha ha!
£155 million is NOT going to balance the books, is it?
0.5%.
Right.

Shakethedisease

.string. wrote: »

Chuckle --- I was agreeing with your point about your deficit as you use it, the deflection was about avoiding the deficit that others are addressing.

What's this ? A deflection about a deflection? We're approaching the apex of deflectioneering.

I know what you meant. But again this was about Scotland currently and within the UK. It gets a little wearing seeing people typing blithely and usually misinformed nonsense about how crap the Scottish govt is at running Scotland because they have merrily run up a 15bn pound deficit.

Addressing the books of a hypothetical independent Scotland is a different thing altogether than what I've posted above. I was talking about blame frequently being apportioned when it isn't warranted. Scotland might have a current deficit, but it certainly wasn't Holyrood that ran it up. So am glad we've cleared that up.

A_Medium_Size_Jock

BTW the underspend was £350 million the year before.
Which - according to Shakey's interpretation - means almost £200 million more was spent than budgeted for in 2014/5.
Correct?

Shakethedisease

A_Medium_Size_Jock wrote: »

Ha ha ha ha!
£155 million is NOT going to balance the books, is it?
0.5%.
Right.

I have absolutely no idea what you are talking about. Please clarify better thanks.

A_Medium_Size_Jock

Shakethedisease wrote: »

I have absolutely no idea what you are talking about. Please clarify better thanks.

£155 million was the underspend in 2015/6
Even with this 0.5% of budget underspend, can you explain how the Scottish Government would budget for an indy Scotland since this is what the SNP want?
Because £155 million underspent together with whatever income is planned could nowhere near equal the level of spending Scotland currently receives.

Shakethedisease

A_Medium_Size_Jock wrote: »

£155 million was the underspend in 2015/6
Even with this 0.5% of budget underspend, can you explain how the Scottish Government would budget for an indy Scotland since this is what the SNP want?
Because £155 million underspent together with whatever income is planned could nowhere near equal the level of spending Scotland currently receives.

Well, how much of a deficit do you personally deem acceptable for any independent country with full tax, tax varying powers and borrowing capabilities these days ? This is a genuine question, I'd be interested in your thoughts.

The_Last_Username

Shakethedisease wrote: »

Well, how much of a deficit do you personally deem acceptable for any independent country with full tax, tax varying powers and borrowing capabilities these days ? This is a genuine question, I'd be interested in your thoughts.

And I am interested in your thoughts on how a Scottish budget would play out.
I asked before Jock, too. (No offence intended, Jock.)

how would a Scottish Government fund a budget?
Because defecit or not there would have to be some serious and expensive changes.

.string.

Shakethedisease wrote: »

I know what you meant. But again this was about Scotland currently and within the UK. It gets a little wearing seeing people typing blithely and usually misinformed nonsense about how crap the Scottish govt is at running Scotland because they have merrily run up a 15bn pound deficit.

Addressing the books of a hypothetical independent Scotland is a different thing altogether than what I've posted above. I was talking about blame frequently being apportioned when it isn't warranted. Scotland might have a current deficit, but it certainly wasn't Holyrood that ran it up. So am glad we've cleared that up.

The point about the 15 billion pounds, or thereabouts, is that an independent Scotland would be hit by that as a very real National deficit on Day 1, not having the UK to balance that particular shortfall for you. Of course it can be done by cutting spending and raising taxes but it would be a toughy: a long drawn-out toughy.

However in the UK no-one is hitting on Scotland to make good that 15 billion. Seems a pretty cushy deal to me. However if Scotland were to join the EU that 15 billion would provoke austerity demands from Herr Paymaster General ... Bang goes control of fiscal levers, bang goes the funding on some pet projects and bang goes the convenient excuse of blaming Westminster for everything. I guess the EU would have to take up that role.

antrobus

Shakethedisease wrote: »

Well, how much of a deficit do you personally deem acceptable for any independent country with full tax, tax varying powers and borrowing capabilities these days ? This is a genuine question, I'd be interested in your thoughts.

Doesn't matter.

It's what the markets "deem acceptable" that matters. Ya know the one you approach to exercise your "borrowing capabilities".

Clue: 9.5% of GDP is too much.:)