To let Trident remain for more than a very short interim period would be the quickest way for Mr Salmond's administration to be elected out of power after a Yes vote - the Labour party in the Scottish Parliament being out for vengeance (so to speak) and having by then been cut off from its Unionist burden and able to say what they really think for once (and have often said, ere the referendum) about Trident, plus the LDs, plus the Greens, plus the three independents, plus no doubt some rebel SNP members ... one wonders how the Tories would vote ...
Trident is as big a negotiating variable as the currency. The hardware as well as being strategically critical has a rather large cost value. To move it means finding an alternate location, securing the political battle to adopt it, building the infrastructure and then commissioning - won't happen before independence in 2916 and feels to me more like Obama's "close Guantanamo" pledge which we are still waiting for.
So the boats are staying there for a while yet, which makes the likelihood of a later deal as a tradable for something else increase vs the 1st view of it now. Politically all things are possible (cf Clegg campaigning on tuition fees at the same time as having already secretly agreed to bin the policy at the first opportunity)
Carnyx is right though that it would be the quickest way for a post Yes SNP party to pee all over its credibility in Scotland. Something will be negotiated but it won't be some airy fairy open-ended agreement; Trident gone after 5 years, 10 years at absolute max.
TUD probably be similar length of that currency union that Carlotta insists is ruled out.
SNP would need to get very big give in order to sell them staying into the bargain.
How about EU or NATO membership?
The base will go - and the UK government recognises this when it promptly shot down the bonkers MOD idea about a "Sovereign Base" like the ones on Cyprus. But the scale of potential damage a currency union would do to relations is one of the reasons it's been ruled out. Time for Plan B.
ENGLAND, San Marino, Lithuania, Estonia, Slovenia, Switzerland
Pride comes before a fall.
A typically English error?
You're unstoppable aren't you? You just can't help yourself from having a dig at England and the English at every possible opportunity. Did I say England were great? Did I even say they were going to win the group? No, not at all. I just said it was an amazing draw for England, which it very clearly was, relative to the teams that could have been drawn.The anti-English chippiness is the most repugnant aspect of Scottish nationalism. No wonder you see disagreement about future economic policy as "bullying".
the effect will be far far greater at GE2020 when Labour WILL lose all their Scottish seats due to the annexing of Scotland.
Now, that is a Freudian slip!
Charles, he just realises the game is up and that YES will win, realistic view given what we actually see on the ground up here. Appart from BBC and tame papers there is not a NO campaign to be seen. Everything seems to be BBC and London newspapers and politicians , it is a car crash. Labour are invisible which is incredible.
I know I have argued that Trident will stay for a whole after independence because it feels like reality stopping Salmods political rhetoric. Or perhaps he is going to use this as a totemic issue, blockade Coulport with Scotland's soldier and dare rUK to defy him (which we will for the reasons I outlined) for political point scoring.
So, if we did need to pull our bombers out of Scotland quickly where could be berth them realistically? Kings Bay Georgia? Personally I'd have scrapped Trident and kept the Harriers and Nimrods but here we are.
I know I have argued that Trident will stay for a whole after independence because it feels like reality stopping Salmods political rhetoric. Or perhaps he is going to use this as a totemic issue, blockade Coulport with Scotland's soldier and dare rUK to defy him (which we will for the reasons I outlined) for political point scoring.
So, if we did need to pull our bombers out of Scotland quickly where could be berth them realistically? Kings Bay Georgia? Personally I'd have scrapped Trident and kept the Harriers and Nimrods but here we are.
For those not familiar with Jackspeak - bombers = boomers = SSBN ballistic missile submarines (as opposed to ordinary fleet 'boats'. Not the things with wings (of which there are precious few left in Scotland even if the Typhoons used there have a ground attack capability installed, wich I can't recall offhand).
The issue is apparently really the missile and warhead storage/maintenance facility at Coulport. But I find it incredible that the nation which built the Great Western Railway by hand would faff around for years with its thumb up its collective backside. For one thing, I don't recall them asking for planning permission from the locals last time, though stand to be corrected on that.
As I am probably the only PBer who has actually done a tour of duty on a RN Nuclear Submarine I can assure PB that not all of those Russian and Eastern bloc fishing fleets actually catch any fish .. nor do they want to.. we need the Trident system
the effect will be far far greater at GE2020 when Labour WILL lose all their Scottish seats due to the annexing of Scotland.
Now, that is a Freudian slip!
Charles, he just realises the game is up and that YES will win, realistic view given what we actually see on the ground up here. Appart from BBC and tame papers there is not a NO campaign to be seen. Everything seems to be BBC and London newspapers and politicians , it is a car crash. Labour are invisible which is incredible.
I just read the Sun on Sunday in the café ( I don't buy it!) and they had a page of Alistair Darling praising David Bowie & talking about how the Better Together campaign was going gradually introduce more celebs and less politicians, as the public would be bored by a debate involving just Alex Salmond and himself.
Cant remember all of those he mentioned, but Alex Ferguson & Graeme Souness were two
The Sun seem very anti SNP, they also ran a story saying that there would be a minimum of 5% rises on most items if Scotland said YES, as they would lose EU tax breaks for 5 years
As I am probably the only PBer who has actually done a tour of duty on a RN Nuclear Submarine I can assure PB that not all of those Russian and Eastern bloc fishing fleets actually catch any fish .. nor do they want to.. we need the Trident system
A 'Japanese soldier emerges from the jungle 40 years later' moment!
Mr. City, I was unaware it was founded by the Romans. I thought it had just been renamed by them (as you'll know, it later became Eoferwic and then Jorvik prior to its present name). I wonder what they'll do to celebrate the 2,000 year anniversary.
Morris , yes dont`t think I will be there to celebrate.
Would be ironic regarding a parliament,as one of Yorks most infamous sons ,Guy Fawkes was born in Stonegate a street near the Minster.
YO1 7HU
might be the best named site for a legislative body in York...
the effect will be far far greater at GE2020 when Labour WILL lose all their Scottish seats due to the annexing of Scotland.
Now, that is a Freudian slip!
Charles, he just realises the game is up and that YES will win, realistic view given what we actually see on the ground up here. Appart from BBC and tame papers there is not a NO campaign to be seen. Everything seems to be BBC and London newspapers and politicians , it is a car crash. Labour are invisible which is incredible.
I just read the Sun on Sunday in the café ( I don't buy it!) and they had a page of Alistair Darling praising David Bowie & talking about how the Better Together campaign was going gradually introduce more celebs and less politicians, as the public would be bored by a debate involving just Alex Salmond and himself.
