Kezia Dugdale Fact Check, part 675
Posted on
January 27, 2016 by
Rev. Stuart Campbell
Here’s Kezia in the Independent yesterday:
The most powerful? Did it just get promoted?
Hmm. We’re not experts on Swiss or Canadian constitutional politics, but unless their parliaments have just had their powers severely reduced and nobody told us, that’s looking like another fail for the Scottish Labour branch office manager.
.
Some previous Kezia Dugdale Fact Checks: [1], [2], [3], [4], [5], [6]
I think that wee lassie should go back to school to learn how to count…..She always seems to get her sums wrong..
She’s right. Her world is Westminster.
It’s the old, keep repeating the lie/mantra and some will believe it.
Pure distilled Slaber pish, homeopathy as it were, it doesn’t work. (Couldn’t resist)
Or should that be Slabeopathy?
Bless, she’s great entertainment value tho .
Not to mention the Basques, Catalans, Flanders and others. And of course a lot of federal states are in financial areas more powerful. Since their financial arrangements are protected by a proper constitution, they don’t need to worry about the “Barnett consequentials” of their own decisions.
Kezia love,
Here is your first lesson it’s called Simile.
Kezia Dugdale is to Nicola Sturgeon as Timmy Mallet is to Aristotle
Got it?
Does Kezia Dugdale actually believe a single thing she says in regards to Scottish politics? Has she convinced herself she is speaking the truth?
I believe Northern Ireland, has more devolved powers than Scotland and will still have more devolved powers after this latest round of tinkering.
Catalonia even have their own tv channel.
Or the German Länder. Or the U.S. States. Or, well, you get the idea.
One of the abiding issues I have with this claim “the most (or one of) devolved Parliament in the world” is that there is no proper comparison ever made.
I have not myself looked into this is any detail, but aside from the Swiss and Canadians, why is no mention or comparison ever made of the German Länder or Spain vis Catalonia?
Does anyone know if a full comparative table has ever been produced? I really would like to squash this myth.
SLAB are prone to the placebo effect.
Don’t look at the facts, look around the facts and they will believe they have become the facts even if they are in fact not the facts.
At this point it makes no difference what the unionist parties say, do or think. It’s over for them in Scotland.
Obviously I’m not the first to say it but unless Labour/Tory/LibDems embrace the popular surge for independence post-referendum they’re on an electoral hiding to nothing.
Maybe it really will take a spectacular drubbing in May for them to finally ‘get it’. I shall desist from holding my breath though.
Ok, so we have heard “the most powerful whatever” guff for sometime now. Surely this heroic statement can actually be demonstrated and backed up by example? What I would like to see, for example, is a summary table of all the devolved “whatevers” or pretend nations in the world, with columns of how many whatever powers (eg tax raising, borrowing, etc, by percentage) are actually devolved. Scotland would obviously be at the top of the list – very impressive. It would be very interesting to see if we are comparing like with like. What comparative examples are we talking about here: Switzerland? Canada? the Republic of Imaginaria? Failure to do this and one would be tempted to think that KD and her cronies want us to believe something that is not really true. Now they wouldn’t possibly want to do that, would they?
Wow. More powerful than the Faroe Islands or Greenland. Or Catalonia or the Basque Country. Or the Aaland Islands of Finland. I’m impressed.
And all that in addition to being the Best (small) Country in Jack McConnell’s world. Isn’t it all marvellous.
@Tamson
As far as I am aware the Basque nation in particular has considerable autonomy within the Spanish state. Dugdale never even mentioned the Basques. Mind you we should not be surprised in the slightest at these kinds of blatant fibs, omissions, and misinformation/disinformation from Kezia Dugdale, and other unionists in Scotland; they have a long record of staunch support for the preservation of the British state after all.
Dippy Dug? Every time her name is mentioned i get a split-screen vision. One half is her glaekit gormless puss on University Challenge and the other half consists of her frantically Googling answers on her tablet at a pre-referendum hustings.
Aye, comedy gold right enough!
Vote SNP x 2
Ah – time for a wee reminder of all the other Kez blunders:
‘Kez – The Blunder Years’: http://tinyurl.com/okobcb3
Perhaps Kezia is simply trying to be as literal as possible with her definition of “devolved”, since Swiss cantons are part of a confederation, and therefore it’s not technically correct to call them “devolved”. Probably the same with Canadian provinces – I believe it’s only the three territories which could be classed as “devolved”, as their powers can simply be revoked by the Canadian government, just like Holyrood’s can be revoked by Westminster.
(Which, incidentally, makes it all the more bizarre that SPICe has concluded that Holyrood would be more powerful than the likes of US states and German Länder – the very fact these legislatures are enshrined in their respective constitutions makes them more powerful than Holyrood, before you even start examining the powers they have.)
I would argue Holyrood will not even be the most powerful devolved parliament in the UK, never mind the world. Northern Ireland has power over corporation tax, for instance, and appears to have power over energy policy (barring nuclear energy, but then we don’t and won’t get that either.) In fact, the list of reserved matters for Northern Ireland is a fraction of the size of the list of reserved matters for Scotland.
It depends how you define “devolved”. Technically the US states grant power to the Federal Government (I think Germany is similar), rather than the central government devolving it downwards.
Must be tiring carrying that UKOK coffin around everywhere….everyday,trying something/somewhere new…. definitely lost the plot.
I think Kezia needs to have a year out wandering the world, then she might come back duly chastened. Time she had a good look at herself and her party and decide whether she should continue until anialation.
Seems as per the Hootsman, we are to have the good fortune to have Jeremy and John campaigning with her much good it will do.
I am still waiting to hear those unionists explain how the Scottish Parliament, is to be the most powerful devolved parliament in the World?
B
For those wondering which nations do and don’t have devolved parliaments, Wikipedia offers a list: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Devolution#List_of_unitary_states_with_devolution
Note the absence of Germany, Australia, the USA and other places where the sub-national legislatures are federal structures, rather than merely devolved ones.
Are there any other “devolved legislatures” to compare with?
Aren’t those mentioned above all federations where power is devolved to the centre?
Could Kezia actually be telling the truth?
Dearie me she`s no the sharpest tool in the box is she 🙁
“The most devolved parliament…”
This is just a though-terminating platitude that annoys me every time I hear it fall out lab/con mouths. See also:
“The most polished turd”
“The worlds tallest dwarf”
I am still waiting to hear the unionists explain how the Scottish parliament is going to the most powerful devolved parliament in the World.
Because the powers on offer certainly don’t appear to comparable with those of the Swiss, Canadian or even that which Catalonia enjoys.
Doug Daniel. Absolutely right. I note that three of the German Länder designate themselves free states or Freistaat. Bavaria, Saxony, and Thuringia (no, I’ve not made the last one up).
Interestingly, Bavaria had a bicameral parliament until it was abolished by referendum in 1998. I’m guessing then that they are not strictly necessary, regardless of what dark accusations are flung at the Scottish parliament.
Sorry, the computer screen went blank for a couple of seconds, and for some reason it submitted my post @2.00pm
before I had time to finish typing it.
Even if the Spice briefing were correct (which is questionable); there are 26 Swiss cantons and 10 Canadian provinces, so Holyrood would actually be the 37th most powerful devolved parliament in the world.
‘The most devolved legislature in the World’? Benefit our children?
