The Scottish Politics thread

[Churchlawtonblue]

Not sure what you’re on about. You told another poster that his wife didn’t have to pay for parking even though she thinks she does. I said it’s more likely she knows than you and you posted a five month article that you thought proved your point but you don’t know where she works so it proves nothing.

Well you are wrong pal. The Scottish government abolished all charges for carparking at hospitals aside from 3 that had contracts with private companies that needed to expire. Charges in those were also abolished due to covid. They may be reinstated in the short term until the expiry of the contracts. But the point I made was that carparking North of the border in hospitals is free. Overwhelmingly it is, only a fool like your good self would try to argue otherwise. I had you on ignore for a long time, I now know why, you just aren't worth debating with. Back to ignore.

 

[west didsblue]

Well you are wrong pal. The Scottish government abolished all charges for carparking at hospitals aside from 3 that had contracts with private companies that needed to expire. Charges in those were also abolished due to covid. They may be reinstated in the short term until the expiry of the contracts. But the point I made was that carparking North of the border in hospitals is free. Overwhelmingly it is, only a fool like your good self would try to argue otherwise. I had you on ignore for a long time, I now know why, you just aren't worth debating with. Back to ignore.

You don’t even know if she works in a hospital. She could be a community nurse based in an office. But you know better. Probably for the best that you ignore my posts. You always end up looking foolish by trying to make out I’ve argued for something that I haven’t. You need to brush up on your comprehension skills or stop making up things.

 

[Vicious111]

Not sure what you’re on about. You told another poster that his wife didn’t have to pay for parking even though she thinks she does. I said it’s more likely she knows than you and you posted a five month article that you thought proved your point but you don’t know where she works so it proves nothing.

Well, as it happens she does work in the Royal Infirmary Emergency Unit and hasn't told me that her £125 per month parking cost has suddenly disappeared. What makes it worse is that the fucking thing is always empty.

Some of the nurses used to park across the M8 and walk 10/15 minutes to the hospital until a band of wee arseholes started tanning the cars. Not exactly happy with her walking over a dark motorway bridge into Roystonhill. So we decided to just bite the bullet and pay it each month.

So I would not take much heed of that article mate. This was the same newspaper that criticised my Mrs and her unit when a guy who ripped a fire extinguisher full of Carbon Dioxide off the wall and attack the nurses and other patients on a rampage. After sedating the crazy bastard and iscolating him he was apparently 'neglected by being secluded'. According to his family. Who were most apologetic at the time it all kicked off, saying how it was unlike him and they were embarrassed. No doubt changed their opinion when a wee bit of cash was flashed their way. Not much better than the Rag that paper.

 

[bluethrunthru]

looks like the Tory pile on Blackford was wide of the mark

 

[Fame Monster]

Scotland have just announced a huge deficit again. Coronavirus is partly to blame although only up to April but key sentence from the report:

'The statistics also estimated that Scotland raised £308 less per person than the UK average in taxation, while public spending was £1,663 per person higher in Scotland'

Gers figures: Scotland's public spending deficit rises to £15.1bn

The Scottish government figures do not reflect the full economic impact of the coronavirus pandemic.

www.bbc.co.uk

 

[Ban-jani]

Scotland have just announced a huge deficit again. Coronavirus is partly to blame although only up to April but key sentence from the report:

'The statistics also estimated that Scotland raised £308 less per person than the UK average in taxation, while public spending was £1,663 per person higher in Scotland'

Gers figures: Scotland's public spending deficit rises to £15.1bn

The Scottish government figures do not reflect the full economic impact of the coronavirus pandemic.

www.bbc.co.uk

But but the EU are desperate for them

 

[Cassandra]

Scotland have just announced a huge deficit again. Coronavirus is partly to blame although only up to April but key sentence from the report:

'The statistics also estimated that Scotland raised £308 less per person than the UK average in taxation, while public spending was £1,663 per person higher in Scotland'