Cant remember all of those he mentioned, but Alex Ferguson & Graeme Souness were two
The Sun seem very anti SNP, they also ran a story saying that there would be a minimum of 5% rises on most items if Scotland said YES, as they would lose EU tax breaks for 5 years
Don't shoot the messenger!!
The Sun (and Daily Mail, Express) run quite distinct English & Scottish editions, to the point they can cover a subject from entirely different pov, or drop English pieces from Scottish ones. I think the DM is the worst for it.
TUD .. That's what you think.. they are still out there and they probably operate under a different name but their sole purpose is to track and identify our submarine fleet .. but then we all know that there is absolutely no threat to the UK...we are told constantly...by hopeful fools..
TUD .. That's what you think.. they are still out there and they probably operate under a different name but their sole purpose is to track and identify our submarine fleet .. but then we all know that there is absolutely no threat to the UK...we are told constantly...by hopeful fools..
Lol, on whose behalf you think those Polish, Bulgarian, Romanian and Estonian trawlers are tracking UK subs? The dreaded EUSSR?
the effect will be far far greater at GE2020 when Labour WILL lose all their Scottish seats due to the annexing of Scotland.
Now, that is a Freudian slip!
Charles, he just realises the game is up and that YES will win, realistic view given what we actually see on the ground up here. Appart from BBC and tame papers there is not a NO campaign to be seen. Everything seems to be BBC and London newspapers and politicians , it is a car crash. Labour are invisible which is incredible.
I just read the Sun on Sunday in the café ( I don't buy it!) and they had a page of Alistair Darling praising David Bowie & talking about how the Better Together campaign was going gradually introduce more celebs and less politicians, as the public would be bored by a debate involving just Alex Salmond and himself.
Cant remember all of those he mentioned, but Alex Ferguson & Graeme Souness were two
The Sun seem very anti SNP, they also ran a story saying that there would be a minimum of 5% rises on most items if Scotland said YES, as they would lose EU tax breaks for 5 years
Don't shoot the messenger!!
The Sun (and Daily Mail, Express) run quite distinct English & Scottish editions, to the point they can cover a subject from entirely different pov, or drop English pieces from Scottish ones. I think the DM is the worst for it.
Why 'the worst'? I would have thought a regionally tailored version is a good thing. Even if you disagree with the line they take, it must appeal to enough Scots to be commercially successful.
TUD .. That's what you think.. they are still out there and they probably operate under a different name but their sole purpose is to track and identify our submarine fleet .. but then we all know that there is absolutely no threat to the UK...we are told constantly...by hopeful fools..
This is one of the problems with spending more money on this. Even if you grant all the other assumptions (an enemy deterrable by nuclear weapons, the US ignore NATO commitments and refuse to use theirs so the British need their own, but the Americans are still being helpful enough to Britain that they can get them adequately maintained) it's only worth spending money on if the hypothetical enemy can't find them because they're hidden under the ocean. Since we're talking about spending money now to build something that won't be ready until many years in the future, we have no idea if there will be an undersea detection technology that will make the whole thing useless.
the effect will be far far greater at GE2020 when Labour WILL lose all their Scottish seats due to the annexing of Scotland.
Now, that is a Freudian slip!
Charles, he just realises the game is up and that YES will win, realistic view given what we actually see on the ground up here. Appart from BBC and tame papers there is not a NO campaign to be seen. Everything seems to be BBC and London newspapers and politicians , it is a car crash. Labour are invisible which is incredible.
I just read the Sun on Sunday in the café ( I don't buy it!) and they had a page of Alistair Darling praising David Bowie & talking about how the Better Together campaign was going gradually introduce more celebs and less politicians, as the public would be bored by a debate involving just Alex Salmond and himself.
Cant remember all of those he mentioned, but Alex Ferguson & Graeme Souness were two
The Sun seem very anti SNP, they also ran a story saying that there would be a minimum of 5% rises on most items if Scotland said YES, as they would lose EU tax breaks for 5 years
Don't shoot the messenger!!
The Sun (and Daily Mail, Express) run quite distinct English & Scottish editions, to the point they can cover a subject from entirely different pov, or drop English pieces from Scottish ones. I think the DM is the worst for it.
Why 'the worst'? I would have thought a regionally tailored version is a good thing. Even if you disagree with the line they take, it must appeal to enough Scots to be commercially successful.
I presume he meant not so much the news content but the way in which the, erm, party line in each was so extremely oriented to the respective markets despite being nominally the same newspaper. It was quite an eye opener to see the way at least one tabloid treated the Portsmouth and Glasgow shipyard closures in its London and Glasgow versions.
Mind you they aren't always that fussy. I recently came across a copy of the DM when stuck for anything else to read over my lunchtime piece in an Edinburgh café. It reprinted detailed advice on wills and probate straight from the London version, as far as I could see - I just hope nobody followed it ...
the effect will be far far greater at GE2020 when Labour WILL lose all their Scottish seats due to the annexing of Scotland.
Now, that is a Freudian slip!
Charles, he just realises the game is up and that YES will win, realistic view given what we actually see on the ground up here. Appart from BBC and tame papers there is not a NO campaign to be seen. Everything seems to be BBC and London newspapers and politicians , it is a car crash. Labour are invisible which is incredible.
I just read the Sun on Sunday in the café ( I don't buy it!) and they had a page of Alistair Darling praising David Bowie & talking about how the Better Together campaign was going gradually introduce more celebs and less politicians, as the public would be bored by a debate involving just Alex Salmond and himself.
Cant remember all of those he mentioned, but Alex Ferguson & Graeme Souness were two
The Sun seem very anti SNP, they also ran a story saying that there would be a minimum of 5% rises on most items if Scotland said YES, as they would lose EU tax breaks for 5 years
Don't shoot the messenger!!
The Sun (and Daily Mail, Express) run quite distinct English & Scottish editions, to the point they can cover a subject from entirely different pov, or drop English pieces from Scottish ones. I think the DM is the worst for it.
I thought The Sun in Scotland was a stablemate of the SNP. During Holyrood elections , it certainly is.
As I am probably the only PBer who has actually done a tour of duty on a RN Nuclear Submarine I can assure PB that not all of those Russian and Eastern bloc fishing fleets actually catch any fish .. nor do they want to.. we need the Trident system
So, we need to spend billions upon billions to blow up a few trawlers ?
From a Tory majority of 24 in his previous prediction to 22 short now.From 57% probable Tory majority to 32%.From 15% probable Labour majority to 23%.....so this is the swingback people keep posting on here about.
Right, the model expected swingback quite early on, which conveniently meant that if it happened he'd look like a sage for predicting it so early, but if it didn't it would be showing something sensible by the time the election came around so he wouldn't look like an idiot.
The fact that he is a complete idiot was spotted pretty early. He is a biased idiot !
the effect will be far far greater at GE2020 when Labour WILL lose all their Scottish seats due to the annexing of Scotland.