Well we all know that’s a lie … ANOTHER one … and no doubt she got that from her lying crony … Ian Murray.
Shame she forgets to mention that her party did everything in its power to ensure that as LITTLE as possible was devolved to Scotland re. Smith. Tell that to the children Kezia.
So we’re in third place following the Swiss and Canadians? It would be interesting to ascertain what exactly has been devolved to them and how much of a ‘GAP’ there is between us and them.
It’s high time that Kezia cut it out. Cut out the lying. If not she might find herself plummeting into fourth place behind the Greens.
@flux_capacitor
I assume it was a quiz.
Greenland
The Herald
Captain Carrot?
Is BBC’s John Beattie browsing per chance?
Dear Kez,
It’s no’ a power when that power can be taken from you. Power devolved is power retained.
Scotland wants REAL power. And it will get it with PEOPLE POWER.
I always thought Switzerland was a country and Canada as well
Is what they’re saying these countries devolve more to themselves from themselves
No, I’m not following this at all
Or is somebody else in charge of Switzerland and Canada, is it the UK or Germany or somebody
I also haven’t seen John Swinney waving any bits of paper with the joyous news of Powers in our Time written on them
Mibbees they want tae haud on a wee bit wae aw their excitement
Why is it even something to be proud of?
It is still a *devolved* parliament.
It’s the same attitude that is content with a respectable loss for Scotland at the football.. because we put up a good showing and didn’t get totally pumped.
There are smarter turnips.Just ask Wurzel Gummidge to give her a loan of his “Smart head” prior to making any statements.
Let’s look at this from another perspective:
Scotland is actually the weakest, proper country in the world.
“More UKOK crap” start voting SLabour again and Shut It.
Doubt anyone’s actually falling for SLabours UKOK bullshit anymore, although the fraudster teamGB media will tell us we are/have to. Not even Vote SLab and we’ll give you each three grand for a new house sort of UKOK bullshit, suckas?
EVEL’s been buried by fraudster Scottish media but if Holyrood’s so powerful in the West, can we say bye bye UKOK when England votes for Brexit?
Not a UKOK chance in hell
Great that one of the world’s oldest countries has less power than a Canadian Province – fab.
Also doesn’t Northern Ireland have more power?
The most powerful devolved legislature in the world……but doesn’t have its own television channel. Yeh right!
@Peter McCulloch 2.00pm
I am still waiting to hear the unionists explain how the Scottish parliament is going to the most powerful devolved parliament in the World
I’m sure one of the Yoon lurkers on here will be along shortly to put us right. Come on guys, step up and re-interpret the facts for us – put us deluded fools in our place!
Every time I see or hear anything from mizzzzz Dugdale , it brings back memories of her Silent Moment on Question time , a classic moment in TV history , it’s what comedians dread dying on stage , nothing she has said or done since that moment has changed do you hear the Silence ? .
Do they actually sell any papers at all in Scotland?
Off topic –
I see the UKOK Jack wavers were busy today. It now seems that one of their tactics is to be intimidation between now and the Holyrood election, not how the Disreporting Jackie Show reported todays demo at Holyrood though. More SNP BAD run in collaboration with BBC. It was pretty blatant Brit Nat propaganda piece. I think some footie fans might have something to say about the letting off of fireworks where there is gathering of people. Were any arrests made?
Before politics in Scotland changed did our children not benefit.
Was being part of the Union detrimental for our children?
Interesting to note that all this extra devolution only came about because of the Indy Ref.
Holyrood could be the most powerful legislature in the world the universe and everything but if the party in power are taking orders from Westminster then it’s power is useless.
The difference and distinction between a devolved parliament and one that is part of a federal government is irrelevant in the larger scheme of things. As a devolved state, Scotland is part of the British state, if there was a federal Britain/UK then Scotland would still be part of that state at the present time.
The reason Kezia Dugdale has said Scotland is the most devolved legislature in the world is to deliberately mislead voters here by omission, because she knows that the Basques/Catalans etc have more power that our own devolved parliament. It is dishonest and stupid politics whichever way you look at it.
Iain More says:
27 January, 2016 at 2:55 pm
I see the UKOK Jack wavers were busy today
Ruby replies
The Union Jack wavers with Orange flares!
Kezia —
The Scottish Labour placebo that never works.
Call in the Homeopaths!
Someone said today that it was fishermen outside Holyrood protesting.
According to a person who passed they were Rangers fans upset about the laws prohibiting sectarian songs,hence the Union Jacks and orange flare.
Apparently two of their number were “unlawfully ” arrested for this last night. They feel it is their right to sing or swear inthe ground regardless of who it offends,and that the SNP are creating a police state.
‘A Scottish Labour Government would establish a Fair Start Fund, which would see primary schools receive £1,000 for every pupil from a deprived background’
Is this £1,000 per term? To level out the playing field she would need to give every child from a deprived background between £8-£12k per term & if she wanted them to be on a par with David Cameron’s old school she would need to give them £25k per term plus £1.5k per term for extras like Music.
She forgot to mention the 50 federal states in the USA.
All of which individually proscribe legislation affecting matters such as …
State income tax
State sales tax
Drivers’ licenses
Fracking licenses
Abortion rights
Prohibited substances
Gun licenses
Criminal law, felonies, penalties & sentencing
Appointments of prosecutors, judges & attorneys
Medical licenses
Legislator structures
Voting rights
Fishing licenses
Education curricula
Land ownership
Building codes
Fire codes
and so on …
Perhaps when Scotland can tick off this relatively short list I recalled just from memory, (having lived in three of their states), she might be right.
Until then however, having control over where we might wish to place “Caution, Squirrels” road signs in Argyll & Bute just doesn’t cut it.
@GHG
I think you mean “prescribe” rather than “proscribe”
Just seen the photo of the “fishermen” outside the parliament building, flairs and union flags? what not one fisherman is a yes supporter?
Regardless orange or red or white, all types of flairs used on fishing boats, whatever sympathy I had has sunk beneath the waves like the bonny shoals of herring that once were!
It has to be ‘in the world’ because we’re the Biggest Wee Country In The World.’
Just lisened to Alex Rowley Kezia’s depute in debate in the Scottish parilament. He is absolutely brilliant, Come on Kez release this Exercet on the May elections. I was spell bound by his aurity cunning and debating skills he is the true voice of Scottish Labour. I am now in a panic about both my forst and second vote. Why hide such stella resource to the cause of Scottish Labour. Bring him on.
We should not harness the power for our children. We need to harness children in case they touch the power.
Alastair
Increase your medication. 🙂
@ Golfnut Catalonia even has a TV Channel.
It has somewhat more than that look at this link
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Catalan-language_television_channels
The poorest nation in Europe is reckoned to be Moldova. Its poorest region with a population of only 140,000 has its own TV channel.
So we’re not going to have as much power as Nanavut, Newfoundland, Appenzell Ausserrhoden or Zug yet we’re supposed to be grateful?
There are actually 26 Swiss cantons and 13 Canadian provinces.
This means there will be 36 devolved parliaments in the world which will have more power than Scotland, not 2.
How do we compare to the Crown Dependencies of Man, Jersey and Guernsey?
First of all, I don’t think WM ever intended that there would be a a fair fiscal framework behind the Scotland Bill. I believe the intention was always, and still is, to erode Scotland’s block grant by stealth over time. That would be popular darn sarf.
