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The devil in the detail 95

Posted on November 21, 2013 by

We’ve had a closer look at the Institute for Fiscal Studies report from this week.

Basically, the conclusion of the report is that if an independent Scotland continued to do exactly the same things over the next 50 years as the UK does now, it would have to grow its GDP by 1.9% to cover a predicted fiscal gap, while the UK would only have to grow by 0.8% to cover a similar gap. According to the IFS, this 1.9% shortfall would mean a 6% cut in services or a hike of 8% in income tax in an independent Scotland.

However, close reading of the small print in the IFS document highlights facts and forecast figures that appear to contradict the IFS’s argument and instead point to a situation where an independent Scotland would actually be in a similar fiscal position to the UK. Confused? Yes, so were we.

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Category analysis, scottish politics, stats

The ‘No’ future 130

Posted on March 15, 2013 by

The media (and some of the more gullible elements of the blogosphere) recently got itself into a lather about Douglas Alexander’s latest contribution to the independence debate – excellently rebutted by novellist and playwright Alan Bissett – which presented his vision of a post-referendum Scotland that voted No to independence.

nofuture

Here’s an alternative picture. But unlike the typical “Better Together” scare story, these are not fabricated fantasies. Many are happening right now, while others are merely under discussion and in preparation.

This is what you’re voting for if you vote No.

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Category analysis, comment, disturbing, uk politics

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    • Geri on The End Of The Affair: “Well there ya go. Twelve hours later & not even Shitface can think of one. That’s cause there is none.” Sep 23, 00:32
    • Geri on The End Of The Affair: “Correct Marie & who is better at rigging elections. Scotland wants independence & the SNP under Nicolas stewardship were the…” Sep 23, 00:22
    • Young Lochinvar on The End Of The Affair: “Well then hateful one.. A straight question so a straight answer please. So who exactly did YOU vote for (assuming…” Sep 23, 00:16
    • Geri on The End Of The Affair: “Excellent post, Northcode.” Sep 22, 23:38
    • Fearghas MacFhionnlaigh on The End Of The Affair: “Re Northcode @ 22 Sept, 10.57 pm, 2025 ——————— I won’t dignify your tirade of anti-Gaelic distortion and pseudo-Pictish mythology…” Sep 22, 23:38
    • Geri on The End Of The Affair: “Northcode The English idea of a laugh is to always take the piss out of someone else thinking they’re funny.…” Sep 22, 23:30
    • Young Lochinvar on The End Of The Affair: “What’s the phrase Geri? Aye, he’s projecting again. Rattle and teddy bear well and truly launched out the pram.. You…” Sep 22, 23:27
    • Marie on The End Of The Affair: “Holyrood is merely part of the Westminster set up. Holyrood elections? Basically who is the best at managing the pocket…” Sep 22, 23:10
    • MaryB on The End Of The Affair: “It’s not surprising that drug deaths are so high in north-east England. The Thatcher years hit their traditional industries very…” Sep 22, 23:06
    • Northcode on The End Of The Affair: ““The DSL have it wrong. The language they call Scots is really modern Pictish…” That was a bit of (I…” Sep 22, 22:57
    • Hatey McHateface on The End Of The Affair: ““stupify the masses” It’s the stupefied individuals that people notice. Take the word “stupefy” for example. Some people don’t know…” Sep 22, 22:41
    • Geri on The End Of The Affair: ““Unmentioned is the fact that the UK government has long treated drug use as criminal matter and barred the way…” Sep 22, 22:29
    • Hatey McHateface on The End Of The Affair: ““What kind of peasants do they think we are to insult our intelligence?” In your case, Barbie, I’d have to…” Sep 22, 22:27
    • Northcode on The End Of The Affair: ““Ghost of Basil Brush here… I’m sure that ‘joke’ was in an episode of ‘It Ain’t half Shit, Mum’.” Sep 22, 22:09
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    • Hatey McHateface on The End Of The Affair: ““I’d have thought you’d have more in common with those ham assholes than you care to admit” Hey! You need…” Sep 22, 21:37
    • Geri on The End Of The Affair: “David Davis shouldn’t be comparing anything. He seems to forget his cronies hold the purse strings. When England spends less…” Sep 22, 21:29
    • Geri on The End Of The Affair: “I’d have thought you’d have more in common with those ham assholes than you care to admit, shiteface. little old…” Sep 22, 21:13
    • Southernbystander on The End Of The Affair: “Quote: ‘I’ve never really taken to the English sense of ‘humour’. Hi Northcode, me ol’ mucker, Ghost of Basil Brush…” Sep 22, 21:00
    • sam on The End Of The Affair: “There is little in David Davis’ criticisms of Scotland and England’s public service comparisons that should be taken at face…” Sep 22, 20:59
    • sam on The End Of The Affair: “Scotland’s 2022 PISA score was representative of PISA standards. Scotland put forward 3257 students (England 6300). Scotland achieved a school…” Sep 22, 20:37
    • sam on The End Of The Affair: “There are good educational reasons for regarding the PISA test results across different countries as unreliable or useless. Even so,…” Sep 22, 20:32
    • sam on The End Of The Affair: “Link here to the BBC piece on England’s unrecorded drug deaths. https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cg7dzmyjrjzo” Sep 22, 20:20
    • Hatey McHateface on The End Of The Affair: “Cut Northcode some slack, Fearghas MacFhionnlaigh. He’s just had a near death experience.” Sep 22, 20:10
    • Hatey McHateface on The End Of The Affair: ““There are 23% of Scottish children in poverty and 31% of English children in poverty” Awww. I’m welling up here,…” Sep 22, 20:00
    • Fearghas MacFhionnlaigh on The End Of The Affair: “Northcode @ 22 Sept, 11.13 am, writes “Am I Right, Fearghas?” ————— (Sigh) No, you are NOT right. Nowhere near…” Sep 22, 19:46
    • Hatey McHateface on The End Of The Affair: ““it’s a fantasy nonetheless” Sorry, NC, you lost me. To what are you referring? The speech, or the internal monologue…” Sep 22, 19:45
    • Hatey McHateface on The End Of The Affair: ““a written constitution placing Scots sovereignty INVIOLATE , its territory permanent and indivisible” You wish! That remains very much to…” Sep 22, 19:28
    • Northcode on The End Of The Affair: “” ALL I ever see is NEGATIVITY and abuse…” Aye, TH. I suspect if anyone were to offer their genuine…” Sep 22, 19:17
    • Hatey McHateface on The End Of The Affair: ““sometimes various geopolitical sites will hint at far worse to come out” Well now, that changes everything. If only you…” Sep 22, 19:15

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