Now, that is a Freudian slip!
Charles, he just realises the game is up and that YES will win, realistic view given what we actually see on the ground up here. Appart from BBC and tame papers there is not a NO campaign to be seen. Everything seems to be BBC and London newspapers and politicians , it is a car crash. Labour are invisible which is incredible.
I just read the Sun on Sunday in the café ( I don't buy it!) and they had a page of Alistair Darling praising David Bowie & talking about how the Better Together campaign was going gradually introduce more celebs and less politicians, as the public would be bored by a debate involving just Alex Salmond and himself.
Cant remember all of those he mentioned, but Alex Ferguson & Graeme Souness were two
The Sun seem very anti SNP, they also ran a story saying that there would be a minimum of 5% rises on most items if Scotland said YES, as they would lose EU tax breaks for 5 years
Don't shoot the messenger!!
The Sun (and Daily Mail, Express) run quite distinct English & Scottish editions, to the point they can cover a subject from entirely different pov, or drop English pieces from Scottish ones. I think the DM is the worst for it.
I thought The Sun in Scotland was a stablemate of the SNP.
Fraid not.
100% of the "Scottish" (sic) dead-tree media is Unionist. Even the most balanced paper, the Sunday Herald, has a dreadful habit of frequently publishing Unionist bile.
Add in the BBC, and I'm afraid the media situation likens East Germany. Genuinely open-minded pieces are like gold dust in a giant tank of pig slurry.
the effect will be far far greater at GE2020 when Labour WILL lose all their Scottish seats due to the annexing of Scotland.
Now, that is a Freudian slip!
Charles, he just realises the game is up and that YES will win, realistic view given what we actually see on the ground up here. Appart from BBC and tame papers there is not a NO campaign to be seen. Everything seems to be BBC and London newspapers and politicians , it is a car crash. Labour are invisible which is incredible.
I just read the Sun on Sunday in the café ( I don't buy it!) and they had a page of Alistair Darling praising David Bowie & talking about how the Better Together campaign was going gradually introduce more celebs and less politicians, as the public would be bored by a debate involving just Alex Salmond and himself.
Cant remember all of those he mentioned, but Alex Ferguson & Graeme Souness were two
The Sun seem very anti SNP, they also ran a story saying that there would be a minimum of 5% rises on most items if Scotland said YES, as they would lose EU tax breaks for 5 years
Don't shoot the messenger!!
The Sun (and Daily Mail, Express) run quite distinct English & Scottish editions, to the point they can cover a subject from entirely different pov, or drop English pieces from Scottish ones. I think the DM is the worst for it.
Why 'the worst'? I would have thought a regionally tailored version is a good thing. Even if you disagree with the line they take, it must appeal to enough Scots to be commercially successful.
I presume he meant not so much the news content but the way in which the, erm, party line in each was so extremely oriented to the respective markets despite being nominally the same newspaper. It was quite an eye opener to see the way at least one tabloid treated the Portsmouth and Glasgow shipyard closures in its London and Glasgow versions.
Mind you they aren't always that fussy. I recently came across a copy of the DM when stuck for anything else to read over my lunchtime piece in an Edinburgh café. It reprinted detailed advice on wills and probate straight from the London version, as far as I could see - I just hope nobody followed it ...
It worries me how often the London press fails to point out to readers that articles are referring to the English NHS, the English school system, the English legal system, the English social care system, the English transport system, etc etc etc. This could sometimes lead to readers in other countries being seriously mislead.
the effect will be far far greater at GE2020 when Labour WILL lose all their Scottish seats due to the annexing of Scotland.
Now, that is a Freudian slip!
Charles, he just realises the game is up and that YES will win, realistic view given what we actually see on the ground up here. Appart from BBC and tame papers there is not a NO campaign to be seen. Everything seems to be BBC and London newspapers and politicians , it is a car crash. Labour are invisible which is incredible.
I just read the Sun on Sunday in the café ( I don't buy it!) and they had a page of Alistair Darling praising David Bowie & talking about how the Better Together campaign was going gradually introduce more celebs and less politicians, as the public would be bored by a debate involving just Alex Salmond and himself.
Cant remember all of those he mentioned, but Alex Ferguson & Graeme Souness were two
The Sun seem very anti SNP, they also ran a story saying that there would be a minimum of 5% rises on most items if Scotland said YES, as they would lose EU tax breaks for 5 years
Don't shoot the messenger!!
The Sun (and Daily Mail, Express) run quite distinct English & Scottish editions, to the point they can cover a subject from entirely different pov, or drop English pieces from Scottish ones. I think the DM is the worst for it.
Why 'the worst'? I would have thought a regionally tailored version is a good thing. Even if you disagree with the line they take, it must appeal to enough Scots to be commercially successful.
Why do you think the English Mail printed the following but the Scottish one didn't? I'd say because they entirely dishonestly wanted to troll their English readership but didn't want Scots readers cancelling their order in droves, but perhaps you have a deeper insight.
Think Scotland will qualify - Scotland are improving quickly under Strachan while Germany are world beaters, I'd expect Germany to walk the group and Scotland to be in a distant second, which is good enough.
England's group is a cake walk. Wales have a decent shout in their group.
24 teams now qualify - good news for the home nations generally.
the effect will be far far greater at GE2020 when Labour WILL lose all their Scottish seats due to the annexing of Scotland.
Now, that is a Freudian slip!
Charles, he just realises the game is up and that YES will win, realistic view given what we actually see on the ground up here. Appart from BBC and tame papers there is not a NO campaign to be seen. Everything seems to be BBC and London newspapers and politicians , it is a car crash. Labour are invisible which is incredible.
I just read the Sun on Sunday in the café ( I don't buy it!) and they had a page of Alistair Darling praising David Bowie & talking about how the Better Together campaign was going gradually introduce more celebs and less politicians, as the public would be bored by a debate involving just Alex Salmond and himself.
Cant remember all of those he mentioned, but Alex Ferguson & Graeme Souness were two
The Sun seem very anti SNP, they also ran a story saying that there would be a minimum of 5% rises on most items if Scotland said YES, as they would lose EU tax breaks for 5 years
Don't shoot the messenger!!
The Sun (and Daily Mail, Express) run quite distinct English & Scottish editions, to the point they can cover a subject from entirely different pov, or drop English pieces from Scottish ones. I think the DM is the worst for it.
Why 'the worst'? I would have thought a regionally tailored version is a good thing. Even if you disagree with the line they take, it must appeal to enough Scots to be commercially successful.
Why do you think the English Mail printed the following but the Scottish one didn't? I'd say because they entirely dishonestly wanted to troll their English readership but didn't want Scots readers cancelling their order in droves, but perhaps you have a deeper insight.