They still hope the SNP/SG will take the bait of more powers, and get shafted.
I believe the SG will reject the Scotland Bill. So what might have happened is just daydreaming IMO.
And anyway, third? A lot of commenters above clearly share my doubts about being third.
Firstly, we were only to be given partial power of some spending and limited opportunity to change taxes. In the case of VAT, we we to get a share, but no ability to change it. What is that supposed to achieve? These count for very little.
Secondly, important areas are missing. Are there any devolved governments outside the UK without the ability to have their own broadcasting? Not as far as I can see. They may still get the central state offerings, but they have their own beyond this.
I want to see Scotland as the 194th equal member of the United Nations.
At least Fat Boy Camerons Bunch of migrants is a reduction on his Swarm
Sorry, meant to say 39 more powerful parliaments, not 36. I can add up, honest!
Since when where the Swiss Cantons or the Canadian Provinces considered to be “devolved administrations”? Devolution means that the central government retains the ability to legislate in those matters that have been devolved (though it may chose not to, especially if the political cost is considered too high) whereas both the Swiss Cantons and the Provinces of Canada predated the creation of the central federal government, which doesn’t constitutionally have the power to act in matters that that are non-Federal
Scotland might actually be the most powerful devolved legislation in the world, however since the competition basically amounts to the London, Welsh & Northern Irish Assemblies, and the city government of Washington DC this is hardly a tremendous achievement! However Scotland is very definitely not the most power sub-national parliament in the world – the Swiss Cantons, Länder of Germany and in particular the States of the USA having massively more powers (both in terms of what they can tax and what areas they can pass laws in).
‘Kez – The Blunder Years’
Look out for Labour Blunderbuss during the election.
@Not Convinced
Yes, I believe you are spot there.
Typically state, canton, province parliaments have rights under law which cannot be usurped by the central government. They have constitutions which guarantee and define the permanency of the next layer of government.
Scotland has only devolved powers. They are loaned and can be taken back or overruled by WM.
Comparisons may not be at all simple.
Marcia
Was going to do a pop back but you have cut me off atthe legs.
@Not Convinced
Try Greenland, powers devolved from Denmark.
Forget the world. Within the UK, Scotland has less powers than N Ireland and British Crown Dependencies of Channel Isles and Isle of Man, the latter even having its own currency. Both Dependencies have their own administrative, fiscal and legal systems, which is why neither the Isle of Man nor the Channnel Isles have MPs in House of Commons.
Dugdale’s ignorance/BT propaganda is truly dire.
Hang on guys! You’re looking at this all wrong.Try it from a different angle.Holyrood has the power not to call for another referendum.That gives it the power to be under the supervision of Westminster and host weapons of mass destruction.A!t any time,the Scottish Parliament can vote to ask London to bomb Moscow.Does Catalonia have the power to ask Madrid to launch a nuclear strike on Moscow? Well,yes,technically they could ask Madrid but Madrid doesn’t have any nukes.
I suppose the Catalans could ask London to nuke Moscow.Or Madrid.But London would treat that and any other request from Catalonia with utter contempt.Would London ever treat Scotland with contempt…..? As you’ll have noticed,my post is a load of drivel.And so is most of what Kezia comes out with.
I wouldn’t be surprised if this was the main tactic for the election :
1) Pump the Scotland Bill up wherever you can -the Indy is a bizarre place to do it though as nobody reads it now surely? ;
2) When the bill fails (as it will – agreement seems unlikely) then its SNPBaaad time again with added bullshit ;
3) Ummm that’s it.
I wouldn’t be at all surprised if Cameron tried to use the impasse in the bill as justification to refuse to recognise indyref2…..
Interesting times.
@Not Convined: So Dugdale is “technically” correct? Despite the 50 US States, 13 Canadian Provinces, 26 Swiss Cantons and 16 German Länder (that’s 105 more powerful parliaments already and we’ve only mentioned 4 countries) all having more powers than the Scottish Parliament will have, they aren’t technically “devolved” so they don’t count?
Haha, did Duncan Hothersal himself write this semantic juggling act for Kez? Kevin Hague will be rushing to get on John Beattie’s Fact Check next week to tell us how Kezia is absolutely correct. Lolz.
@proud cybernat at 1.56
Thanks for that link. Just spent a most enjoyable half hour laughing at Scottish labour’s farcical attempts to lay a finger on Nicola or Bbc journalists.
Someone should list all the devolved parliaments that have more power than Scotland will have…Hmm that could take a while as actually there are lots
Maybe some examples, such as Newfoundland, which actually keeps all oil and gas revenues from its territory and contributes a portion (for defence, foreign stuff etc) to the Federal government in Ottawa.
Or the Channel Islands or the Isle of Man (which has its own civil aviation register and maritime register)
or the German Lander (take your pick)
Even listing a small snapshot could take a while
The garbage that Scotland will have the most powerful parliament is really a sad sop in the hope that in the age of the internet, no one will check
Where do we find a list of what will NOT devolved? Or do we have to wait until after the refusal to see their underhand tricks exposed.
Hopefully snp reps on tv will point out that all federal parliaments have more powers also so do the 192 independent nations of the world and keep repeating that the five maim taxes that can restructure and grow our economy or make decent welfare provision as in Scandinavia remain firmly under London control
Having seen some of Kevin Haugues utterly offensive and juvenile tweets on Twitter, I am not convinced he should be allowed access to a computer without adult supervision.
On a serious note, some people still buy into Slab,(even with someone like Dipity in charge.
Between her and the biased EBC, we have a wee challenge on our hands.
The media will allow her to spout as much pish as possible without any challenge.
It will come back and bite her.
SNPx2
@One_Scot
Re KH. He does more for the Indy cause than for the Onionist!
He may appeal to some of his pals, but his antics will convert no one from Yes to No.
However, juvenile jibes are more likely make No voters check what the Yes side have to say of a serious nature, and convert!
It could be a Kezia Dugdale fact hunt or is that Jackie Baillie 🙂
Please help us in Edinburgh East from having Kezia as our MSP.
SUPPORT ASH DENHAM SNP….
http://www.crowdfunder.co.uk/ash-denham-snp-for-edinburgh-eastern
Gary45% says:
“… some people still buy into Slab … the biased EBC”
SLab may find pressure from beyond the SNP.
Ruthie’s Tories are setting themselves up to be ‘the party’ of the Union in the hope of getting BritNats to circle their wagons round her. She no doubt has remaining Lab and LibDem anti-Indy folks in her sights.
It may come down to … what does the BUM value most? SLab or their Union? Up until now those two have overlapped, but what if Ruthie is seen as a Union champ too?
It will be good to watch the two main Unionist parties fight it out.
Then there are Greens and RISE. I do wish they would stop begging for list votes as a second choice and appeal to voters on their own merit. That inevitably should suck some more votes away from SLab who are probably also reliant on list votes.
Hard times for SLab!
However, we mustn’t be complacent. The Unionists still see their Union as the big prize and would dearly love to deny the SNP a majority.
Just listening to ‘Holy Wullies Scare’. 🙂
Re the USA and others, a federal state is different.
Key difference is in a proper federal state the state government cannot be suspended by the central government whereas in devolution settlements the devolved govermnent can be suspended at any time central government wishes.
