The world's most-read Scottish politics website

Wings Over Scotland


The meaning of power

Posted on May 09, 2019 by

We see that giving you chores to do and calling it a present” is back:

Sigh.

As we’ve been pointing out ever since it was first mooted, the “assignation” of VAT receipts to the Scottish Government is neither a power nor a gift, but a trap. Holyrood will not have the ability to alter VAT in any way, and nor will it be given “control” of any new money. The cash in question is currently part of Holyrood’s block grant, and calling it an “assignation of VAT receipts” is nothing more than giving old money a new name and sneakily cutting Scotland’s budget by the back door.

And by non-trivial amounts:

Everyone’s always known it was a terrible and unworkable idea dreamed up in order to make it LOOK as though Scotland was being given new powers without actually doing it, and now that the only sensible and responsible course of action possible has been taken, the media and opposition can leap on it as a failure of the Scottish Government and proof that independence couldn’t work.

VAT, of course, is fundamentally a function of the economy, and Holyrood doesn’t control the Scottish economy, so it was always a con even in principle. But the main reason the plan is so complex and unworkable is precisely BECAUSE it’s being attempted under devolution rather than independence.

As with delayed welfare administration, the problems arise because the new proposals have to be half-integrated with the UK system, which is obviously far more complicated and difficult than simply having arrangements that only have to worry about Scotland.

In an independent country, companies would have to make Scotland-specific VAT declarations and all the figures would be known. Benefits wouldn’t be all tangled up in a mess of conflicting responsibilities where one government is spending its time and money trying to undo the impact of decisions of another government, as with the bedroom tax. Devolving only PARTS of things is the least efficient and most wasteful approach conceivable.

It’s a bit like, say, trying to leave the EU but while still retaining all the access and privileges of membership. And we all know how that’s working out.

519 to “The meaning of power”

  1. schrodingers cat says:

    i’m all right jack, i live in the top flat 🙂

    Reply
  2. yesindyref2 says:

    @cat
    It’s more serious than we thought, there’s more than one of them!

    https://www.tvovermind.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/06/Troll-Dolls-750×422.jpg

    Reply
  3. schrodingers cat says:

    lol
    the 77th division class photo of 2018 aka the gonks 🙂

    Reply
  4. Ken500 says:

    The SNP members finance the YES movement. Without the SNP members their would not be a YES movement. They finance the YES campaigns. They put their money where their mouth is and organise fund rraising all the time. All year long. Instead of just complaining. Ordinary people who care about the world and their fellow citizens. They get out and do it.

    That is why the SNP Gov can follow through with good extensive programmes. Without fear or favour. The have a manifesto and stick to it. Do not lie but carry it thriugh to the best of their ability. Despite Westminster unionist imbeciles trying to hold Scotland back at every opportunity, The psycho bastards, Their own description,

    Some of the YES/Green incompetents wasted it. The SNP stood aside to be inclusive. The YES appointed imbeciles mucked up the Campsign. They could not run a piss up at a brewery. The SNP got the blame as usual. The Green in fighters and the rest took £Millions of SNP money and wasted it. On campaign nonsense not worth the paper it was written on and vast salaries. They were even leaking e-mails etc. A fifth column of imbeciles. They hang into the SNP coat tails. Then put the boot in when it suits them. Not very nice.

    The SNP is funded by it’s members. Ordinary people who want a better world and believe in fighting injustice. Westminster unionist imbeciles who spend their time ruining the world causing death and destruction everywhere. Even the Tories heirs engage in illegal wars, killing people’s mothers. To protect their vast Ill gained fortune. Going to Church services to celebrate Trident, What an absolute disgrace. Total hypocrites.

    The Royals caused the 1WW which led on to the 11WW. ‘Divine right to rule now gone. Not one apology. The Westminster unionist imbecile would start WW111 in a minute. Brexit will cause world catastrophe. The absolute clueless Westminster unionists and interfering head of state, supposed to be impartial. Intent on killing every citizen that they can. Absolute shambles the Westminster unionist way. They could not make a bigger mess. Brexit, They are shameless.

    Vote SN/SNP. Vote for Independence. Do not let the Westminster unionist criminals destroy the world, The SNP members can only fund on Campaign at a time. Fighting two or more campaign at one time could lose both. Strategy. One day at a time. One campaign at a time. To win it.

    Campaign, donate, do everything folk can to make the world a better place. Put the Westminster unionists in their place. Vote them out. The Tory unionist fools going down. Big time.

    Reply
  5. Does anyone know what being `woke` means,seems to be the new buzzword used by the chattering classes.

    Reply
  6. Ken500 says:

    @A few commas would not go a miss.