Why is that dishonest? It seems very commercially savvy to have click-bait for the English readers, but an awareness that the commercial outcome may be less favourable in other regions.
To let Trident remain for more than a very short interim period would be the quickest way for Mr Salmond's administration to be elected out of power after a Yes vote - the Labour party in the Scottish Parliament being out for vengeance (so to speak) and having by then been cut off from its Unionist burden and able to say what they really think for once (and have often said, ere the referendum) about Trident, plus the LDs, plus the Greens, plus the three independents, plus no doubt some rebel SNP members ... one wonders how the Tories would vote ...
Trident is as big a negotiating variable as the currency. The hardware as well as being strategically critical has a rather large cost value. To move it means finding an alternate location, securing the political battle to adopt it, building the infrastructure and then commissioning - won't happen before independence in 2916 and feels to me more like Obama's "close Guantanamo" pledge which we are still waiting for.
So the boats are staying there for a while yet, which makes the likelihood of a later deal as a tradable for something else increase vs the 1st view of it now. Politically all things are possible (cf Clegg campaigning on tuition fees at the same time as having already secretly agreed to bin the policy at the first opportunity)
Carnyx is right though that it would be the quickest way for a post Yes SNP party to pee all over its credibility in Scotland. Something will be negotiated but it won't be some airy fairy open-ended agreement; Trident gone after 5 years, 10 years at absolute max.
TUD probably be similar length of that currency union that Carlotta insists is ruled out.
SNP would need to get very big give in order to sell them staying into the bargain.
How about EU or NATO membership?
The base will go - and the UK government recognises this when it promptly shot down the bonkers MOD idea about a "Sovereign Base" like the ones on Cyprus. But the scale of potential damage a currency union would do to relations is one of the reasons it's been ruled out. Time for Plan B.
Plans A-E have been published long time ago , will not be a major concern.
the effect will be far far greater at GE2020 when Labour WILL lose all their Scottish seats due to the annexing of Scotland.
Now, that is a Freudian slip!
Charles, he just realises the game is up and that YES will win, realistic view given what we actually see on the ground up here. Appart from BBC and tame papers there is not a NO campaign to be seen. Everything seems to be BBC and London newspapers and politicians , it is a car crash. Labour are invisible which is incredible.
Why is that dishonest? It seems very commercially savvy to have click-bait for the English readers, but an awareness that the commercial outcome may be less favourable in other regions.
'Less favourable'? Mein Gott, is ziss ze famous Englisch understatement vee haf heard so much about?
Perhaps you might consider there isn't the slightest possibility of any press outlet in Scotland (tabloid, broadsheet, sub edition of a London paper or not) printing a piece that would describe the English or England in those sort of terms.
the effect will be far far greater at GE2020 when Labour WILL lose all their Scottish seats due to the annexing of Scotland.
Now, that is a Freudian slip!
Charles, he just realises the game is up and that YES will win, realistic view given what we actually see on the ground up here. Appart from BBC and tame papers there is not a NO campaign to be seen. Everything seems to be BBC and London newspapers and politicians , it is a car crash. Labour are invisible which is incredible.
I just read the Sun on Sunday in the café ( I don't buy it!) and they had a page of Alistair Darling praising David Bowie & talking about how the Better Together campaign was going gradually introduce more celebs and less politicians, as the public would be bored by a debate involving just Alex Salmond and himself.
Cant remember all of those he mentioned, but Alex Ferguson & Graeme Souness were two
The Sun seem very anti SNP, they also ran a story saying that there would be a minimum of 5% rises on most items if Scotland said YES, as they would lose EU tax breaks for 5 years
Don't shoot the messenger!!
Isam, No issue , we see this kind of drivel every day. Can anyone really think they can win by using some has been football managers who have lived in England most of their lives and a pension aged singer who lives in the USA. darling is barking. The SUN is just a ,mouthpiece and at last count we are to be more than £37K per head worse off not including this 5%. Makes me feel good when this is the caliber of what we are up against , fools and donkeys.
the effect will be far far greater at GE2020 when Labour WILL lose all their Scottish seats due to the annexing of Scotland.
Now, that is a Freudian slip!
Charles, he just realises the game is up and that YES will win, realistic view given what we actually see on the ground up here. Appart from BBC and tame papers there is not a NO campaign to be seen. Everything seems to be BBC and London newspapers and politicians , it is a car crash. Labour are invisible which is incredible.
I just read the Sun on Sunday in the café ( I don't buy it!) and they had a page of Alistair Darling praising David Bowie & talking about how the Better Together campaign was going gradually introduce more celebs and less politicians, as the public would be bored by a debate involving just Alex Salmond and himself.
Cant remember all of those he mentioned, but Alex Ferguson & Graeme Souness were two
The Sun seem very anti SNP, they also ran a story saying that there would be a minimum of 5% rises on most items if Scotland said YES, as they would lose EU tax breaks for 5 years
Don't shoot the messenger!!
The Sun (and Daily Mail, Express) run quite distinct English & Scottish editions, to the point they can cover a subject from entirely different pov, or drop English pieces from Scottish ones. I think the DM is the worst for it.
I thought The Sun in Scotland was a stablemate of the SNP.
Add in the BBC, and I'm afraid the media situation likens East Germany. Genuinely open-minded pieces are like gold dust in a giant tank of pig slurry.
Then you won't mind not getting a "share" of it when you walk away from the UK...
To let Trident remain for more than a very short interim period would be the quickest way for Mr Salmond's administration to be elected out of power after a Yes vote - the Labour party in the Scottish Parliament being out for vengeance (so to speak) and having by then been cut off from its Unionist burden and able to say what they really think for once (and have often said, ere the referendum) about Trident, plus the LDs, plus the Greens, plus the three independents, plus no doubt some rebel SNP members ... one wonders how the Tories would vote ...
Trident is as big a negotiating variable as the currency. The hardware as well as being strategically critical has a rather large cost value. To move it means finding an alternate location, securing the political battle to adopt it, building the infrastructure and then commissioning - won't happen before independence in 2916 and feels to me more like Obama's "close Guantanamo" pledge which we are still waiting for.
So the boats are staying there for a while yet, which makes the likelihood of a later deal as a tradable for something else increase vs the 1st view of it now. Politically all things are possible (cf Clegg campaigning on tuition fees at the same time as having already secretly agreed to bin the policy at the first opportunity)
Carnyx is right though that it would be the quickest way for a post Yes SNP party to pee all over its credibility in Scotland. Something will be negotiated but it won't be some airy fairy open-ended agreement; Trident gone after 5 years, 10 years at absolute max.
