The world's most-read Scottish politics website

Wings Over Scotland


Author Archive


Stacking the deck 88

Posted on November 19, 2013 by

Yesterday, right-wing think-tank the Institute of Fiscal Studies issued a document entitled “Fiscal sustainability in an independent Scotland. It’s rather less than glowing about the prospects of an independent Scottish economy.

stacking

For seekers of facts, the most important aspect of the report is not its findings but rather what data was used and from where it was gathered, which severely slanted the outcome of the report before it was even written. Because it doesn’t matter how diligent, honest and thorough an economic assessment is, if the input information that the economists are asked to work from is heavily skewed to begin with.

Read the rest of this entry →

The Holyrood Hillbillies 122

Posted on November 17, 2013 by

So you find oil and want to make life better for your people. It’s an asset that makes you fabulously wealthy and provides the sort of financial security that people normally can only dream of. But you get coerced and cajoled into giving it to your neighbour to look after on your behalf. The neighbour gives it to their banker friends who all enjoy lavish lifestyles at your expense.

Whenever you get fed up with how you’re being treated and begin to long for the good old days when you were free to do as you wished, the neighbour comes up with ridiculous ploys, scare-stories and scenarios to keep you where you are; each time becoming more ridiculous and farcical in order to keep control of your money and please their banker friends.

clampett

No, you’re not Scotland; you’re Jed Clampett from the Beverly Hillbillies, an American show from the 60s with a plot so ridiculous only backward yokels would fall for it.

Read the rest of this entry →

The death of the social contract 78

Posted on November 09, 2013 by

The raison d’être of a government is to act in the interests of their populace, yet there’s a widespread perception that they instead now exist solely to serve the political and corporate elite, sometimes with not even lip service paid to the wishes of the public.

It’s a perception backed up by hard fact in the form of opinion polls, which demonstrate that the clearly-expressed desires of the electorate are regularly ignored by all parties in favour of blind ideology, cuts to services the public value, and tax breaks for those who don’t need them.

hamishgrangemouth

Whoever’s in power, the assets of the nation are sold off against the will of the people, in the name of a private-sector market ideology, for the short-term profit of wealthy City speculators, and for the benefit of other countries who ironically often end up running British industries as (foreign) state-owned public enterprises.

This happens because the votes of most of the electorate don’t count for anything.

Read the rest of this entry →

Spending £20 to save a tenner 81

Posted on October 31, 2013 by

This week it was claimed by Stuart Adam, senior economic researcher at the Institute for Fiscal Studies (IFS), that taxes would have to rise almost 14% in an independent Scotland, if they were the sole method used to fill the Scottish budget deficit.

taxes

It’s a dramatic headline, for sure. But is it an accurate reflection on the relative finances of an independent Scotland and one that remained part of the United Kingdom? As ever, you have to dig a little deeper to find out what’s really going on.

Read the rest of this entry →

The soot-covered cockerel 49

Posted on October 18, 2013 by

This week, the University and College Union (UCU) have set out their manifesto for higher and further education in anticipation of the independence referendum. It denounces the funding system preferred by the big three Westminster parties and offers full backing to the Scottish Government’s policy of free tuition, while calling for immigration changes in order to support students and academics coming from abroad to study and work in Scotland.

research

“It is right that students who benefit from higher-than-average incomes should pay something back, but they should do so through progressive income tax,”

“Business depends on graduates and should make a contribution rather than receiving tax breaks. Higher education should be substantially paid for through general taxation.”

“Scotland does not have great concerns about an immigration influx and should relax rules which could lead to greater recruitment of students, though they may be put off by negative perceptions of the UK system.”

While the report doesn’t say so explicitly, these views put the UCU clearly on the Yes side – immigration and taxation would continue to be powers reserved  to Westminster in the event of a No vote, and the prevailing political climate in England (particularly the south) suggests a very different direction of travel.

Read the rest of this entry →

Mutton dressed as lamb 230

Posted on October 16, 2013 by

A brand-new scare story raised its head this week, coming in from the blind side and catching the voting public unawares with the news that Westminster has decreed that independence would see Scotland struggle to sell its food and drink products abroad.

produce

During a visit north of the border, Owen Paterson (the UK Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs), claimed that Scottish exporters gained massive advantages from the UK government’s “clout” in markets such as China and Russia. He said an independent Scotland would struggle in comparison.

“What I see time and again after the success of the Olympics last year, the Royal Wedding and the Jubilee, is that there’s a real interest in British products… There’s a real positive for great Scottish firms like Walkers and those in the Scotch whisky industry in using the British government.

The UK is the sixth biggest economy in the world and we have real clout. When we asked that our whisky is treated fairly and ask hugely important governments in very important potential markets like China and Russia to look at counterfeiting or geographical indicators, that is to the massive advantage of that industry.