Gers figures: Scotland's public spending deficit rises to £15.1bn

The Scottish government figures do not reflect the full economic impact of the coronavirus pandemic.

www.bbc.co.uk

https://www.scotfact.com/towards-an-english-gers

There may be later data than this, comparing other regions of the UK with N Ireland, Wales and Scotland, but I suspect the relationships will be similar:-

Regional Revenue and Expenditure 2017-2018 Per Head (£)​

Region	Revenue per Head​	Expenditure per Head​
United Kingdom​	11,454.0​	12,090.1​
North East​	8,937.6​	12,604.3​
North West​	9,451.8​	12,335.9​
Yorkshire and the Humber​	9,415.9​	11,579.5​
East Midlands​	9,882.7​	11,145.8​
West Midlands​	9,308.0​	11,582.2​
East of England​	11,935.9​	10,969.9​
London​	17,090.0​	13,184.7​
South East​	13,426.8​	11,168.6​
South West​	10,685.0​	11,552.7​
England​	11,705.5​	11,807.6​
Wales​	8,690.5​	13,085.4​
Scotland​	11,229.8​	13,681.8​
Northern Ireland​	9,255.4​	14,194.5​

REGIONAL REVENUE & EXPENDITURE
COMPARISON 2017-18​

 

[Ancient Citizen]

But but the EU are desperate for them

Aye, another one on the teat will be the perfect tonic for them.

 

[Vicious111]

Scotland have just announced a huge deficit again.

Yes. According to GERS, if you believe what it claims. It has been proven (quite considerably) time and again to be misleading at best, and completely fictional at worst, a mechanic manufactured to make Scotland's economy look weaker than it is.

 

[Bovril]

Please give the Scots the referendum they want, if they want out of the Union then so be it, will be a shame but at least Nichola will get her wish to take the Scottish people to oblivion.

 

[west didsblue]

Please give the Scots the referendum they want, if they want out of the Union then so be it, will be a shame but at least Nichola will get her wish to take the Scottish people to oblivion.

While Boris takes the rest of us.

 

[Mazzarelli's Swiss Cheese]

https://www.scotfact.com/towards-an-english-gers

There may be later data than this, comparing other regions of the UK with N Ireland, Wales and Scotland, but I suspect the relationships will be similar:-

Regional Revenue and Expenditure 2017-2018 Per Head (£)​

Region	Revenue per Head​	Expenditure per Head​
United Kingdom​	11,454.0​	12,090.1​
North East​	8,937.6​	12,604.3​
North West​	9,451.8​	12,335.9​
Yorkshire and the Humber​	9,415.9​	11,579.5​
East Midlands​	9,882.7​	11,145.8​
West Midlands​	9,308.0​	11,582.2​
East of England​	11,935.9​	10,969.9​
London​	17,090.0​	13,184.7​
South East​	13,426.8​	11,168.6​
South West​	10,685.0​	11,552.7​
England​	11,705.5​	11,807.6​
Wales​	8,690.5​	13,085.4​
Scotland​	11,229.8​	13,681.8​
Northern Ireland​	9,255.4​	14,194.5​

REGIONAL REVENUE & EXPENDITURE
COMPARISON 2017-18​

Those figures are something Sturgeon needs to explain away. At present her good governance appears to be based upon spending like a drunken sailor which is sustained by Westminster. I'm pretty sure that if we scratch much below the surface of SNP economic policy, the almost 2k per head increase in revenue they need to achieve will be based upon the miraculous recovery of oil prices beyond even historic highs. Easy to offer No tuition fees, no prescription charges, no dentistry charges, free care for the elderly, free hospital parking, frozen council tax if someone else is paying for it.

 

[Saddleworth2]

Those figures are something Sturgeon needs to explain away. At present her good governance appears to be based upon spending like a drunken sailor which is sustained by Westminster. I'm pretty sure that if we scratch much below the surface of SNP economic policy, the almost 2k per head increase in revenue they need to achieve will be based upon the miraculous recovery of oil prices beyond even historic highs. Easy to offer No tuition fees, no prescription charges, no dentistry charges, free care for the elderly, free hospital parking, frozen council tax if someone else is paying for it.

read the SGC report if you truly want to know the current view rather than play Scottish Economy bingo. you will see that Oil or oil prices are not used as a way to fill deficits.

