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Are there any honest Scottish Nationalists? – politicalbetting.com
Are there any honest Scottish Nationalists? – politicalbetting.com
In 2014, when the last once-in-a-generation Scottish independence referendum was held, the Scottish government under the then First Minister Alex Salmond published what it claimed was a comprehensive plan for how Scotland’s future as an independent nation would play out. It was, in truth, a rather curious document, a mixture of high constitutional aspiration, a technical document glossing-over most of the difficulties, and a party manifesto, including a fair smattering of comically trivial measures which independence would unlock (“use Scotland’s levy to promote Scotland’s produce”).
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https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=q1nIPrEifNI
Klopp’s comments about Neville were frankly a disgrace.
I hope Richard has put in a good, sturdy helmet this morning.
Many ballistic turnips will be incoming from Ayrshire.
https://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-56810680
His gracious response to the absolute shellacking Reagan gave him and his dignity in defeat showed there was a time when American politicians had class.
A pity he never got the top job, as I think he would have been good at it.
Spot on by Klopp.
I don't expect you to listen. You seem to have gone all ranty and acronymy. But when you calm down you might come to understand Jurgen's points.
The reason they lost in 2014, and the reason they will lose again, is their inability to answer those questions the head must. On here, for years prior to the referendum we had been picking apart those issues the SNP would not address. This header stands in that fine tradition.
On the big structural issues, none has got better for the SNP since 2014 - save for their sense of grievance. Brexit, Catalonia, oil, vaccines, education, their ability to actually run a country that doesn't look like a shabby banana republic - all have put bigger question marks against the case for independence than existed last time round.
Thank goodness that sense of grievance tops all, eh?
Liverpool like to think they are special. YNWA is part of that. Klopp is on the Left of politics. And unfortunately for him, his team were playing last night.
I hope the rest of the scum get equally severe treatment in the coming days.
The managers and players learned about this in the media, so determined were the chairmen to avoid their plans leaking.
1. The Union in its current form is unsustainable. We either completely redraw the UK so that power is devolved to reflect the 4 home nations and their differences of opinion, or it tears itself apart.
2. As the current Brexit settlement doesn't work, it doesn't pose a risk to Scottish independence. Arguing that Scotland cannot leave the UK customs union without chaos isn't an argument when the UK government has expelled NI from the UK customs union. The government stuck a customs border down the Irish Sea and has had to drop large chunks of it because stupid. The solution that evolves for NI will also be a solution for Scotland
3. EU membership is unlikely to be a problem. Scotland was a member until very recently and would be far more aligned than many ascension countries have been.
4. EU membership will almost certainly come with strings attached. Such as the Euro. This shouldn't be an impediment to independence as frankly its a far better solution than to continue the Sterling union, but the SNP don't want to talk about the currency.
How to guarantee that Scotland says "bugger this"? Do as HYUFD urges and make the union one based upon English law rather than Scottish democratic consent. Whether you support independence or not, the suggestion that the Scottish people no longer have a democratic say is profoundly troubling.
I don’t begrudge footballers earning big money. But with it comes responsibility. The music has stopped and their time to act has come.
By continuing to put on the shirt, they are complicit in this. They are as bad as the owners.
As for the Euro being better than the pound, that seems unlikely given Scotland’s trade imbalances.
ETA - some commentary here:
https://blogs.lse.ac.uk/brexit/2021/03/31/scotlands-route-to-eu-membership/
It isn't a "myth" that the UK can make up any disruption that Brexit causes with Europe with trade with the rest of the world. Indeed that's already the case now.
https://twitter.com/EuroBriefing/status/1384039236618256384
"my latest column in which I make the surely uncontroversial claim that Brexit has been, and is likely to be, a macroeconomic non-event."
While its certainly true that Scottish Independence is like Brexit on steroids, since Brexit is not the bad thing that Nabavi has convinced himself it is, that's not a problem for Scotland.
Yes Scotland is more tightly integrated with the UK today. That is true. Yes, Scottish Independence will cause more disruption than Brexit did, that is also true. But the Scots have not just more to lose but more to gain in controlling their own destiny.
The UK could replace any disruption with the EU either domestically or with the approximately 7.2 billion people around the globe who aren't in the EU.
Scotland can replace any disruption with the rest of the UK either domestically, or with the same 7.2 billion, or with the 440 million people of the EU.
Scottish Independence is like Brexit on steroids yes: More risk, but also more opportunities.
Don't be blinded to the opportunities of both.