TUD probably be similar length of that currency union that Carlotta insists is ruled out.
SNP would need to get very big give in order to sell them staying into the bargain.
How about EU or NATO membership?
The base will go - and the UK government recognises this when it promptly shot down the bonkers MOD idea about a "Sovereign Base" like the ones on Cyprus. But the scale of potential damage a currency union would do to relations is one of the reasons it's been ruled out. Time for Plan B.
Plans A-E have been published long time ago , will not be a major concern.
Then why the almighty upset when plan A was ruled out by the people who would have to agree to it?
An awful lot of fuss for "not a major concern".....
the effect will be far far greater at GE2020 when Labour WILL lose all their Scottish seats due to the annexing of Scotland.
Now, that is a Freudian slip!
Charles, he just realises the game is up and that YES will win, realistic view given what we actually see on the ground up here. Appart from BBC and tame papers there is not a NO campaign to be seen. Everything seems to be BBC and London newspapers and politicians , it is a car crash. Labour are invisible which is incredible.
I just read the Sun on Sunday in the café ( I don't buy it!) and they had a page of Alistair Darling praising David Bowie & talking about how the Better Together campaign was going gradually introduce more celebs and less politicians, as the public would be bored by a debate involving just Alex Salmond and himself.
Cant remember all of those he mentioned, but Alex Ferguson & Graeme Souness were two
The Sun seem very anti SNP, they also ran a story saying that there would be a minimum of 5% rises on most items if Scotland said YES, as they would lose EU tax breaks for 5 years
Don't shoot the messenger!!
The Sun (and Daily Mail, Express) run quite distinct English & Scottish editions, to the point they can cover a subject from entirely different pov, or drop English pieces from Scottish ones. I think the DM is the worst for it.
Why 'the worst'? I would have thought a regionally tailored version is a good thing. Even if you disagree with the line they take, it must appeal to enough Scots to be commercially successful.
Why do you think the English Mail printed the following but the Scottish one didn't? I'd say because they entirely dishonestly wanted to troll their English readership but didn't want Scots readers cancelling their order in droves, but perhaps you have a deeper insight.
Why is that dishonest? It seems very commercially savvy to have click-bait for the English readers, but an awareness that the commercial outcome may be less favourable in other regions.
How very unionist, truth is not an option , only personal gain through lies.
Ed Miliband warns Scots 'no currency union if I am Prime Minister' The Labour leader has rejected Alex Salmond's claims that Westminster is "bullying" Scotland by refusing a formal deal to share the pound
the effect will be far far greater at GE2020 when Labour WILL lose all their Scottish seats due to the annexing of Scotland.
Now, that is a Freudian slip!
The Sun (and Daily Mail, Express) run quite distinct English & Scottish editions, to the point they can cover a subject from entirely different pov, or drop English pieces from Scottish ones. I think the DM is the worst for it.
Why 'the worst'? I would have thought a regionally tailored version is a good thing. Even if you disagree with the line they take, it must appeal to enough Scots to be commercially successful.
Why is that dishonest? It seems very commercially savvy to have click-bait for the English readers, but an awareness that the commercial outcome may be less favourable in other regions.
How very unionist, truth is not an option , only personal gain through lies.
the effect will be far far greater at GE2020 when Labour WILL lose all their Scottish seats due to the annexing of Scotland.
Now, that is a Freudian slip!
Cant remember all of those he mentioned, but Alex Ferguson & Graeme Souness were two
The Sun seem very anti SNP, they also ran a story saying that there would be a minimum of 5% rises on most items if Scotland said YES, as they would lose EU tax breaks for 5 years
Don't shoot the messenger!!
I thought The Sun in Scotland was a stablemate of the SNP.
Add in the BBC, and I'm afraid the media situation likens East Germany. Genuinely open-minded pieces are like gold dust in a giant tank of pig slurry.
Then you won't mind not getting a "share" of it when you walk away from the UK...
Our share will be changed to a real news organisation rather than a propaganda unit.
To let Trident remain for more than a very short interim period would be the quickest way for Mr Salmond's administration to be elected out of power after a Yes vote - the Labour party in the Scottish Parliament being out for vengeance (so to speak) and having by then been cut off from its Unionist burden and able to say what they really think for once (and have often said, ere the referendum) about Trident, plus the LDs, plus the Greens, plus the three independents, plus no doubt some rebel SNP members ... one wonders how the Tories would vote ...
TUD probably be similar length of that currency union that Carlotta insists is ruled out.
SNP would need to get very big give in order to sell them staying into the bargain.
How about EU or NATO membership?
The base will go - and the UK government recognises this when it promptly shot down the bonkers MOD idea about a "Sovereign Base" like the ones on Cyprus. But the scale of potential damage a currency union would do to relations is one of the reasons it's been ruled out. Time for Plan B.
Plans A-E have been published long time ago , will not be a major concern.
Then why the almighty upset when plan A was ruled out by the people who would have to agree to it?
An awful lot of fuss for "not a major concern".....
I do not believe you are that stupid not to understand politics and negotiating.
the effect will be far far greater at GE2020 when Labour WILL lose all their Scottish seats due to the annexing of Scotland.
Now, that is a Freudian slip!
The Sun (and Daily Mail, Express) run quite distinct English & Scottish editions, to the point they can cover a subject from entirely different pov, or drop English pieces from Scottish ones. I think the DM is the worst for it.
Why 'the worst'? I would have thought a regionally tailored version is a good thing. Even if you disagree with the line they take, it must appeal to enough Scots to be commercially successful.
Why is that dishonest? It seems very commercially savvy to have click-bait for the English readers, but an awareness that the commercial outcome may be less favourable in other regions.
How very unionist, truth is not an option , only personal gain through lies.
the effect will be far far greater at GE2020 when Labour WILL lose all their Scottish seats due to the annexing of Scotland.
Now, that is a Freudian slip!
Cant remember all of those he mentioned, but Alex Ferguson & Graeme Souness were two
The Sun seem very anti SNP, they also ran a story saying that there would be a minimum of 5% rises on most items if Scotland said YES, as they would lose EU tax breaks for 5 years
Don't shoot the messenger!!
I thought The Sun in Scotland was a stablemate of the SNP.
Add in the BBC, and I'm afraid the media situation likens East Germany. Genuinely open-minded pieces are like gold dust in a giant tank of pig slurry.
Then you won't mind not getting a "share" of it when you walk away from the UK...
Our share will be changed to a real news organisation rather than a propaganda unit.
You won't need to change it, as your "share" of UK institutions will be "zero" - they will all belong to the continuing UK state. So changing the BBC is one thing less you need to worry about! Setting up a new broadcaster, on the other hand......
the effect will be far far greater at GE2020 when Labour WILL lose all their Scottish seats due to the annexing of Scotland.