How people vote in the referendum is down to them, but I would make a very strong case that there’s a clear advantage for Scottish farmers and manufacturers to stay within the UK.

But the minister’s assertions fall apart under scrutiny.

Read the rest of this entry →

The levers of the Common Weal 65

Posted on September 17, 2013 by

The accusation that the Yes campaign proposes an impossible Scotland of low tax and high spend (often mocked as “Scandinavian spending with American taxation”) is a tactic frequently used by ‘Better Together’ to undermine the economic case for independence, with the implication that services would be cut due to lack of funds.

(Of course, they say that independence means slashing taxes at the same time as saying taxes will rise in an independent Scotland, but we’ll let that go for now.)

commonweal

It’s an allegation commonly placed at the feet of the SNP (usually by Labour when wielding the old “Tartan Tories” stick, whereas the Tories prefer to insist that the SNP are dangerous neo-Marxists) that looking to offer tax breaks and incentives to encourage development is in actual fact right wing low-tax economics.

But that’s not necessarily the case. Cutting one or two taxes to boost growth doesn’t create a “low-tax economy” any more than cutting out a single sausage from a full English breakfast makes it low-fat.

Read the rest of this entry →

On the other side of fear 111

Posted on September 05, 2013 by

It’s been a remarkable week in opinion polling, with YouGov calling the independence referendum for No on Sunday, Panelbase calling it for Yes on Monday, and TNS-BMRB, according to Prof John Curtice, calling it for Don’t Know by Wednesday.

mansnake

When you look at those results more carefully it becomes apparent that only the initial YouGov poll holds good news for the No camp, and the reason for this comes down to the psychology of change.

Read the rest of this entry →

More crystal bollocks 100

Posted on September 02, 2013 by

Almost every newspaper today reported a declaration by George Osborne that a No vote would result in a boost to Scottish family incomes of a dramatic-sounding £2,000. The headline figure, which some papers gave a more negative spin, was actually a cumulative sum spread over 30 years (because “£67 a year per family”, or £1.29 a week, sounds rather less impressive as a compelling case for the Union).

It hinged on forecast economic growth of 4% – due to “extra trade, labour migration and cross-border investment” – compared to that in an independent Scotland.

cbollocks2

Those are two pretty sweeping predictions. Is the Chancellor that good a fortune-teller?

Read the rest of this entry →

The same old song 68

Posted on August 29, 2013 by

We’ve already briefly discussed Bill Jamieson’s article in today’s Scotsman claiming an independent Scotland will be more likely to suffer financial collapse and wouldn’t be able to afford to bail out its banking sector, that its economy will diverge from the rUK due to differing economic policies (making Sterling a millstone round Scotland’s neck), and that Scottish banks would relocate their headquarters to London as a result.

woodybop

We’ve heard these dire tales of “too wee, too poor” inadequacy a thousand times. “But you couldn’t bail out the banks!” is perhaps the most scratched and worn-out disc in the No campaign’s entire DJ setlist of doom-and-gloom tunes. What we need is some sort of independence Woody Bop Muddy, but while we look for his number let’s yawn our way through this tired old scaremongering cobblers one more time.

Read the rest of this entry →

Trading partners 133

Posted on August 27, 2013 by

In an interesting addition to the independence debate today, Jim Gallagher (former director-general for devolution in the UK government, and senior adviser to Prime Minister Gordon Brown on devolution strategy from 2007 to 2010) has written about the “positive case” from a business perspective for Scotland to remain in the UK.

tradeships

His article for the Scotsman, entitled “Referendum comes down to money” is billed as “Rising to a challenge to make a positive case for the Union”. In it Gallagher argues that it’s only through membership of the Union that Scotland benefits from free trade.

Let’s see if he has a point.

Read the rest of this entry →

The “foreigner” vote 57

Posted on August 03, 2013 by

Last year’s argument over the referendum franchise saw the Scottish Government’s view win the day – that the matter should be decided according to a civic definition of nationality, rather than along the ethnic lines proposed by some in the No camp.

multiscots

But what of the people of non-Scottish ethnic origin who’ve been thus enfranchised and entrusted with the future of the nation they’ve chosen to make their home?

Read the rest of this entry →

  • About

    Wings Over Scotland is a thing that exists.