The issue is about facts. I was pointing out what the facts are and why they are a problem.
The referendum if/when it happens will be about emotion, and any facts will be lied about or glossed over (as Richard notes). As with Brexit, they hit home later.
Developing disaster...... Countryfile last Sunday, ....... on the BBC, which is bending over backwards too support the Government these days ...... made it clear that there was a serious labour shortage in agriculture, which only either cheap labour or expensive machinery could fix. The machinery is being developed but isn't widely available yet.
Sorry to be negative, but I've rather got the Black Dog this morning. Pity on such a sunny Spring morning!
It’s tea and biscuit meetings where they don’t serve tea or biscuits you need to watch out for
By staying on but making it clear you oppose the project you can at least try and prevent this happening, working to help guide the owners to a face-saving compromise.
There's always the option of resigning later down the road before it comes to pass if you want.
He has the leverage vs the owners here.
That's why he's gone to the limits of what he can say, while openly saying (and getting headlines) that he opposes what's going on.
The current manager and players delivered a first league title in 30 years. Do you really think sacking them would do much good for the value of the club?
This super league does not happen without Messi, Ronaldo, De Bruyne, Salah and the rest of them. It’s as simple as that.
boring rubbishfootball.Have a good morning.
Klopp and his lawyers would have good defences against gross misconduct for simply speaking out on this.
Majority. Splitting the opposition vote will make it easier for the SNP to win.
English arrogance, threats and refusal to take Scottish interests into account are what is driving the break up of the United Kingdom.
In a move announced hours after Boris Johnson bowed to pressure to cancel a key trip to India to boost economic ties, the health secretary, Matt Hancock, said most travel from the country would be banned from 4am on Friday. Only British citizens and residents will be allowed in, and all must quarantine in a hotel for 10 days.
There are 16 direct flights from India to the UK scheduled to land before the deadline and many more indirect ones.
Oh, wait...
Dr. Foxy, there was little complaint about English/British actions when Scottish banks failed under a regulatory system imposed by a Scottish MP, and the British taxpayer picked up the enormous tab...
And what Scottish interest isn't being taken into account? If you're referring to leaving the EU, do you think it legitimate that a Scotsman's vote has more weight than an Englishman's?
Tlg wanted the squad to refuse to play and forfeit the match.
https://twitter.com/DrEricDing/status/1384077181664432131?s=19
A Union that wants to survive does indeed need to be more than an English hegemony.
They should have also announced that the PM’s trip to India was cancelled as a result of the upgrading of India to Red, rather than giving the impression it was the other way around.
Powers have been continually flowing from Westminster to Holyrood. The British taxpayer picked up the tab for HBOS and RBS in the financial crisis.
I did ask you what Scottish interest isn't being taken into account. Any answer for that, beyond an undefined claim of English hegemony?
I think a better CL/EL/SL format is needed, but there is a fundamental clash between the desire for more games (and more TV money) and compatability with domestic competitions. A SuperLeague midweek on top of the PL is a very gruelling schedule. It would take the six out of both domestic cups, as well as increase fatigue and injuries.
My constituency seat will stay SNP, we're hoping to pick up a list seat off the Tories. Why reward the Tories for failure? The SNP get no list seats up here so their vote doesn't need to be counted when making a decision.
I don't want Scottish independence, but my opinion on this doesn't matter. It is for Scots to decide.
So, in reality Nationalists have a dilemma. They might proceed on the basis that we remain in the SM with rUK in which case one begins to wonder the point since rUK will determine our currency, our interest rates, will have a veto on borrowing plans (if we want the BoE to remain as a lender of last resort) and our trade policy. Frankly, the current Scottish government has more room for maneuver than Scotland would have under that scenario and the real problem is that it is not in our gift. We would have to ask for it and there is no guarantee that rUK would say yes. If I was TSE I would be suggesting that this is have the divorce, get freedom but still have regular sex with the ex. Possible in theory, somewhat unlikely in practice.
The alternative would be to try for greater independence with, for example, our own currency possibly tied to the Euro and seek EU membership. That would mean we accept that there will be trade friction between us and rUK. Once again, however, so much would be out of our control because the EU would decide our trade relationship with rUK, our interest rates, our borrowing, much of our legislative framework and of course our trade policy internationally.
I believe the line above was "why should the Scots stop England having Brexit" or words to that effect. They don't. They just don't want to be dragged along unwillingly to an action which causes significant damage to local jobs and the economy.
