A Damning report of Scotland's finances from The Government Expenditure and Revenue Scotland (GERS) finds Scotland's current deficit is a staggering 8.3% compared to the UK's at 2.4%. Sturgeon finally admitted massive spending cuts would be needed if independence occurred. The 2013 independence white paper forecast oil revenues in 2016 would be between £6.8bn and £7.9bn, it turned out to be a paltry £208m - the second lowest figure since the 1970's. Public borrowing per person for Scotland was more than three times higher, at £2,453, than the UK figure of £704 per head. There is no way the Scots will vote to give up the subsidies from Whitehall, they would be bankrupt in no time.
The former US ambassador has the eurocrats well and truly sussed. 'Brexit is a dagger pointed at heart of EU' Ex-US diplomat urges UK to split up Europe THE former US ambassador to the UN has urged Brexiteers to stay focused on "conquering" Europe during the exit negotiations.
In France there are also comics known as BD's. They are quite popular, but the people who look at them know that they are for light entertainment and not to be taken seriously. I would look at one of those in the same way as the Express if I wanted some thoughtful opinion.
You should spread your reading a bit and you would find out that most of the news outlets around the world are treating the current government with scorn, mirth, or downright disbelief. The latest being that the UK should have the Great Continuity Bill, so nothing is going to change. Of course when asked about details, there are none. The clock is still ticking, and is the government doing anything to deal with the customs problem? Seeing as they admit now that their proposals are unworkable, perhaps the tabloid you are so fond of has given details of plan B.
David Davis was in Washington DC talking about joining EFTA or EEA "Well, we honestly thought about it. The … … how will we avoid a cliff edge is the term of art … sudden change … So the first thing to say is that the nature of the implementation period or the transition period, we agree such a thing, is not as clear-cut as people say, or people think at the beginning. In terms of the idea of using Efta and EEA - again for those of you who are not familiar with it, the countries like Norway and Switzerland have different relationships through an EEA arrangement , erm, the … it has its own burdens. It has its own negotiating issue to get over, so it doesn't necessarily save us much time and the issue in this thing, as you can possibly imagine, this is probably the most complicated negotiation in history actually – er, and our enemy in a way is time. ...." Leaving aside the fact that Switzerland is not in the EEA, I am sure that the business men in Washington were impressed.
Ah, Peter Bone who admitted on Have I Got News For You that he paid a trainee 87p an hour, while paying his wife £45,000 a year as his parliamentary secretary. In 2014 he was under police investigation over a £100,000 fraud, that was dropped when the CPS said that there was insufficient evidence. The man who wants employers to be able to opt out of the minimum wage and to privatize the NHS. All in all a nice bloke.
It must really hurt the Mail to admit that the poll they commissioned has shown that Labour is now 5% ahead of the Tories. Double the number of Tories believe they will not win the next election if May is still leading the party as those who think she should stay. The Mail also has this as a headline. PM's desperate bid to keep £46billion EU divorce bill secret as she fears fury at Tory conference if she reveals what No 10 expects to pay. I suspect that her support is crumbling even from the loyal Mail.
This says it all. I don't suppose the former US ambassador isn't so much interested in the American conquering of a shattered European market as wishing the doughnuts well?
Maybe it is time a Tory with a less centrist attitude and a firm brexiteer took over, I give you Jacob Rees Mogg. David Davis was most impressive on Andrew Marr this morning, we are lucky to have such an experienced and accomplished negotiator for the UK.
