2007
2011
I’ve just learnt that the Scottish Nationalists have gained their 65th member of the Scottish Parliament. Whilst this is not a direct vote for independence, it is a vote for a Scottish referendum on independence and so it is possible that Scotland will be an independent country within 5 years.
Unfortunately, all the Scottish parties are numpties on Global Warming. However, as the only mention of global warming in this election I know about was the strong campaign against wind power in Shetland which nearly unseated the Liberal Democrat leader in Scotland (Liberal Democrats share power in the UK), it is highly unlikely the politicians got any kind of public support for their previous eco-zealot like stance pro-global warming.
One fly in the ointment is that the Greens are said to be heading toward another MSP. Fortunately, an outright majority by the SNP largely makes the Greens redundant in this parliament, and as before they will no doubt huff and puff but have no real effect.
Furthermore, the other traditionally highly pro-warmist party (the Liberal Democrats) have suffered a staggering defeat loosing almost all their MSPs.
Regardless of the result, I hope this is a warning to the established parties to take note. The Nationalists are a bunch of opportunist thugs. Let them fall on their swords. England will not tolerate subsidising these embittered small minded few for much longer. Gross insult of pathetic windfarms, imposition of pylons, lack of integrated transport, no freight on rail, desecration of wild land, relaxed planning, decimation of town centres, Tesco take over, care for the elderly at risk, geenfield prostituted, community benefit / subsidy fed masses ….. this is what they voted for.
Hazel, the SE of England has been sucking the whole of the UK dry for years and then has the gall to tell everyone else that we should be grateful for the morsels that fall of their table.
Scotland is only different because it is further than everyone else from the SE so has least benefit from the SE crumbs, it is full of valuable resources like oil that ought to have been pumped into the Scottish economy and not fed to rich bankers, and last of all: it is still a separate country which is quite within its right to leave the Union.
Of course the real solution is to stop the SE’s selfish hoarding of all the UK resources like tax, government spending, and to spread the economic benefit around equitably. Unfortunately, having moved here 14 years ago from the SE, I’ve given up any hope of ever convincing the SE of England to behave reasonably even to its English neighbours, let alone Scotland. So, whilst, it would be a pity for Scotland to leave the Union, I think it is pretty well inevitable that it will happen. And I can’t wait for the economic boost it will give me personally!
“Smaller” in and vis-a-vis 21st Century Europe is not better for anyone. Nice to see the “Ol’Free Blood Boil” but it is a might late. What’s to be sought and gained now? Equitiy! Indeed, a proportionate slice of the Ol’ Pie! But seperation, no! Too late! Like the poor, demented French Canadians in Quebec longing to be free of Canada, Scottland is now forever British (at least until the next Ice Age spoils everything for everyone and we all have to head South to a warmer clime and butt heads with the occupants already entrenched in the tropics). A Yank once said, “Speak softly and carry a big stick.” Scottland just needs to tame down the the screams and get a great big stick.
The simple fact is, like the rest of the world, Scot’s must get their spending under control, begin to produce a product and export it. Service industry is mobile and will filter away to places of lesser taxation and more friendly wages. Agriculture is inadequate to support the population and thus food is imported creating trade imballance. By refusing to exploit your natural resources, MOST importantly high quality coal, you limit your national income. By creating draconian business laws you further remove profit margins… ultimately the money is burned as operating expenses of permits, assessments, impacts and then again in repetition as more is wasted because no one believes the FIRST ones!
It’s well past the time of government providing all for the people. If the SNP is promising anything you would be well advised to find out where the funding is coming from before it is spent. Unfortunately it seems the people of the UK are happy with their governments lavishness, not realising it’s their and their childrens money they’re being bribed with.
All the best…. Jeff