Keith Skeoch, Executive Director of Standard Life, is on the Board of Reform Scotland, the neo-conservative lobby group which wants to abolish the minimum wage, privatize the NHS and pensions and restrict trade unions further.
It is difficult for Tories openly to campaign against Scottish Independence as everyone in Scotland hates them, so they do it with their corporate hats on. This is most of the board of Standard Life:
Keith Skeoch, Executive Director, right wing political lobbyist
Crawford Gillies, Non Executive Director, Chairman of Control Risk Group, of London, the “security consultancy” of choice heavily peopled by ex MI5 and MI6 officers
Garry Grimstone, Chairman, “lead non-executive” at the Ministry of Defence, London
Noel Harwerth, non-executive Director, Director of “London First” – [Honestly, I am not making this up]
David Nish – Chief Executive, Member of the “UK Strategy Committee” of “TheCity UK”. “TheCity UK” being a body of the City of London.
John Paynter, non-executive Director, was vice chairman of JP Morgan Cazenove until the 2008 crash
Amazing that lot oppose independence, huh?
Standard Life also threatened to leave at the time of the devolution referendum and gave out no campaign materials to staff. “Leave” of course is a relative concept – the above bunch just pop up from London from time to time to check on how the serfs are doing.
“he still believes that al-Megrahi was responsible, which of course is utter nonsense.”
http://www.firmmagazine.com/?s=al-Megrahi
‘I see the Nationalists have got the SDL picketing the Galloway events.’
Please inform us which Nationalists have any influence at all on what the moronic SDL does. Do you mean the SNP, perhaps? If so say so, and attract a libel suit, I would guess.
Smear….underhand tactics, eh, Fred?
‘I know, they keep getting their bookings cancelled.’
No, Galloway keeps getting his bookings cancelled. Possibly because a lot of Socialist Scots would want to lynch him, and it’s for his own protection.
@ Clark
“…the director of Galloway inspired ‘The Blair Doc’ has been arrested by The Met.”
Should note, I mistakenly referenced the website: theblairdoc.com. My mistake. The film is called The Killing of Tony Blair. The website references the film.
Galloway’s twitter feed is my source. I know, Galloway is he who is he, but can’t deny it’s a perfect source for this story. I’ve thought for a while that this film would be stopped, because Blair is … who he is. Surprised it took so long.
“Smear….underhand tactics, eh, Fred?”
So what has this thread been but muck raking through the people who support the No campaign?
I mean some of them might be Capitalists but at least they aren’t Fascists.
“No, Galloway keeps getting his bookings cancelled. Possibly because a lot of Socialist Scots would want to lynch him, and it’s for his own protection.”
Those aren’t Socialists who have been picketing his events.
The No Campaign called their strategy “Project Fear”. It spectacularly backfired on them and now nobody believes the scare stories anymore, even the odd one that might just have some validity.
Now it’s time for the heavy bombers, folks with some skin in the game…they’re calling it the “Dambuster Stategy” . http://www.heraldscotland.com/politics/referendum-news/fears-more-firms-will-follow-standard-life-threat-to-quit.23554839
Would an an independent Scotland stop this ?.
“Something pushed him or affected him in the time before he died and the only thing I can put my finger on is the pressure he felt he was under when his benefits were removed.”
http://www.oxfordmail.co.uk/news/11043378.Man_starved_after_benefits_were_cut/
I used to believe that getting rid of flags and borders would be in everybody’s interest. No war. Mutual understanding. Humanity together.Cloud Loo Loo Land! Must have been smoking too much of the rock’nroll tobak.The people do not benefit. Corporations do!
When the borders disappear then so does the freedom.Suddenly someone else farther away is making up the rules for the game of life.
The UK is proof it doesn’t work in peoples interests.For the very few maybe ?
Scotland needs to leave this Union and avoid the next without big changes.The EEC is as far as Europe should’ve got.
Countries rarely give up territory willingly.I smell big shenannigans ahead. Standard Life is one over the bow.
At 28 Feb, 2014 – 5:23 am, MOD/Craig writes:
everybody who wishes this blog well should ignore him/her and leave it to the mod to deal with.
[Including you A Node.]
‘So what has this thread been but muck raking through the people who support the No campaign?’
I know the answer to that. A fair amount of intelligent commentary. And yours: entirely unsubstantiated negative allegations regarding the Yes campaign.
‘I mean some of them might be Capitalists but at least they aren’t Fascists.’
No?
http://www.bnp.org.uk/news/national/better-together-campaign-needs-more-positives
lol
@someone
Your link to the Oxford Mail is a sad reflection of our egalitarian society.
Those who are in need require more help and reassurance than others.
It seems from early on the safety net that lifts up people into an established society is not good enough.
Basic human rights and family rights are necessary and in this case opportunities of care and education have failed.
“I know the answer to that. A fair amount of intelligent commentary. And yours: entirely unsubstantiated negative allegations regarding the Yes campaign.”
Actually I was the one who stated the facts. Should Scotland become independent those companies who see it as more profitable to relocate south of the border will relocate south of the border.