Now, that is a Freudian slip!
Charles, he just realises the game is up and that YES will win, realistic view given what we actually see on the ground up here. Appart from BBC and tame papers there is not a NO campaign to be seen. Everything seems to be BBC and London newspapers and politicians , it is a car crash. Labour are invisible which is incredible.
I just read the Sun on Sunday in the café ( I don't buy it!) and they had a page of Alistair Darling praising David Bowie & talking about how the Better Together campaign was going gradually introduce more celebs and less politicians, as the public would be bored by a debate involving just Alex Salmond and himself.
Cant remember all of those he mentioned, but Alex Ferguson & Graeme Souness were two
The Sun seem very anti SNP, they also ran a story saying that there would be a minimum of 5% rises on most items if Scotland said YES, as they would lose EU tax breaks for 5 years
Don't shoot the messenger!!
Isam, No issue , we see this kind of drivel every day. Can anyone really think they can win by using some has been football managers who have lived in England most of their lives and a pension aged singer who lives in the USA. darling is barking. The SUN is just a ,mouthpiece and at last count we are to be more than £37K per head worse off not including this 5%. Makes me feel good when this is the caliber of what we are up against , fools and donkeys.
the effect will be far far greater at GE2020 when Labour WILL lose all their Scottish seats due to the annexing of Scotland.
Now, that is a Freudian slip!
Our share will be changed to a real news organisation rather than a propaganda unit.
You won't need to change it, as your "share" of UK institutions will be "zero" - they will all belong to the continuing UK state. So changing the BBC is one thing less you need to worry about! Setting up a new broadcaster, on the other hand......
So given we will be debt free and will own whatever is on Scottish soil we will have little to worry about.
So given we will be debt free and will own whatever is on Scottish soil we will have little to worry about.
To let Trident remain for more than a very short interim period would be the quickest way for Mr Salmond's administration to be elected out of power after a Yes vote - the Labour party in the Scottish Parliament being out for vengeance (so to speak) and having by then been cut off from its Unionist burden and able to say what they really think for once (and have often said, ere the referendum) about Trident, plus the LDs, plus the Greens, plus the three independents, plus no doubt some rebel SNP members ... one wonders how the Tories would vote ...
TUD probably be similar length of that currency union that Carlotta insists is ruled out.
SNP would need to get very big give in order to sell them staying into the bargain.
How about EU or NATO membership?
The base will go - and the UK government recognises this when it promptly shot down the bonkers MOD idea about a "Sovereign Base" like the ones on Cyprus. But the scale of potential damage a currency union would do to relations is one of the reasons it's been ruled out. Time for Plan B.
Plans A-E have been published long time ago , will not be a major concern.
Then why the almighty upset when plan A was ruled out by the people who would have to agree to it?
An awful lot of fuss for "not a major concern".....
I do not believe you are that stupid not to understand politics and negotiating.
You seriously think any rUK party leader is going to turn round to their electorate and tell them that the thing they oppose 2:1 and think will damage the rUK economy is "ok really"?
Remember, for every Scot Salmond persuades a Currency Union is a good idea he needs to persuade 10 English/Welsh/Northern Irish.
the effect will be far far greater at GE2020 when Labour WILL lose all their Scottish seats due to the annexing of Scotland.
Now, that is a Freudian slip!
Charles, he just realises the game is up and that YES will win, realistic view given what we actually see on the ground up here. Appart from BBC and tame papers there is not a NO campaign to be seen. Everything seems to be BBC and London newspapers and politicians , it is a car crash. Labour are invisible which is incredible.
I just read the Sun on Sunday in the café ( I don't buy it!) and they had a page of Alistair Darling praising David Bowie & talking about how the Better Together campaign was going gradually introduce more celebs and less politicians, as the public would be bored by a debate involving just Alex Salmond and himself.
Cant remember all of those he mentioned, but Alex Ferguson & Graeme Souness were two
The Sun seem very anti SNP, they also ran a story saying that there would be a minimum of 5% rises on most items if Scotland said YES, as they would lose EU tax breaks for 5 years
Don't shoot the messenger!!
Isam, No issue , we see this kind of drivel every day. Can anyone really think they can win by using some has been football managers who have lived in England most of their lives and a pension aged singer who lives in the USA. darling is barking. The SUN is just a ,mouthpiece and at last count we are to be more than £37K per head worse off not including this 5%. Makes me feel good when this is the caliber of what we are up against , fools and donkeys.
Where would you normally put Sean Connery ?
Nowhere , he lives in America and has no place in the referendum. He has also not said anything in years that I know of.
To let Trident remain for more than a very short interim period would be the quickest way for Mr Salmond's administration to be elected out of power after a Yes vote - the Labour party in the Scottish Parliament being out for vengeance (so to speak) and having by then been cut off from its Unionist burden and able to say what they really think for once (and have often said, ere the referendum) about Trident, plus the LDs, plus the Greens, plus the three independents, plus no doubt some rebel SNP members ... one wonders how the Tories would vote ...
TUD probably be similar length of that currency union that Carlotta insists is ruled out.
SNP would need to get very big give in order to sell them staying into the bargain.
How about EU or NATO membership?
The base will go - and the UK government recognises this when it promptly shot down the bonkers MOD idea about a "Sovereign Base" like the ones on Cyprus. But the scale of potential damage a currency union would do to relations is one of the reasons it's been ruled out. Time for Plan B.
Plans A-E have been published long time ago , will not be a major concern.
Then why the almighty upset when plan A was ruled out by the people who would have to agree to it?
An awful lot of fuss for "not a major concern".....
I do not believe you are that stupid not to understand politics and negotiating.
You seriously think any rUK party leader is going to turn round to their electorate and tell them that the thing they oppose 2:1 and think will damage the rUK economy is "ok really"?
Remember, for every Scot Salmond persuades a Currency Union is a good idea he needs to persuade 10 English/Welsh/Northern Irish.
Nobody really cares about that there are plenty of options, you still do not get it.
It is certainly sure that it is not Salmond's preferred option but given the fiscal commission had opted for that he had to go along.
Why is that dishonest? It seems very commercially savvy to have click-bait for the English readers, but an awareness that the commercial outcome may be less favourable in other regions.
'Less favourable'? Mein Gott, is ziss ze famous Englisch understatement vee haf heard so much about?
Perhaps you might consider there isn't the slightest possibility of any press outlet in Scotland (tabloid, broadsheet, sub edition of a London paper or not) printing a piece that would describe the English or England in those sort of terms.
Oh, sorry was I suppose to read it? I saw it was by Simon Heffer and reckoned that, with a toddler in the house, I already have enough foam-flecked nonsense in my life
And ever heard of Coulport Carlotta? Where exactly in England are you planning on digging silos for the 200 nuclear warheads? I expect that the local residents' associations would like some advance warning.
