The figures that show this deficit don't include any of those revenues as they are not currently designated as Scottish. Any figures that show an estimate of these revenues included - even from the No campaign - show a surplus. The argument from the No campaign is much the same as your own, that this surplus will not last. However, in the short term the rest of the UK would be the ones facing the funding gap as they would lose more tax coming in than they would save going out. Scotland has paid in a surplus since the mid 70s. The big question is whether they have left it too late to take advantage of the remaining oil revenue. Personally I think this is irrelevant. It should come down to whether Scotland can get a system of government that better suits its culture and values better in Edinburgh or London.
My knowledge spreads no further than the fact that the ships sail on the water and the boats sail under it!
No, just like it will not include the revenue from taxes generated in other parts of the UK, because it is an additional payment from a (currently) unified UK budget. The £1300 per head is in addition to the amount the average UK citizen receives and it is to pay for public services, schools, NHS etc in Scotland.
Then you also know that moving all the nukes isn't any easy task.. Hoy them on a lorry then put them in a warehouse guarded by securicor. Scotland holds all the cards on this one for now...
As I have said all along. I read some brain donor stating yesterday that England should just sail the Subs down to Barrow. Talk about naivety.
You did, and like i questioned, what about the bombs... Think some folks watch movies, and think of nukes in a suitcase..ala, james bond.
Dev, you probably know more about this than the rest of us, what are your thoughts on independence? Honest question as the subject really interests me and I am not sure my knowledge is what it should be.
I come from a background that should have seen me firmly in the No camp, I'm Ex Forces and some of my views could be regarded as slightly right of centre, but over the last six months or so I have become completely disillusioned with the Better together crew. They are acting like a spurned wife in a divorce, making all sorts of threats and painting as bleak a scenario as possible to keep Scotland in the Union. I can't help but ask why - if we are such a drain on financial resources - do the leaders of the 3 main parties want to keep us in the Union. Surely if England, Wales and NI will be better off financially then the obvious decision would be to cast us adrift? If people really believe Cameron, Clegg and Milliband have only the best of interests of Scotland at heart they should vote No. I for one am not buying it, London is a financial and talent whirpool which sucks in all the major investments being made in the UK and I personally don't see why my Taxes should be put towards HS2 which is of absolutely no benefit to anyone apart from London and the other cities who will gain from it. I don't hate the English, far from it, I being from Glasgow feel I have far more in common with Scousers, Geordies, Mancs and even Cockneys than I do with some bloke on Orkney, but I think the time is right for a divorce, and I personally would prefer it to be done on friendly terms rather than acrimonious ones where everyone is playing the blame game. Portugal and Spain get on well, there's no reason Scotland and rUK cannot continue to operate on much the same basis as we have done for over 300 years.
The questions you ask about why the mainstream parties are desperate to maintain the union have also bothered me, I read that Scotland pays more tax per capita than the rest of the UK, it could be that's the reason, I also read that most of the rhetoric coming from Westminster, about the EU, border control and keeping the pound is rubbish and just sabre rattling. My theory is that it will be extremely expensive, post separation, for the establishment to redraft a constitution and policies appropriate to a smaller UK, the income from the UK as it stands now is a bigger pot and therefore the budget can be much more flexible, and lastly if the yes vote prevails, the boundary commission will redraw the political map to maintain democracy, but none of the three main parties will know yet if their position will be strengthened or weakened by the new boundaries.
Another reason why I want out, we don't have a constitution. I see a vast movement trying to get Scotland to stay by offering extra powers but no extra money, in fact post Indy, and a No vote, Scotland will feel the backlash as money is taken away to be spent by London on less affluent areas of the UK. Apparently Scotland gets too much money, so if this is us getting to much God only knows what it'll be like if we get too little.
Dev, I read that if Scotland vote Yes, the average life expectancy of the rest of the UK will increase by four months per person.....what the hell are you lot up to up there man ?
Well apparently more people in Scotland are living in Poverty than have done for 30 years. If you have to eat on a budget you eat cheap ****e, experts say that's the reason, that and very low levels of disposable income.