British Isles
Iberia
France and Benelux
Germany, Scandinavia, Austria
Italy, Switzerland, Greece
Eastern Europe
The big prem clubs get Celtic and Rangers for more competition and bigger games.
Real Madrid and Barca get Porto, Benfica and Lisbon to replace Eibar or Gijon.
PSG get Ajax, PSV etc.
Relegation and promotion could still apply as it does, and midweek the champions league continues, but the likes of Celtic, Rangers, Porto, Benfica, Lisbon, Ajax, PSV, Olympiakos etc will become more competitive.
Heads-up to government for next month - if you're going to allow travel to "Green" countries without quarantine on return, make sure all those on the Green plane are on direct flights, and that passengers from Green and Red countries don't end up in the same queue at Heathrow.
Anecdotal evidence - I know of at least one person who arrived in the UK a couple of days ago from Moscow for study, who was in the UAE (Red country) on holiday over Easter. This sort of thing isn't being picked up by authorities.
Like so many I would be very sad to lose the UK as it has been, but it is clearly not working in its present form. Nevertheless it's hard to see how England can or should be subdivided to enable an equitable federation to emerge.
Perhaps the most important lesson to emerge from the Brexit negotiations debacle is the need to come out at the end without having damaged relationships for the long term. With hindsight, however, that damage is probably implicit in the decision to leave anyway. Sadly.
Good morning, everyone.
Neither seem like a problem.
Interesting reporting on the new C02 reduction target. I thought the current target was Net Zero by 2020, not -78%.
"The prime minister will say carbon emissions will be cut by 78% by 2035 - almost 15 years earlier than previously planned - which would be a world-leading position."
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-56807520
Either they accept that and want to be in a union, or they don't.
I can see the arguments both for and against another referendum. Had it gone the other way, it would've been irreversible, but the SNP want to have one every six minutes until, just once, they get the result they want.
As for the UK leaving the EU meaning things have changed, I can appreciate that perspective. But it's amusing from a separatist perspective because they were willing for Scotland to leave the EU years earlier, as a necessary and inevitable consequence of leaving the UK. Somehow, that was completely fine, but the UK together leaving the EU is an abomination.
Mr. Pioneers, the SNP was happy for Scotland to leave the EU and UK at the same time. Why was that a good thing for Scotland, but leaving the EU with the rest of the UK so awful?
It will be interesting to see how many politicians on both sides try that sumersult in logic.
I know there is no such thing as a poor farmer (well there is but it's rarer than most people think) but that is not for want of trying by our supermarkets.
If emissions are reduced by 78% and offsetting of emissions is 22% (eg by planting trees or other mechanisms) then that's net zero.
An interesting insight into some pretty creepy people and I reckon he gets most of them right.
Perhaps you'd like to oblige?
......and an even bigger one for England.
In this case Boris / English bad, Nicola / EU good. If I were a political journalist I would be quoting back random quotes to supporters and saying either Boris or Nicola said this what do you think? They wouldn't have a clue because almost all politicians are devoid of opinion and backbone. At least Corbyn was consistent in blaming Israel for everything!
And that is Foxy's very valid concern.
Scotland will partner with England in the Union for as long as it's in its financial and political interests to do so, which is what drove the Acts of Union in the first place. Both nations have far more in common than they'd care to admit.
I'm unconvinced by further devolution, which is overton window stuff and will simply be used as an argument for more and, ultimately, full independence.
I'd say the solution is for the UK to govern very well, making the benefits clear and obvious, and also to increase the number of Scottish voices in the UK cabinet - which has diminished since the SNP swept the board - and reflect Scotland's interests more in our foreign and trade policy, and also in our rhetoric.
But equally imbecilic was Jon Ashworth demanding that the government help people travel back from India.
We would survive, of course, but the price would be very high. If our identity is so important that we are willing to pay that price so be it but the present lies about this being some cost free option are contemptible.
"Can I help you with your bags sir, whilst you pass around some more of that variant"
In brief they are:
Boris, Brexit, Borders. Splitters, Voters, Currency. Tax, Barnett, Westminster.
In Ref1 voters could vote to separate and at the same time hide behind and with England and the EU. Now they can't. You have to take your chances when they come. Like Brexit voters did. They knew it wouldn't come again. Nor will this.
I would suggest that the answer is fewer flights.
The important thing is that human activity no longer contributes to climate change. However, there will always be dogmatists - and it's worth noting Greta is one of them.