Rev, why not an FoI to the folks at ‘Spice’ getting them to stand up thier argument that it is the 3rd most powerful?
How does it beat German, Belgium, US, Australian or other Devolved States?
The next big event after 5th of May 2016 will be the SLAB choosing it’s next leader, Kezia is toast and the poor wee thing does not it!
No doubt it will be decided by head office in London, due SLABs history it will be a press-gang affair as one and all know it’s a poisoned chalice.
Roll on May it’s going to be a fantastic Month.
Good to see Reporting Scotchland giving a balanced view tonight.
Councils being threatened with having the top up from the Scottish Government removed if they raise council tax…SNPbaaad!
Forth Road Bridge funding cuts meant the work required 5 years ago was not done…SNPbaaad!
Fishing in crisis due to SG, with lots of Union Jacks and orange flares….SNPbaaad!
No mention of the SG council top up to mitigate for the freeze in the first place.
No mention of the foresight of SG to build the new bridge, and the time the bridge would be closed if the buttress works had gone ahead.
No mention of the fact that SG were denied representing the Scottish fishing industry at the EU by Westminster.
I know the SG is not perfect, and I know there is room from improvement, but from what you see on the BBC you would think they were totally incompetent.
The storm is coming folks, batten down the hatches as this storm of biased pish starts to rain down on us.
The Scottish Gov has mitigated the ‘bedroom tax’. Cameron is a coarse low life.
Google paying 3% tax.
The majority in Britain would like the migrants re-settled, multinationals making vast profit paying their taxes and a Falklands settlement.
‘the most powerful devolved legislature in the world’
Aye,right you are Kezia.
But we’re too wee too poor and too stupit to be an independent country according to you and you’re ilk.
So your hard sell sounds totally vacuous to any self respecting Scot with any ambition,vision and pride in their country.
Patronising Scottish Labour unionist paracite would just about sum you up.
The third most devolved body sounds great doesn’t it. U.S. and Australian states have more powers. But they’re in federations you see. U.S. states can set their own VAT rates, decide on serious issues like abortion and the death penalty and much much more. And none of those powers can be taken back by the senior body. Power devolved is power retained.
Being the third, or even first most devolved body isn’t much to crow about, though it’s eye catching copy for the ill informed.
I guess people who believe that Scotland is a country not best able to make its own decisions are impressed by Kezia’s devolved legislature claim.
Why be normal when you can be special?
It’s a question of sneaky semantics with the focus on the word ‘devolved’
‘Devolution’ is statutory granting of powers from the government of a sovereign state to govern at a subnational level.
‘Devolution’ differs from federalism in that devolved powers may be temporary and reside solely in the sovereign state. Legislation creating devolved parliaments can be repealed or amended by the unitary sovereign state.
A definitive world list of sovereign (or unitary) states with devolution are: Azerbeijan, Bolivia, Chile, China, Colombia, Denmark, Finland, France, Georgia, Greece, Indonesia, Italy, Japan, Kenya, Moldova, Netherlands, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Papua New Guinea, Peru, Phillippines, Portugal, Serbia, Solomon Isles, South Africa, South Korea, Spain, Tajikistan, Tanzania, Trinidad & Tobago, Ukraine, UK, Uzbekistan. 33 in total.
All of the devolved areas in the foregoing list (e.g. Greenland in Denmark, Hong Kong in China, Kosovo in Serbia, Zanzibar in Tanzania, Crimea in Ukraine etc. etc.) have more autonomy and powers than Scotland.
Scotland is actually the 2nd weakest devolved Parliament in the world; as N Ireland has more devolved powers. Wales is the only devolved area in the world weaker than Scotland.
So just another big fat lie from Kezia & Slab.
I see Boyd Tunnock just got a wee bit of product placement on Corrie just now, a box of caramel wafers front and centre in the corner shop scene, #payback
“Why be normal when you can be special?”
Oh that’s a keeper
As your resident expert on Swiss cantonal parliaments, I can confirm that the Scottish Parliament has a bit to go before it gets ahead.
On the other hand, they’re not televised, and that’s because they cater for an average population of 350,000 each.
I would like to recheck the facts in parts 1 – 672; but am unable to find them.
There is no VAT charged in the USA. Instead, a sales tax is levied at state & county levels.
O/t.
Rev Stu,
I know you have been getting that stupid Hague and others going on about Wings in your logo. Perhaps they should know that in the College of Heraldry and in accepted symbolism,outstretched Wings which are upright like those on your logo symbolise two things ,Swiftness and Protection
In view of what you do and contribute,I believe this to be very, very ,appropriate. How little they know about the culture they try to protect.
Poor Kez
https://m.youtube.com/watch?feature=youtu.be&v=kPwHECE2HMI
Kezia’s central premise is that “Holyrood will soon be the most powerful devolved legislature in the world” and it seems like Stuart and others have torn that apart already.
I find it curious that the very week where John Swinney has been suggesting that he is long way from finding the fiscal framework acceptable we see Kezia taking it as a given. You could argue that since the Smith Commission, becoming A more powerful legislature has never seemed as in jeopardy as it does this week.
Now I haven’t had time to look into it but surely Kezia is not suggesting that more powers for the Scottish Parliament can be a good thing? Not when labour’s proposal going into Smith were the weakest offering, even weaker than the tories?
If making the Scottish Parliament more powerful were desirable then labour would not have opposed doing so? I must have been drunk or daydreaming when I watched all those SNP amendements to the Scotland Bill being rejected by the tories AND labour?
Kez’s excuse, of an excuse.
https://m.youtube.com/#/watch?v=Be5diEBG1Kw
Kezia and the rest of Labour are inseparable from the failure of the Smith Commission, they have no choice but to endlessly repeat that it has worked.
I think Kevrage has done a pretty good job of helping UKOK meeja gits turning Scots oil into a big scary burden and keeping it there and not what oil really is, a colossal national asset. And maybe his poor little mummy’s baby act on twitter does the same thing, distract, misinform, keep focus away from real world stuff.
Paranoid android but yoons obviously have all UKOK mainstream media desperately monstering everything Scotland now, let alone SNP Scots.gov. But its interesting that very prominent UKOK tweesters and hacky bloggers like Dr Scott Arthur, that prune Hothersall all have similar profiles, age, IQ, articulacy, determination to get seen and known, get an online publicish profile going, as they get stuck in to blogs like WoS and so on.
So point is, are they actually working for our chums in the south, MI…some number?
Why else would anyone make such a public spectacle of themselves, if they weren’t working for some outfit with a handler?
Bit of a Graham Green fan here. Our man among the sweaties.
Kezia Dugdale and the rest of Labour are inextricably linked to the failure of Smith Commission, they have no choice but to keep repeating it is succeeding.
Could it be that Kezia and others are talking up the wonderful powers within the Scotland Bill because the know it will soon collapse?
The higher they built it, the more they believe they can blame the SG for knocking it down.
Strip down her ‘logic’ in any conceivable manner re the nuance of the statement…but it comes down to this:
She’s a fuckin’ liar.
O/T
Did anyone read the Up Helly Aa Bill this year?
P&J.
It’s a cracker –
Guizer Jarl is most displeased with A certain LibDem 🙂
I really don’t see the point of comparing degrees of devolution. Devolution is power retained and I have no real interest in it.