    Stats: 6,787 Posts, 1,221,949 Comments

  • Recent Posts

  • Archives

  • Categories

  • Tags

  • Recent Comments

    • Anthem on According As We Need Them: “Probably true Scot but what can we do about it? They are a law unto themselves with full political support.…Jul 14, 11:18
    • Alf Baird on According As We Need Them: “Dinna forget oor 19 “charitable trojan horses” masquerading as ‘Scottish’ universities, aye run by the ‘great and good’ appointees from…Jul 14, 10:56
    • Chas on Just Good Friends: “906. Getting close Alfie Boy. How exciting!Jul 14, 10:13
    • Anthem on According As We Need Them: “As would any political party with their current policies.Jul 14, 10:12
    • Alf Baird on Just Good Friends: “Clutching at straws there. Baltic states do not have the resources or exclusive economic zone Scotland has, and is deprived…Jul 14, 09:42
    • Scot Finlayson on According As We Need Them: “`The charity industry in Scotland handles over £15 billion of income each year` 40% and over goes on staff wages.…Jul 14, 09:00
    • James Cheyne on According As We Need Them: “All ill’s and ailments have a foundational beginning, if not recognised and dealt with the illness becomes progressive.Jul 14, 08:55
    • James Cheyne on According As We Need Them: “All politicians seem to be using 1984 as their new go too cult bible. When Scotland comes to terms with…Jul 14, 08:52
    • Aidan on Just Good Friends: “Yes – if the English were forced to pay the highest possible retail rate (the figure you use is above…Jul 14, 08:10
    • Aidan on Just Good Friends: “You also of course exclude Finland, similar in population size to Scotland and around the same GDP, higher GDP per…Jul 14, 08:01
    • Aidan on Just Good Friends: “Ireland’s GDP is distorted by base erosion and profit shifting, and by the impact of depreciating assets (like aircraft) that…Jul 14, 07:54
    • Alf Baird on Just Good Friends: ““Ireland (no oil), Norway (oil), Switzerland (banking) have GDPs in the range of 600-800B USD. Ours is 200B USD. Liechtenstein…Jul 14, 07:32
    • Alf Baird on Just Good Friends: “Scotland’s renewable energy production will soon be worth £100 billion a year, not that us Scots will see any benefit…Jul 14, 07:22
    • Andrew Kidd on According As We Need Them: “There is another article in the Herald where a female politician is complaining that people are disagreeing with everything she…Jul 13, 23:30
    • Young Lochinvar on According As We Need Them: “Unfortunately yes. Add in the DEI obsessed LibDems onto the list though, the shark lurking under the waves on this…Jul 13, 23:00
    • GM on According As We Need Them: “Very true. Nothing for it but to keep the faith and take the genuine option when it is on offer…Jul 13, 22:58
    • Captain Caveman on According As We Need Them: “@Lorn Excellent post, in my humble opinion. How did we get here?Jul 13, 22:39
    • Shug on According As We Need Them: “What is the Herald and National doing getting tied up with such a bunch of self serving weirdos Are there…Jul 13, 22:35
    • sarah on According As We Need Them: “@ GM: I agree. I can’t wait to see the back of them. We all know people in our own…Jul 13, 21:53
    • Lorn on According As We Need Them: “You still haven’t told us who these paragons of modern political action are, Dan. Actually, I read very widely and…Jul 13, 21:52
    • GM on According As We Need Them: “Aye Sarah, there are plenty of good people out there. That does not make the ‘Scottish’ elite any easier to…Jul 13, 20:41
    • Dunx on Just Good Friends: “And English consumers subsidise Scottish renewables. Your point is ?Jul 13, 20:28
    • holymacmoses on According As We Need Them: “A tweet from our Suzanne on journalistic integrity. Her kitchen is full of pots and kettles:-) “Suzanne McLaughlin @Suzemclaughlin Not…Jul 13, 20:08
    • Dan on According As We Need Them: “Maybe try being a bit more alert and receptive to actually reading and taking in what other folk have said…Jul 13, 20:04
    • willie on According As We Need Them: “The Scottish Government under the SNP and the Green is a quack quango Effijy. No one should be in any…Jul 13, 19:38
    • sarah on According As We Need Them: “@ Lorn at 6.34: “who are these paragons?”. I think Dan may be referring to the Independents for Independence who…Jul 13, 19:21
    • willie on According As We Need Them: “If they didn’t publicly fund these faux charities and their loon ball on line trolls to pump out their unwanted…Jul 13, 19:20
    • agent x on According As We Need Them: ““The Scottish National party has voted heavily in favour of introducing all women shortlists and “balanced” regional lists, reversing decades-long…Jul 13, 18:44
    • Lorn on According As We Need Them: “And who were these paragons, Dan? I have never in my life simply ticked a box because the candidate reflected…Jul 13, 18:34
    • Effijy on According As We Need Them: “So much tax payer cash directed to nonsense quangos. I’ve never yet seen one of these bodies produce anything worthwhile.…Jul 13, 18:33
  • A tall tale



↑ Top