I thought the at-sea deterrent would be maintained, just based at a different dockyards.
Please read up on the facts. The "at-sea deterrent" has a very large land-based element.
- "... an operational stockpile of between 170 and 150 warheads."
Those warheads are stored on the land, not at sea. Which piece of English land is going to be dug up for the 16 new reinforced-concrete nuclear bunkers?
If needed, it will be done. It would probably be best to be done near wherever the boats are to be based, and that will depend on the operational requirements. So somewhere in the southwest would be my initial bet, or perhaps the Cumbrian coast. The latter *might* allow some flexibility with the nuclear experience at Sellafield, but also annoy the Irish.
The French fleet is based at Île Longue in Brittany.
But it looks as though Scotland will not become independent, and so there's probably little to worry about. If that's wrong and Scotland does become independent, I think Scotland will have much more to immediately worry about than a few submarines.
You once again show your indepth knowledge on th subject you keep saying you don't post on because you have little clue what you are talking about on the topic. Bravo.
That's not what I said. You might be confusing me with another poster, or perhaps you're just confused. ;-)
How very unionist, truth is not an option , only personal gain through lies.
What a strange chap you are.
(1) I'm not particularly a unionist - if you want to go, then go. Up to you really.
(2) It's an opinion piece, not a factual piece. The analysis seemed a bit patchy - and I'm not sure there were any facts in there - but what do you expect from Simon Heffer?
(3) I'm not a Rothermere, or a shareholder in DMGT, so don't get any personal benefit from the Mail's commercial success.
More to the point: TUD, that's 5 minutes of my life I'm never going to get back. Please don't make me read any more rubbish like that.
Nobody really cares about that there are plenty of options, you still do not get it.
This is precisely the problem - you - and Salmond/the SNP seem to think that the only view that matters is their own. This is what Miliband wrote:
“Of course Alex Salmond has retreated into trying to portray the decision of all the main UK parties to rule out a separate currency after a ‘Yes’ vote as some kind of bullying,” the Labour leader wrote. “Let me assure you it is not. Ruling out a currency union isn't out of nastiness but a matter of economic common sense.
“If Scotland was to leave the UK I would deeply regret it. If I was Prime Minister of the rest of the UK left behind I would hope an independent Scotland did well, but entering into a currency union would simply not be possible.”
He highlighted that the Scottish Government commission that proposed the currency union plan suggested using the pound initially before considering other options after a few years. Any suggestion that a currency union was not permanent would be a “disaster”, he warned, as the “markets would rip the currency apart before the union even started.”
Why is that dishonest? It seems very commercially savvy to have click-bait for the English readers, but an awareness that the commercial outcome may be less favourable in other regions.
'Less favourable'? Mein Gott, is ziss ze famous Englisch understatement vee haf heard so much about?
Perhaps you might consider there isn't the slightest possibility of any press outlet in Scotland (tabloid, broadsheet, sub edition of a London paper or not) printing a piece that would describe the English or England in those sort of terms.
Oh, sorry was I suppose to read it? I saw it was by Simon Heffer and reckoned that, with a toddler in the house, I already have enough foam-flecked nonsense in my life
Nobody really cares about that there are plenty of options, you still do not get it.
This is precisely the problem - you - and Salmond/the SNP seem to think that the only view that matters is their own. This is what Miliband wrote:
“Of course Alex Salmond has retreated into trying to portray the decision of all the main UK parties to rule out a separate currency after a ‘Yes’ vote as some kind of bullying,” the Labour leader wrote. “Let me assure you it is not. Ruling out a currency union isn't out of nastiness but a matter of economic common sense.
“If Scotland was to leave the UK I would deeply regret it. If I was Prime Minister of the rest of the UK left behind I would hope an independent Scotland did well, but entering into a currency union would simply not be possible.”
He highlighted that the Scottish Government commission that proposed the currency union plan suggested using the pound initially before considering other options after a few years. Any suggestion that a currency union was not permanent would be a “disaster”, he warned, as the “markets would rip the currency apart before the union even started.”
Why is that dishonest? It seems very commercially savvy to have click-bait for the English readers, but an awareness that the commercial outcome may be less favourable in other regions.
'Less favourable'? Mein Gott, is ziss ze famous Englisch understatement vee haf heard so much about?
Perhaps you might consider there isn't the slightest possibility of any press outlet in Scotland (tabloid, broadsheet, sub edition of a London paper or not) printing a piece that would describe the English or England in those sort of terms.
Oh, sorry was I suppose to read it? I saw it was by Simon Heffer and reckoned that, with a toddler in the house, I already have enough foam-flecked nonsense in my life
Your countrymen appear to lap him up.
I think you will find most from the right who post on here think he's bonkers - and is probably in the pay of the blood pressure medication industry.....
Nobody really cares about that there are plenty of options, you still do not get it.
This is precisely the problem - you - and Salmond/the SNP seem to think that the only view that matters is their own. This is what Miliband wrote:
“Of course Alex Salmond has retreated into trying to portray the decision of all the main UK parties to rule out a separate currency after a ‘Yes’ vote as some kind of bullying,” the Labour leader wrote. “Let me assure you it is not. Ruling out a currency union isn't out of nastiness but a matter of economic common sense.
“If Scotland was to leave the UK I would deeply regret it. If I was Prime Minister of the rest of the UK left behind I would hope an independent Scotland did well, but entering into a currency union would simply not be possible.”
He highlighted that the Scottish Government commission that proposed the currency union plan suggested using the pound initially before considering other options after a few years. Any suggestion that a currency union was not permanent would be a “disaster”, he warned, as the “markets would rip the currency apart before the union even started.”
Yes and Milliband is better listened to than experts, dear dear.
The "experts" advise, and the UK's experts advised in trenchant terms against a currency union. The politicians who will decide have all said "no". A currency union would be a truly poisonous start to post-Indy relations.
Nobody really cares about that there are plenty of options, you still do not get it.
This is precisely the problem - you - and Salmond/the SNP seem to think that the only view that matters is their own. This is what Miliband wrote:
“Of course Alex Salmond has retreated into trying to portray the decision of all the main UK parties to rule out a separate currency after a ‘Yes’ vote as some kind of bullying,” the Labour leader wrote. “Let me assure you it is not. Ruling out a currency union isn't out of nastiness but a matter of economic common sense.
“If Scotland was to leave the UK I would deeply regret it. If I was Prime Minister of the rest of the UK left behind I would hope an independent Scotland did well, but entering into a currency union would simply not be possible.”
