The meaning of power
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.
i’m all right jack, i live in the top flat 🙂
@cat
It’s more serious than we thought, there’s more than one of them!
lol
the 77th division class photo of 2018 aka the gonks 🙂
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.
Does anyone know what being `woke` means,seems to be the new buzzword used by the chattering classes.
@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.
official wfi statement re natalie mcgarry
link to womenforindependence.org
nuf said
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.
Bringing Women for Independence into disrepute. Some of the organisers statements.
Scott
It is the somewhat colloquial way of saying “raised consciousness”.
Dumbing down isn’t just for Christmas, it is a 24/7 job.
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.
WOKE. With Online Knowledge Expertise.
@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…
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 😉
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.
@Cubby
Are you Dr Jennifer Jones?
Cassandra@12.15pm
No. So where’s my prize?
Get well soon.
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.
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.