 

[blueinsa]

read the SGC report if you truly want to know the current view rather than play Scottish Economy bingo. you will see that Oil or oil prices are not used as a way to fill deficits.

Regardless, Independence if/when it comes and im now of the opinion it is coming will be a financial shock and the perks up here, free prescriptions, free university etc will be some of the first things to go.

The Scottish public just needs to be aware that independance will have to be paid for and the bill wont be being shared around the rest of the UK.

 

[Saddleworth2]

Regardless, Independence if/when it comes and im now of the opinion it is coming will be a financial shock and the perks up here, free prescriptions, free university etc will be some of the first things to go.

The Scottish public just needs to be aware that independance will have to be paid for and the bill wont be being shared around the rest of the UK.

I agree. The SGC report recognises that these tough choices will need to be made. That’s why I wish those That seek to comment on the post independence Scottish economy would at least do a little research.

 

[Ancient Citizen]

Has Sturgeon just introduced a referendum bill?
If so, and it gets accepted up there, then give them the referendum they appear to want in ever increasing numbers. Then, all the Scottish deficit problems, their attempt to join the EU, their share of debt, the ending of Barnett, will all be on her shoulders. The Scots will no longer need to carp about England, and best of all, we won't be seeing the Tartan tied Slimming World avoider and his unlovely ranting crew giving us Mel Gibson speeches in the Commons ad nauseum.

 

[blueinsa]

I agree. The SGC report recognises that these tough choices will need to be made. That’s why I wish those That seek to comment on the post independence Scottish economy would at least do a little research.

The issue the SNP will have is a society with very clear left wing policy in place, free prescriptions, free uni etc will suddenly veer to the right as we are told we now have to pay. Now is the time for complete honesty from Nicola. Scots are not stupid, they know full well changes financially will be big but the SNP have to be open and honest about it from the start.

 

[Mazzarelli's Swiss Cheese]

The issue the SNP will have is a society with very clear left wing policy in place, free prescriptions, free uni etc will suddenly veer to the right as we are told we now have to pay. Now is the time for complete honesty from Nicola. Scots are not stupid, they know full well changes financially will be big but the SNP have to be open and honest about it from the start.

Possibly a case for trimming the perks now as it appears the rest of the UK is paying for them. I suppose through it is far from the only subsidised region and we are all free to live there if we wish.

 

[blueinsa]

Possibly a case for trimming the perks now as it appears the rest of the UK is paying for them. I suppose through it is far from the only subsidised region and we are all free to live there if we wish.

An Independent Scotland needs tax payers, lots of them and more than what they currently have, hence their very pro and welcoming immigration stance and no doubt future policy. At current levels of population i don't see them being able to afford the current policies of free prescriptions, parking, university so a dialogue has to be opened pre any ref as to what the actual costs will be and people can then make a choice.

Nicola seems to be open and honest on most things as far as i can see but this cornerstone policy, independance still sees as far as i am concerned a lot of bluster and not many facts being laid out.

 

[Mazzarelli's Swiss Cheese]

An Independent Scotland needs tax payers, lots of them and more than what they currently have, hence their very pro and welcoming immigration stance and no doubt future policy. At current levels of population i don't see them being able to afford the current policies of free prescriptions, parking, university so a dialogue has to be opened pre any ref as to what the actual costs will be and people can then make a choice.

Nicola seems to be open and honest on most things as far as i can see but this cornerstone policy, independance still sees as far as i am concerned a lot of bluster and not many facts being laid out.

I've not seen the sgc report Saddleworth referenced which apparently deals with this? It does seem that the general SNP rhetoric is a little light on these facts, particularly as they are so willing to espouse similar issues arising from leaving the EU.