    Bloggers trolling Wings. Away back to their own back yard. Instead of causing trouble with their ego postings. Trying to justify their inconsistencies. Doing no one any favours. Putting the boot in when it suits, After they got funded out of a tight spot by SNP members. The manky Mail deceivers. Another muck up. No thanks but an apology to low lives. The Mail lying distractors. Lie, after lie, after lie.

    Every criticism is right into the unionists barrel. The Tories now fighting like rats in a sack to get out of their stinking mess. What a total muck up. It could finish them off for good. With a bit of luck. Lying imbeciles.

    Reply
  7. schrodingers cat says:

    official wfi statement re natalie mcgarry

    link to womenforindependence.org

    nuf said

    Reply
  8. Ken500 says:

    LIBDem lying leaflet went in the recycling rubbish. Not worth the paper it is lied upon. Rennie stop sending them. Giving folk indigestion. Do people a favour for once. Keep your rubbish to yourself. Do not contaminate others with it. 3rd rate losers. Voters who are sick at the sight of them, can’t get rid of them. They illegally mucked up the voting system in Scotland. PR advocates, without a mandate. Cheating liars.

    The ConDems/LibDems caused Brexit and austerity. In with Cameron. The Tory liar. Causing mental health problems and starving people. The LibDems covered up child abuse. An absolute disgrace.

    Reply
  9. Ken500 says:

    Bringing Women for Independence into disrepute. Some of the organisers statements.

    Reply
  10. HandandShrimp says:

    Scott

    It is the somewhat colloquial way of saying “raised consciousness”.

    Dumbing down isn’t just for Christmas, it is a 24/7 job.

    Reply
  11. HandandShrimp says:

    Re HIGNFY, if the guest had been Farage or Gove or similar it would have gone out. Heidi would have sent out the wrong message so she was pulled.

    The rules are very simple and predictable.

    Reply
  12. chicmac says:

    WOKE. With Online Knowledge Expertise.

    Reply
  13. cassandra says:

    @Cubby

    Haven’t you worked out who I used to be yet?

    We used to be such good pals on here.

    What is it you think us ‘plants’ are trying to do if we are so obvious?

    Look at the smear attempt against Joanna Cherry now? Don’t you get it?

    Anyone who doesn’t toe the party line gets the treatment eventually. Start thinking for yourself and stop being so fearful of ‘Unionists getting ideas’ or ‘demoralising the troops’. People aren’t stupid, this isn’t 2014. They can see when a party starts to lose its way. Maybe if you stopped supporting every daft move the SNP are taking , they would take stock and rethink their disastrous strategy.

    I have tried from within the party but it is impossible when it it seems dominated by children who are going through an identity crisis or authoritarian old men yelling at clouds.

    And yes, I am beautiful…

    Reply
  14. chicmac says:

    HandandShrimp

    Re HIGNFY

    Here is Purdah where you are, except for viewers in Scotland.

    Purdah is supposed to prevent the government announcing changes or new plans during an election campaign which could influence the vote.

    She is not a member of the government.

    Also it is not statutorily backed, it is a matter of convention, kinda like a Vow 😉

    Reply
  15. Cubby says:

    Cassandra@11.29 am

    You are Nicola Sturgeon and I claim my prize. Or is it Robert Peffers. LOL

    If you knew me you would know I have said on many occasions I am not a member of the SNP. I do not go around supporting every daft move the SNP make and whether I did or not I am not so full of self importance as to think, as you say, “they would take stock and rethink their disastrous strategy”.

    I have my own opinions and I do not post on Wings to make friends so we would not have been pals as you claim. I do think for myself. An independent mind for Scottish independence.

    Next thing is you will be saying GERS has merit.

    As you claim to have been a member of the SNP the beautiful yellow dahlia is appropriate.

    Get well soon.

    Reply
  16. cassandra says:

    @Cubby

    Are you Dr Jennifer Jones?

    Reply
  17. Cubby says:

    Cassandra@12.15pm

    No. So where’s my prize?

    Get well soon.

    Reply
  18. cassandra says:

    My claims are as valid as yours. Keep digging, nice weather for it.

    Your prize is the last word. Go on – take it, I know it’s really important to you.

    Reply
  19. Cubby says:

    Cassandra@1.20pm

    Weather is nice at the moment so I am in the garden planting some divine Dahlias – some yellow ones as well as other colours.

    Watching the Wizard of Oz later.

    Have a nice day.

    Reply


Comment - please read this page for comment rules. HTML tags like <i> and <b> are permitted. Use paragraph breaks in long comments. DO NOT SIGN YOUR COMMENTS, either with a name or a slogan. If your comment does not appear immediately, DO NOT REPOST IT. Ignore these rules and I WILL KILL YOU WITH HAMMERS.


  • About

    Wings Over Scotland is a thing that exists.