He highlighted that the Scottish Government commission that proposed the currency union plan suggested using the pound initially before considering other options after a few years. Any suggestion that a currency union was not permanent would be a “disaster”, he warned, as the “markets would rip the currency apart before the union even started.”
Yes and Milliband is better listened to than experts, dear dear.
The "experts" advise, and the UK's experts advised in trenchant terms against a currency union. The politicians who will decide have all said "no". A currency union would be a truly poisonous start to post-Indy relations.
I don't recall anyone mentioning this one. To be fair to the DM, sometimes they do come out with a real surprise. Though I have no idea as to whether the Mail published this north of Carter Bar.
And to quote isam, don't shoot me, I'm only the messenger!
From a Tory majority of 24 in his previous prediction to 22 short now.From 57% probable Tory majority to 32%.From 15% probable Labour majority to 23%.....so this is the swingback people keep posting on here about.
Right, the model expected swingback quite early on, which conveniently meant that if it happened he'd look like a sage for predicting it so early, but if it didn't it would be showing something sensible by the time the election came around so he wouldn't look like an idiot.
I am sure there will be even more changes to his model between now and GE day which will, in a total reverse to what is predicted by many on here, will show a Tory predicted lead crossover to a Labour one as the election approaches.
I don't think he's actually changing the model - it was designed like that from the beginning. IIUC it expected quite aggressive swingback to happen starting last Autumn, and every month that doesn't happen it gets closer to reality.
He does say on his latest prediction"The new method averages forecasts from two different forecasting models: the old model in which parties have a tendency to move towards their historical average level of support, and a new model in which parties tend to move towards the last election result....The change in the forecast does not mean that the old forecast was wrong or invalid. The new forecast is based in part on the old model and the bounds of the new prediction mostly overlap with the bounds from the October forecast. It is more appropriate to think of the changes as updates in light of more information." Something tells me he will find even more information that will help him update his model as the polls don't move and he needs an excuse to move his figures towards them.
Comments
The base will go - and the UK government recognises this when it promptly shot down the bonkers MOD idea about a "Sovereign Base" like the ones on Cyprus. But the scale of potential damage a currency union would do to relations is one of the reasons it's been ruled out. Time for Plan B.
http://www.oxforddictionaries.com/definition/english/annex
Ain't going to happen, even if Scotland votes 'yes'
So, if we did need to pull our bombers out of Scotland quickly where could be berth them realistically? Kings Bay Georgia? Personally I'd have scrapped Trident and kept the Harriers and Nimrods but here we are.
The issue is apparently really the missile and warhead storage/maintenance facility at Coulport. But I find it incredible that the nation which built the Great Western Railway by hand would faff around for years with its thumb up its collective backside. For one thing, I don't recall them asking for planning permission from the locals last time, though stand to be corrected on that.
Or is it?!!
Cant remember all of those he mentioned, but Alex Ferguson & Graeme Souness were two
The Sun seem very anti SNP, they also ran a story saying that there would be a minimum of 5% rises on most items if Scotland said YES, as they would lose EU tax breaks for 5 years
Don't shoot the messenger!!
There are no Eastern Bloc fishing fleets anymore.
might be the best named site for a legislative body in York...
Group
Even if you disagree with the line they take, it must appeal to enough Scots to be commercially successful.
Forecast Election Day Seats
Con : 304
Lab : 289
LD : 30
Con largest party, but short of a majority by 22'
-------------------------
This Fisher is a complete joker ! Guess what, just before the elections, he'll say, "It's too close to call" or whatever everyone else will be saying.
It would NOT validate what utter tosh he has been saying. He maybe rowing back furiously now but his reputation is in tatters.
He brings psephology into disrepute !
Mind you they aren't always that fussy. I recently came across a copy of the DM when stuck for anything else to read over my lunchtime piece in an Edinburgh café. It reprinted detailed advice on wills and probate straight from the London version, as far as I could see - I just hope nobody followed it ...
100% of the "Scottish" (sic) dead-tree media is Unionist. Even the most balanced paper, the Sunday Herald, has a dreadful habit of frequently publishing Unionist bile.
Add in the BBC, and I'm afraid the media situation likens East Germany. Genuinely open-minded pieces are like gold dust in a giant tank of pig slurry.
Apart from England the other nations look pretty long shots to me, though even England makes a bit of a meal of it.
Leicester City romping home in the Championship I might add.
http://tinyurl.com/o7og33b
England's group is a cake walk. Wales have a decent shout in their group.
24 teams now qualify - good news for the home nations generally.
Perhaps you might consider there isn't the slightest possibility of any press outlet in Scotland (tabloid, broadsheet, sub edition of a London paper or not) printing a piece that would describe the English or England in those sort of terms.
An awful lot of fuss for "not a major concern".....
Ed Miliband warns Scots 'no currency union if I am Prime Minister'
The Labour leader has rejected Alex Salmond's claims that Westminster is "bullying" Scotland by refusing a formal deal to share the pound
Remember, for every Scot Salmond persuades a Currency Union is a good idea he needs to persuade 10 English/Welsh/Northern Irish.
Nobody really cares about that there are plenty of options, you still do not get it.
It is certainly sure that it is not Salmond's preferred option but given the fiscal commission had opted for that he had to go along.
(1) I'm not particularly a unionist - if you want to go, then go. Up to you really.
(2) It's an opinion piece, not a factual piece. The analysis seemed a bit patchy - and I'm not sure there were any facts in there - but what do you expect from Simon Heffer?
(3) I'm not a Rothermere, or a shareholder in DMGT, so don't get any personal benefit from the Mail's commercial success.
More to the point: TUD, that's 5 minutes of my life I'm never going to get back. Please don't make me read any more rubbish like that.
“Of course Alex Salmond has retreated into trying to portray the decision of all the main UK parties to rule out a separate currency after a ‘Yes’ vote as some kind of bullying,” the Labour leader wrote.
“Let me assure you it is not. Ruling out a currency union isn't out of nastiness but a matter of economic common sense.
“If Scotland was to leave the UK I would deeply regret it. If I was Prime Minister of the rest of the UK left behind I would hope an independent Scotland did well, but entering into a currency union would simply not be possible.”
He highlighted that the Scottish Government commission that proposed the currency union plan suggested using the pound initially before considering other options after a few years.
Any suggestion that a currency union was not permanent would be a “disaster”, he warned, as the “markets would rip the currency apart before the union even started.”
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/politics/10551676/Ed-Miliband-warns-Scots-no-currency-union-if-I-am-Prime-Minister.html
I don't recall anyone mentioning this one. To be fair to the DM, sometimes they do come out with a real surprise. Though I have no idea as to whether the Mail published this north of Carter Bar.
And to quote isam, don't shoot me, I'm only the messenger!