Our comparisons should be with other small countries and even Cyprus,Malta, Iceland which have the full powers of independence.
Entertaining comparisons with devolved units merely gives credibility to devolution
The world’s greatest living civil engineer, economist and political blogger gets hoofed squarely in the stanes from oor Eck ha ha GIRFUY Dr Scotty the snotty….
https://mobile.twitter.com/WingsScotland/status/692435549311930368/photo/1
Bloody liarALLY C, acted most dishonourably,
Chucked out his integrity – devious as can be
Hanging on as our MP, shaming our integrity
Welcome here no more is he: brazen Lib Dem grandee
You would think Kezia would rather, than spouting all her pish, would focus her mind on what job she is going to do in May after her resignation. Still there is”nout as strange as folk”.
Hmm… I think the key word here is “devolved”. I’m not an expert, but it seems to me that “devolved parliaments/assemblies” is a UK concept. The central government gives some powers to the regional assemblies but reserves others, including the power to abolish regional assemblies.
Comparisons with Australia, Canada, Germany, the US, Switzerland etc. is a bit of an apples and oranges thing. Those countries are federal. The “regions” (states/länder) give some of their power to the central government for things like foreign policy and defence. So completely the other way around than the UK situation.
Doug Daniel @ 2.01pm linked to a Wikipedia page about “devolution” ( https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Devolution#List_of_unitary_states_with_devolution ). What caught my eye was that Finland was listed as having 19 regions.
Well, Finland currently has 19 administrative regions, roughly corresponding to the historical (even pre-historical!) provinces. But we have only two tiers of elected government: national (= Parliament of Finland, encompassing the whole country) and municipal (= 313 municipal councils). The middle tier (regions/provinces) is administrative. Several municipalities co-operating to provide services (e.g. health, education, bin collection, local infrastructure and planning etc.) and to implement national policies.
National legislation prescribes the bare minimum of services every council has to provide (esp. health and education), councils are free to prioritise. My council is very sympathetic to outdoor activities and sports. We have kms and kms of excellent, varied cross-country skiing trails that double as hiking/biking trails in the summer. And the first curling hall in Finland – no wonder the 2006 Olympic silver medallist were almost all from my town! And the local ski slope, with its half-pipes, local snowboarder Peetu Pietilä eventually won Olympic silver. Maybe our local art museum and even local libraries suffer a bit by this prioritation. Some other municipality might prioritise art and culture.
Finnish municipalities have some tax-raising and borrowing powers. Corporate tax, part of income tax and all indirect taxes (VAT, fuel, alcohol etc.) are national, but municipalities set their own local income tax rates and their own property tax rates. Local income tax is flat rate within the municipality but it’s partly compensated in the progressive national income tax (you pay high municipal income tax = you pay less national income tax).
It’s a really complicated system, and the truth is that most people don’t think municipal and national income tax as separate because your PAYE combines both. (We have a very efficient tax system!)
However, depending where you live, you might pay more/less tax. Just today our national broadcaster YLE (which isn’t as bad as the BBC) did a story on the tax you pay in the greater Helsinki region (c. 50k around Helsinki). The small garden city of Kauniainen, where rich people live, was taken as the base, because they’ve got the lowest local income tax rate in Finland (16.5%). In their calculations, YLE used a fictitious 2 earning parents, 2 kids family with combined income of 84,620 euro p.a. (quite a well off “middle-income family”, actually).
This graph
http://yle.fi/uutiset/valitse_tarkkaan_missa_asut__naapurissa_voi_saastaa_tuhansia_euroja_kuntaveroissa/8621885
and story sort of sensationalises the fact that people living in different municipalities pay different amounts of income tax, even after the national progressive leveller. People in Kauniainen pay 13,207 euro, people in Pornainen pay 3,111 euro more.
So, Finnish municipalities have more “devolution”, or are more independent in setting their local income tax and property tax, and all that money accrues to the council, not the central government.
As to people fleeing high taxation… It’s more like people fleeing high, inflated rent/house prices. Prices in Helsinki and Espoo especially are too high for ordinary families with children, so they move to the “fringe” municipalities and commute. Municipal income tax might be higher, and commuting costs (some of which might be tax-dectuctible), but housing costs lower, so individual household budgets are better balanced. Plus the quality of life.
Each to their own, I loved living in my cool, quirky bedsit in the coolest, quirkiest part of Helsinki but at some point I just wanted to have trees and flowers and nature and things and my own garden, so I promptly moved 50k north. Municipal income tax is higher here but housing cheaper so I have the same or more in hand – and cross-country skiing tracks literally from my own front door!
Yes, the Finnish system is a bit of a “postcode lottery” but we expect it and live with it. We don’t expect everybody to have exactly the same services, Finland isn’t a one-size fits-all society. It’s too big and varied. The national government lays down the law, what every citizen must have, then recommendations, but it’s up to municipalities how they interpret the recommendations.
It seems to me that Finnish municipalities (local councils) have more – enshrined in law – “devolved” power than the Scottish Parliament, but they’re not called “devolved parliaments”. I think Kez Dugdale and her yoon friends are just disassembling and equivocating and just plain spinning.
I’m glad more and more Scots are seeing through the spin and lies.
Who am I to say, but EVERYBODY in Scotland who desires independence MUST vote SNP on constituency and regional vote. I don’t agree with all SNP policy but the SNP is the ONLY viable VEHICLE for Scottish independence. After independence, vote for anybody you want. Jeez! Don’t descent into Caledonian Peoples’ Front or the People’s Front of Caledonia. That’s exactly what the UKOK Westminster elite wants.
Hold… Hold… Hold…
Apologies for the long rant. I just got so angry and frustrated at the oversimplification and misrepresentation of national/regional/local government around the world, as spun by the yoon establishment. Gaaarrrgh! [add emoticon banging her head agaist a brick wall here]
galamcennalath
I have heard a few folk mention the SNP being slaughtered if they reject the fiscal framework and therefore the Scotland Bill. Of course slab and the tories will try but there is a whiff of fear in the air.
John Swinney has warned again and again that he would not accept a deal that is to Scotland’s detriment. For the general public- they are aware that the SNP are hungry for more power. There is also a fairly large amount of respect out there for John Swinney who the public I think believe is a pretty straight guy and very bright.
I think if he says the deal is no good the vast majority of folk will accept his position. If they do that then this will put slab and the tories firmly on the wrong side of the public.
For
@niallD says
..No mention of the fact that SG were denied representing the Scottish fishing industry at the EU by Westminster.
Indeed.
Now surely with 50+ MPs at UK LEVEL,
REPRESENTING MOST OF THE COASTLINE,
The SNP can CLAIM THE RIGHT TO
REPRESENT ITS CONSTITUENTS IN EUROPE,
the communities, companies and
individuals that rely on
Scotland’s UNIQUE HIGH QUALITY
AQUACULTURE PRODUCTS.
What kind of power can be used when
WE’RE NOT EVEN ALLOWED TO SIT AT THE
TABLE..?
Can’t we sue Westminster for being obnoxious? Mental cruelty?
The best small country in the world. Remember that one. The limit of a unionists ambition is to be the 3Rd best pretendy parliament in the world. Us cyber Nats have loftier ambitions for our nation.