    Stats: 6,972 Posts, 1,249,716 Comments

  • Recent Posts

  • Archives

  • Categories

  • Tags

  • Recent Comments

    • James on The Slowest Dawning: “LOL.Aug 28, 17:29
    • Gav on The Slowest Dawning: “The Wee Blue Book is the gold standard in getting reliable, fully-sourced information out there in a format that supports…Aug 28, 17:23
    • ScottieDog on The Slowest Dawning: “When in difficulty, there’s always the civilian branch – Believe In Scotland to get the (non-jingling) collection tins goingAug 28, 17:15
    • Willie on The Slowest Dawning: “Absolutely yes, bang on Fheargas. The SNP exists now purely to stymie independence. That’s is exactly what its handlers in…Aug 28, 17:13
    • Willie on The Slowest Dawning: “Absolutely yes, bang on Fheargas. The SNP exists now purely to stymie independence. That’s is exactly what its handlers in…Aug 28, 17:05
    • robertkknight on The Slowest Dawning: “None so blind as SNP members who will not see. Apart of course from the gender Woo-Woo and Wokerati carpetbaggers,…Aug 28, 16:49
    • Jim Thomson on The Slowest Dawning: “Right at the top of your post you point out that anyone disagreeing with the general direction of the party…Aug 28, 16:28
    • Captain Caveman on Spot The Problem: “Well, we all know you haven’t, Fatty. Unless you call a park bench “air conditioned”.Aug 28, 16:26
    • Ian Smith on The Slowest Dawning: “Will conference discuss the big thing that happened a few months back, or show any interest in who was responsible…Aug 28, 16:25
    • Fearghas MacFhionnlaigh on The Slowest Dawning: “The SNP is not a failure. I have no doubt the SNP is fully achieving what it’s dark handlers wish…Aug 28, 16:23
    • James on Spot The Problem: “Ah; Pricks 2 & 3, right on cue as booked. Got air con in there, girls?Aug 28, 15:45
    • Captain Caveman on Spot The Problem: “I think you’re forgetting the undoubted malign influence of 5G phone masts and flu vaccines, Aidan, not to mention “Humphrey…Aug 28, 15:31
    • Captain Caveman on Spot The Problem: ““Not for nothing was the SNP referred to as the Tartan Tories – strangely enough – back in the days…Aug 28, 15:29
    • Peter McAvoy on Spot The Problem: “Regarding the genius of our unwritten constitution,that term is a contradiction the genius is that the term is believed by…Aug 28, 15:26
    • Aidan on Spot The Problem: “Ooooh yes rigged heavily was it. Let me guess “MI5 in the polling stations” “ballots counted in England” “people who…Aug 28, 15:10
    • Marie on This Other Earth: “You’re obsessed with Muslims Hate-filled. Helen Joyce (Sex Matters) followed the money and in her book “Trans” named the American…Aug 28, 15:03
    • Willie on The Slowest Dawning: “The reality of the so-called 40% membership is that these lost souls are not to ve seen on the ground.hidden…Aug 28, 15:00
    • Spartan 117 on The Slowest Dawning: “Depressingly, it didn’t stop the public voting for them in their droves however at the last election. A substantive chunk…Aug 28, 14:48
    • Spartan 117 on Spot The Problem: “Rob – you speak pure logic and sense, unlike some of the other witterings here.Aug 28, 14:42
    • BLMac on The Slowest Dawning: “Maybe it’s time to do what a sovereign people do and take control of our government like the Icelanders did…Aug 28, 14:42
    • James on Spot The Problem: “Inwhich case it won’t ever happen; not even a rigged one like last time which ran them close. England needs…Aug 28, 14:37
    • Chas on The Slowest Dawning: “The starting point for Independence has to the the complete obliteration of the SNP. Any individual currently holding power within…Aug 28, 14:36
    • Campbell Clansman on The Slowest Dawning: “The document is 18,663 words in length. Fifty-seven pages in all. One wonders how many SNP members will bother to…Aug 28, 14:12
    • Rob on Spot The Problem: “What some folk can’t seem to understand is that outside their own bubble the majority of folk don’t care about…Aug 28, 13:59
    • Chas on Spot The Problem: “Go and see a doctorAug 28, 13:43
    • James Che on Spot The Problem: “The records that give evidence the king or Crown was not Sovereign in Scotland comes from the acceptance of the…Aug 28, 13:33
    • Hatey McHateface on Spot The Problem: “Sure, Chas, but this site’s byline is the “world’s most read Scottish politics site” or something like that. It’s important…Aug 28, 13:26
    • James on Spot The Problem: “Two of a kind, then.Aug 28, 13:19
    • James on Spot The Problem: “Ran oot o’ bog roll? I assumed you buy it in bulk….for obvious reasons.Aug 28, 13:18
    • Chas on Spot The Problem: “Hatey. It is possible to win an argument/debate with a genius but it is absolutely impossible to win one against…Aug 28, 13:06
  • A tall tale



↑ Top