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Wings Over Scotland

The Scottish subsidy myth

Posted on November 08, 2011 by

A very welcome piece in the New Statesman on the much-propagated lie that Scotland is subsidised by England. Could do with linking some of its sources, but still a worthwhile non-partisan reference. Also features a comment debunking another myth, namely the one that Labour need Scottish MPs to form a majority at Westminster. (Details appended below the jump.)

UK GENERAL ELECTION RESULTS 1966-PRESENT
(Italics signify years when Scottish MPs made a material difference to the makeup of the government)

1966: Labour majority of 96. Excluding Scotland, Lab majority of 4

1970: Conservative majority of 15. Excluding Scotland, Con majority of 40.

1974a: Labour largest party, no overall majority. Excluding Scotland, Labour largest party, no overall majority.

1974b: Labour majority of 4. Excluding Scotland, Lab largest party with no overall majority.

1979: Conservative majority of 44. Excluding Scotland, Con majority of 71.

1987: Conservative majority of 101. Excluding Scotland, Con majority of 153.

1992: Conservative majority of 21. Excluding Scotland, Con majority of 71.

1997: Labour majority of 177. Excluding Scotland, Lab majority of 137.

2001: Labour majority of 166. Excluding Scotland, Lab majority of 127.

2005: Labour majority of 65. Excluding Scotland, Lab majority of 43.

2010: Conservatives largest party with no overall majority. Excluding Scotland, Con majority of 20.

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