OT
I see from Stu’s Twitter feed that yet another Nawbag from the referendum has got a cushy, well-paid job after politics.
NIA announces @tomjgreatrex as new CEO ? http://www.niauk.org/news
So now we know that Broon is working for some hedge fund bankers, Ditto Darling, in addition to his House of Lords gig. Murphy is going to be a peace envoy in the Caucasus ( stop laughing at the back, this is serious!) and Wee Dougie was last seen in public literally carrying Bono’s bags at Davos airport.
Anyone beginning to see a pattern here?
Maybe we could run a sweep on what Stairheed Mags’ reward is going to be. We know she does not like furriners, so that rules out the international bit – maybe a charity or a quango?
Suggestions?
Kezia, when are you going to learn, lass?
When are you going to stop just spouting nonsense and pretending it is ‘fact’?
Somehow …I don’t think you’re ever going to learn …and because of it …there is a fair chance you may not even survive May.
Tam Jardine says:
“John Swinney …. says the deal is no good the vast majority of folk will accept his position. If they do that then this will put slab and the tories firmly on the wrong side of the public.”
I certainly hope, and do believe that is the way it will play out.
If polls say only a tiny % of Scots believe the Scotland Bill meets the Vow, then that’s a good start!
It will make the election one Hell of a fight if it becomes a vote of confidence in the SNP’s judgement over the issue of rejection.
My guess is Cameron believes the Scotland Bill is a win-win for him. If it goes through, it screws the Scottish budget. If it is rejected he can claim the SNP are wreckers.
I think he might get a shock (again) with the actual outcome.
The ideal will be if a significant number of NO voters finally realise they have been played for suckers by WM.
@clochoderic
At PMQ`s Cameron put the boot into his ex comrades in the Bitter Together movement,
“Maybe he should start by calling Tony Blair. You can get him at J. P. Morgan. Call Gordon Brown. Apparently, you can get him at a Californian bond dealer called Pimco. He could call Alistair Darling. I think he’s at Morgan Stanley,”.
Sir Daniel “Danny” Grian Alexander is on his way to China as some type of banking Czar,
China soon to be heading for recession.
S
Scottish Office trickery exposed
http://caltonjock.com/2016/01/27/scottish-office-works-for-westminster-but-against-scotland/
@Scot Finlayson
There’s Moore as Jimmy Cricket would say!
https://archive.is/tpUvH
No matter how long the flexi lead…the pet can be pulled in at any time.
@Clochodric,
Considering the UK got Saudi Arabia nominated as the chair of the UN Human Rights Commission,I am sure that Margaret Curran could be some sort of peace ambassador dealing with the countries that she helped to destroy by selling arms to their persecutors. A bit like Blair .
Sorry for being late to Kezia’s magic mushroom trance but I had to work to help fend off starvation.. 🙂
Switzerland and Germany, each in their own way, are probably the most devolved / federal coutries in the world.
Germany has 16 Länder (States) and each is a mini clone of the German State itself.
Each has its own Parliament, MPs, Ministers, bureaucrates, tax raising powers, broadcasting – albeit under the federal ARD system but adamantly independent about what they want to broadcast.
Each has tax raising/spending powers.
The second chamber in the Bundesparliament is the Länder Chamber with the Delegates from the Länder MPs who keep an eye on the business/voting to make sure the Länder don’t get short changed.
There are rich states and poorer states so that a system called the “Länderfinanzausgleich” 🙂 exists to help, on a sliding scale, with the redistribution of wealth from those with a healthy surplus to those who are struggling.
Bavaria was a poor agricultural state but with help from the System went from being a “receiver” of help to a “Giver”.
Kezia hasn’t a clue as to what she’s on about but then again WE all know that don’t we. 😉
Im not about start researching the matter but I believe every state in the USA has more devolved powers within the USA federation than Scotland has within the United Kingdom.
Yet legally the Kingdom of Scotland is a bipartite, equally sovereign kingdom with the Kingdom of England within the United Kingdom.
Yet Scotland, like those parts of the Kingdom of England, Northern Ireland and Wales is treated as a devolved country.
It seems to have slipped Kezia’s mind that the initial letters U & K signify the truth that the United Kingdom is properly described by those initials as a Kingdom and not as a country. Its component parts are thus the only two Kingdoms who have their royal signatures and Royal seals on the Treaty of Union.
Aah, as to John Swinney…
The guy looks like a meek geek accountant, or maybe some old-fashoined prudent Edinburgh banker. Balances ever diminishing Holyrood budgets, finds money for priorities, pulls rabbits out of the hat at every budget debate.
The yoons just hate him, for his competence. Envy him, and try to ridicule or smear him. For being a Finance Minister on the side of ordinary people, not vested interests, like most of the yoon establishment is.
Robert Peffers@10.11pm
Actually, Scotland is still treated as a devolved region, I even saw something recently, refer to Scotland as a region of UKok. It’s why evel exists, and why the english feel a deep contempt towards Scotland. It is what many in Scotland just do not realise, they really do think the britnats love them.
Scotland is seen as an appendage, to be used and abused, but certainly not shown the respect she deserves. Really, UKok’s tethered slave.
SNPx2 to ensure even a teensy chance of more devolution, never mind independence.
Another NAWBAG “Alexander” has been paid off by the Establishment for his help to English Nationalism along with his fellow travellers Brown, Darling etc. Let’s not forget the EBC.
I could be wrong, but doesn’t the Isle of Man have full fiscal autonomy and control of everything bar defence?
That looks a damned sight more powerful than Holyrood. I didn’t even need to leave the British isles to find a parliament more powerful.
It’s this repeating of lies add nauseum that makes her and Labour unelectable. Keep up the good work is what I say.
OT: Texas Instruments pulling their business out of Greenock and moving operations to “more cost effective areas”, ie: Japan, Germany and USA (All of whom have no masters).
Thank you, UKOKers!
Vote SNP x 2
And by more devolution, I was meaning that is how we move closer to independence, with the Scotgov being able to play things their way on the road to Indy, which is the ultimate, only realistic goal for Scotland to survive as a country. Folks in england, not all of course, think that Scotland is too big for her boots, needs keeping down.
It maybe is like an abusive relationship, one we must escape from soon.
@ Clochodric
Perhaps Mags could become Cultural Attache for the Clyde Fishermen. Looks like they’re cut from the same cloth.
WTF were they thinking of. Surely there must have been someone among them with some sense. Any grievance they might have had, and any sympathy they could have gathered, was shot down by them treating us all to an exemplary display of what a knuckle dragging sectarian piss up looks like.
Choobs.
Looks like Kevin may well be having nightmares tonight about ‘wings’.
As someone slightly more famous than me once said,‘What a maroon, what an ignoranimous’
A few years ago, I was writing a report of a meeting that I had attended on behalf of a voluntary organisation. John Swinney had chaired it, and I wrote something to the effect that he had the air of a country solicitor, who had come down to the city for the day.
I wasn’t allowed to say that about him – but it was intended as a compliment. There are some very capable professionals, who simply choose to work in the communities in which they are rooted, and who have a seriousness and authenticity, which can’t be learned. Add to that his intellectual acuity and his open, trusting manner, and I rather suspect that the metropolitan sophisticates of the Treasury, who only deign to speak to lesser mortals in order to patronise them, will find that they have underestimated him – and his very firm resolve to obtain a framework that will share risks and costs equitably – so that they have to concede far more than he will.
And his trump card? “The people will decide.”
@ Robert Peffers
Well said. Kezia is adopting the Unionist mindset where Westminster rules over all and we should be grateful for whatever concessions we get, however small.
It’s pointless to compare ourselves with German Lander, Swiss Cantons or Canadian Provinces. We are, as Robert says, a real country. If we aren’t happy with the terms of the Scotland Bill then it makes sense to reject it.
Who else would put up with having all their resources sequestered then be doled out some pocket money and told to spend it wisely!
@Stoker
As my previous employer (When National Semiconductor) that saddens me greatly.
@ Papadox (10.33pm):
Indeed, both James Cook and Laura Bicker (BBC Scotland reporters) both rewarded for services to the Onion with American gigs. Both are now referred to as “America” or “Washington Correspondent” when reporting for Aunty Beeb. Makes you sick, doesn’t it!
Chic, it’s a massive blow for Greenock, i think they said they have been major employers in the area for 30 or 40 years.
I think they mentioned something about trying to sell off as a going concern. Either way, it’s a big blow and creates even more uncertainty for ordinary working folk and delivers another big blow to that neck of the woods.
OT
Strange. An article presumably pulled from the Herald:
/news/14231953.Health_care_in_Scotland_lags_behind_England__a_new_Europe_wide_report_says/ (with the www. of the URL)
The report did say the difference was Small!
Not a very good article right enough, obviously nobody actually read the damn thing, it was criticised and I just posted stuff from the report itself saying it presented a different picture. Only took me about 10 minutes to locate, skim read and cut and paste the bits.
Poor standard of reporting but hey!
TI – Hopefully something can be done about re-use of the plant and site – and workers. Not far from where my kids were born.
OT sort of
It’s a shame the BBC has fallen so low, I wonder if it could make such a program as this today? http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/magazine-30483873. If you can play the audio it’s well worth the effort.
Excellent synopsis of Global Politics and how we got here by Economist Jeffery Sax – why the West descended into mad unaccountable destructive wars when the Cold War ended.
Important to understand all this when addressing issues like Independence, NATO and how to handle those in power in the West.
I worked in the Soviet Union / Russia in the late 80’s and 90’s and remember how puzzled the Russian people and leadership where when Western governments made every effort to block them coming into the West as a fully functioning democracy and working market economy.
The stunning slap in the face over not being allowed to join NATO and the renaging on not marching the boarders of NATO Eastward, undermining Gorbachev and treating a Russia reaching out for friendship in a cold hard way that made it clear it was THE enemy
Jeffery Sax shines a light on it all and how it led to all the turmoil we see in the World today from the point of view of someone who was in the heart of it and has researched it in depth since.
I’d say it was pretty obvious that most BBC reporters and so-called political commentators have not listened to this, nor could they aspire to this level of understanding and analysis – even if they were allowed.
Just google “asymmetrical federalism” and you will find a Wiki page that proves Scotland is not even 3rd. So many examples of more devolution.
e.g. The Basque region and Navarre regions in Spain – they collect *all* taxes and then pay the Spanish State an amount for defence, foreign affairs and running the currency *plus* a contribution to a “solidarity fund” to help regions of Spain with social and/or demographic problems.
e.g. Six italian provinces that directly collect between 60% and 100% of their tax. Sicily collects 100%.
e.g. Greenland has full fiscal autonomy.
There is more, but add that to the two that SPICe has come across (Swiss provinces and Canadian provinces – I notice Quebec has some control over *immigration*) and you realise Scotland is not really going to get into the “Champions League places”…
Stoker:
FFS, grow up man. I accept, James Cook didn’t do himself any favours when “Frenchgate” broke, but, he and Laura Bicker DID NOT get the Washington and Los Angeles gigs by being BBC pro-Union apologists.
They got there because both are talented broadcast journalists. They are merely the latest examples of talented Scottish-trained people who have done well.
You might think they are Britnats. I prefer to think of them as very good young Scottish journalists. OK, I might not agree with everything they say, but, I can see they are good at their jobs.
You might think they are Britnats. I prefer to think of them as very good young Scottish journalists. OK, I might not agree with everything they say, but, I can see they are good at their jobs.
They are. They won. Now come the rewards of the UKOK union.
@stoker 10:56 pm
Re Greenock and another massive blow.
I was born in Greenock 69 years ago and for the whole of my life up to the last GE we have had labour MP permanently ensconced to represent and protect us from the TOLLY Governments and their nasty policies. In all those 69 years the only positive thing we got from Westminster was the big dry dock at inch green. If my memory serves me right that was a Tory gov. That gave us that.
From east India harbour to Newark roundabout in Port Glasgow was shipyards, engine works sugar docks general wharves, ship repair yards, mining machine makers BOCM 4/5 dry docks and not forgetting National Semi, IBM, Walkers sugar house, Westburn sugar house, tin manufacturers, Merino Mill.
What is left? They have all left the only thing that has been permanent here is the Labour cooncil and all that goes along with that.
Anyway that’s better aff ma Chist, sorry for the wee rant it really pisses me off what SLAB has done to ma wee toon. I know that we are not the only ones. Scotland has been hollowed out by the Establishment and the proceeds sent to help “rebuild” Londinium and the sarf east of Engerland.
May 2xSNP, next year cooncil elections hopefully a clean oot of SLAB and replant with SNP.
FEEL BETTER NOW.
O/T
Too good for O/T
http://www.youtube.com/channel/UCV8tQzEf1dTmjJ7uDYbO8CA
This is simpler
phrecordings.com/releases/sarahpalindonaldtr/
James Cook has all the attributes to do well in the world of UKOK journalism.
I think he was sent to US as a reward for surviving the “absolute chaos on the streets of Glasgow”,when Murph and Izzard were shouted at by a man.
O/T – The Orkney 4 crowdfunder has now surpassed £208k – which is what they thought they might need.
Big virtual hugs to Anonymous, whose donation took it over the finishing line. 🙂
@Stoker
Yep. Went there at the start of the 80s and left near the end of the millennium.
Put in a large percentage of my professional life there. Such was the continual ‘World War’ for that sector 80 hour weeks were the norm and 24 hour work overs were common.
Family life? What family life?
However with the continual ‘war-footing’ and good people’s jobs always being at risk, many Scottish engineers performed heroically and I do not use that word lightly, to ensure that Silicon Glen became a reality, if only for a while.
This was not gifted to us, it was certainly not the result of UK government grants, Scotland got far less of them than other regions of the UK where large amounts of grant money were pumped in to set semiconductors up there, largely to no avail.
It was down to the rigour of our educational system, the mindset it instilled and talent-filter it applied to its graduates.
In an industry which was very difficult to make work, we did so when others tried and failed.
So, Scots have not benefitted from Scottish politics up until now? Would that be because Liberal democrats, Conservatives and Labour are not actually ‘Scottish’ parties and take orders from London, who also control finances?
Honestly, even if the Fiscal Framework gets agreed and the Scotland Bill 2015 passes into law, Holyrood will still be outside the top twenty most powerful devolved legislatures in the world.
We’re not even the most powerful devolved parliament in the UK, just have a look at the powers which have been devolved to Stormont – http://www.gov.uk/guidance/devolution-settlement-northern-ireland
I have been researching extensively over past 6 weeks the powers which other devolved parliaments actually have and they put even the pre-watered down Smith agreements to shame!
Have a look, for example, at the powers devolved (and enshrined in the Italian Constitution 1948) to the Regional Government of Sardinia – http://www.regione.sardegna.it/argomenti/
Then consider that the Spanish regions of Navarra and the Basque Country have a Financial- Economic Agreement (Concierto Económico) with Madrid that basically amounts to a system of full fiscal autonomy in league with what might be called ‘Devolution Max’ in Scottish context – http://scotlandfutureforum.org/assets/library/files/application/Colino.pdf
I could give an almost endless list of further examples, but it’s getting on a bit and I’ll need to be up for work in the morning…
@Paul
Completely agree, there are many devolved and most federal regions which have much more real power than is proposed for Scotland.
My gut feeling Gordon Brown fcuking hates the Scottish Parliament—only joking
What was the reason given,Scottish Labour Party called the parliament ,Scottish Executive ?
Thanks to everyone who has taken the time to post some extremely informative data on here.
We should now try to collate this information to highlight that the Scots are being conned once again. Find out where we are on the ‘most powerfully devolved legislature in the World’ league table. Previously being hammered home by Ian Murray and Mundell as Scotland being ‘the most powerfully devolved country in the World’.
Forget about economic levers, power over welfare, employment, pensions, broadcasting and so on. Right now, at this very moment, Scotland is SO blo*dy powerful that we ‘house’ Nuclear weapons capable of blowing us all to Kingdom come overnight ….. or maybe tomorrow night … or next Thursday. That’s power for you. Real power!. We’ve got so much power that we can’t get rid of them even although the vast majority of Scottish politicians and ordinary Scots don’t want them but who gives a whit? Not Kezia Dugdale that’s for sure. She’s playing games with the Scots …. I’m all for having Nuclear weapons …. I’ll vote against having Nuclear weapons …. who cares what I say (lie) as my latest Labour masters in London will vote for them anyway …. and that’s what I really want. Put us all at risk and waste 160 billion plus in the process.
I for one am totally sick and tired of her and her party. Sick and tired of the lies and hypocracy. Sick and tired of her pretending that she’s concerned about our and more so our children’s well-being …. education, NHS etc etc.
Kezia Dugdale’s name has been added to the list of Scots who have historically sold out Scotland and even more so our children for what? To help her climb onto the gravy train? To massage her big ego? I don’t know and don’t care to analyse further why she says what. She’s a National disgrace now. End of.
@ Boris at 9:54pm … Scottish Office
Really interesting Boris.
Chair: ”Do you see yourself primarily the voice of Scotland in Whitehall or more of a role of being the voice of the UK Government in Scotland?”
3.3 million spent on Scottish Office civil servants supporting the NO campaign. 3.3 million taken from our block grant. Shut it down ASAP.
To echo Petra on post above, thanks to one and all.
A smidgeon OT (?), just listened to Ms Dugdale courtesy of The Rev and Peter Curran on YouTube: A shower of stream of “consciousness” Unionist drivel dredged-up and spewed out from the good lord’s sewers partially blocked due to lack of maintenance by the appropriate professionals.
Shyte and pish overflowing despite the best efforts of the BEEB’s in-house plumbers, Brian “Of The Gallous Braces” Taylor as well as Gordon “The Brewster” Brewster.
Connecting back to Petra on the Scotland Office aka The British Imperial Interests Department in Jockistan, do they, to quote Ms Dugdale from the videos cited, do they “pro-actively” brief her on a regular basis along with The Jockette Tory Tank Commander In Jock Situ plus chuck a few bones of info, from time to time, to Ra Wullie?
I think we do not need to be told anymore beyond continuing to gather the buckets of sand of hard evidence as back-up data.
Simply, shut the buggers down, and unless they possess the appropriate diplomatic credentials, bus them out to just over the border and let them hoof it to WM from there as per the “Russkies”‘s precedent of booting out the Brit Council’s boot-boy boyz and galz for they are of the same pedigree.
Interesting response to my right-wing trolls essay; over half who read it are brand new visitors to the site: wp.me/p4fd9j-3Tl
That does sound interesting Grouse Beater but I can’t seem to access the link!
O/T links
https://stevetopple.wordpress.com/2016/01/27/the-bbc-hsbc-the-royal-charter-expect-peak-bias/
http://www.alexsalmond.scot/press-releases/2016/1/27/salmond-speaks-at-council-of-europe-on-combating-terrorism
https://www.commonspace.scot/articles/3347/engage-or-face-sanctions-msps-warn-scotland-s-landowners-landreformbillent
Written submissions wanted…
http://www.parliament.uk/business/committees/committees-a-z/commons-select/scottish-affairs-committee/news-parliament-2015/renewable-sector-scotland-launch-15-16/
Another Zola Budd moment over a Tennis Player (konda) ,british when she,s winning anything other when she,s not,she just has to look at Andy Murray,s history.
O/T links
http://www.thecanary.co/2016/01/27/conservatives-block-access-secret-nhs-privatisation-documents/
This from a permanent fixture in No10…
https://twitter.com/rupertmurdoch/status/692380508907507712?lang=en-gb
http://www.thecanary.co/2016/01/27/wales-just-delivered-blistering-defeat-david-cameron-hes-trying-pretend-didnt-happen/
officials-lavish-60000-refurbishing-number No10
https://archive.is/3f4O4
O/T links
http://www.democraticaudit.com/?p=19190
https://www.holyrood.com/articles/news/uk-governments-hinkley-point-nuclear-plans-have-descended-farce-says-snp
Plenty money for war, eye watering …
http://motherboard.vice.com/en_uk/read/the-trillion-dollar-stealth-jet-the-government-cant-seem-to-finish
http://ec.europa.eu/growth/tools-databases/newsroom/cf/itemdetail.cfm?item_id=8641
TJenny says:
“The Orkney 4 crowdfunder has now surpassed £208k – which is what they thought they might need”
Great news, but there may be more to come with that nasty Carmichael now trying to sue the 4 for his court costs. What a lowlife he is.
Socrates MacSporran wrote @ 11.39pm:
“Stoker: FFS, grow up man.”
Away you go and bile yer heed, raffle yer doughnut,
tickle yer sporran or whitever else floats yer boat
but please don’t tell me to “grow up” just because i
hold an opinion which doesn’t meet with your approval.
There is no need to play the condescending clown role
and i’d much prefer it if you attempted to persuade me
to your way of thinking by stating your justifications
for the belief that you hold.
Meanwhile, on the subject of your mini rant, talented
professionals do not report so-called facts, stats and
Slabber office releases without question, as both Cook
and Bicker were guilty of, along with Glenn Campbell
and Laura Kuenssberg etc etc.
I know both Cook & Bicker have their wee fan club on here
but i’m proud to report that i’m not a member and never
will be for as long as they work for an organisation which
is far more dangerous to Scotland’s future prosperity and
well-being than any Unionist “news” rag.
Hold your adoration of them by all means, just don’t expect
me to follow suit, and at least back up your stance with some
form of proof and justification for your views, simples!
Meanwhile, am away tae staun in a bag oh manure!
Just got to laugh at this woman’s attempt to be a leader.Great entertainment though’