That is the reality, it’s plain economic sense.
Can the Scottish Government give a cast-iron guarantee that
in the event of a ‘yes’ result, people’s bank deposits will be protected up to a figure of £85000 per account, as they currently are by the UK government, regardless of any position which might be taken by the rump UK government or the EU?
?
Read my comment above for details as to why the mealy-mouthed statements by the Scottish Government so far fall a long way short of such a guarantee.
It is completely reasonable for people to ask this question.
It is unreasonable for anyone to say otherwise. So please can no-one say I’m in the same category as Standard Life and Control Risks – thanks! 🙂
“in the event of a ‘yes’ result, people’s bank deposits will be protected up to a figure of £85000 per account, as they currently are by the UK government, regardless of any position which might be taken by the rump UK government or the EU?”
Yes N_ a reasonable question. However what would that £85000 be worth in real terms if there was a run on the banks? Confetti. The UK government (rather taxpayer) can only bail out one or two more banks the size of the RBS before the economy collapses. Yes they will give you your £85000 but what will be its purchasing power?
‘Should Scotland become independent those companies who see it as more profitable to relocate south of the border will relocate south of the border.’
Someone else was disputing that. I wasn’t. Looks like a statement of the bleeding obvious to me. Is that what it takes to qualify as a fact?
BNP, lol.
“BNP, lol.”
Something else obvious, everyone is entitled to an opinion, even BNP members.
Let me know when the BNP are standing outside the Yes campaign meetings with banners.
The latest on the Sam Adams’ award here where it should be,
http://www.craigmurray.org.uk/archives/2014/02/the-security-state-crushes-ever-tighter/comment-page-3/#comment-442997
The latest on tomorrow’s protest for the release of Moazzam Begg here where it should be,
http://www.craigmurray.org.uk/archives/2014/02/moazzam-begg-a-political-prisoner-again/#comment-443002
http://yes2014.net/2014/02/22/better-together-with-bnp/
Just like that. Out loud.
@Fred, Thanks for some much needed sanity.
“Just like that. Out loud.”
So no evidence of the BNP outside meetings with banners. Cheers.
The sash my father wore…
http://www.britishtogether.co.uk/
Well, naturally. Might be some confusion there, though. Anglo-Catholics have their own Better Together, but it is curiously vague about Scottish independence….
http://inthisvaleoftears.wordpress.com/2012/07/08/the-church-of-england-better-together/
As UKIP are meeting this weekend, thought I would look for any recent links to them and Scotland under ‘news’.
This is basically anti EU and Barroso in particular
Nigel Farage: Surprise, surprise, Brussels is weighing into the Scottish debate
The EC president, José Manuel Barroso, revelled in the attention he received
http://www.independent.co.uk/voices/comment/nigel-farage-surprise-surprise-brussels-is-weighing-into-the-scottish-debate-9136833.html
This where both Salmond and Farage are dissed.
Alex Salmond and Nigel Farage are both blowing up at the same time http://blogs.telegraph.co.uk/news/iainmartin1/100260108/alex-salmond-and-nigel-farage-are-both-blowing-up-at-the-same-time/
and the usual Tory scare stuff from Grieve
Dominic Grieve: Tories Must Ditch ‘Odd Obsessions’ To Win Election http://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/2014/02/27/ukip-dominic-grieve-conservative-party_n_4869610.html
~~
Wee Willy Walsh is not bothered by Scottish independence.
Scottish independence: BA boss Willie Walsh ‘positive’ about impact
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-scotland-politics-26383990
‘So no evidence of the BNP outside meetings with banners.’
Yet. Meanwhile here’s a picture of some Orangemen with banners, outside a Catholic church.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=My5cf2zlkpo
Makes you proud to be British, dunnit?
Is this relevant to Scotland’ forthcoming independence.I think so. How UKUSIS does things these days:
http://canspeccy.blogspot.co.uk/2014/02/reaping-ukrainian-whirlwind-tyranny-in.html
“[Including you A Node.]”
You just deleted your insurance policy
“27 February 2014
Scottish referendum
On 18 September 2014 a referendum will be held to decide whether Scotland should become an independent country. In recent months some of our customers have been in touch with us to ask what impact this would have on their savings and investments with Standard Life.
Our key priority is to continue serving the needs of our 4 million UK customers, wherever they reside and regardless of any constitutional change. The same applies to our customers in other parts of the world.
As a business we have a long-standing policy of strict political neutrality and at no time will we advise people on how they should vote, but we have a duty and a responsibility to understand the implications of independence for our customers and other stakeholders and to take whatever action may be necessary to protect their interests.
In view of the uncertainty that is likely to remain around this issue, there are steps that we can and will take now based on our own analysis. For example, we have started work to establish additional registered companies to operate outside Scotland, into which we could transfer parts of our operations if it was necessary to do so.
This is a purely precautionary measure, and customers do not need to take any action. We are simply putting in place a mechanism which, in the event of constitutional change, allows us to provide continuity to customers and to continue serving them, wherever they live in the UK.
Customers can find further details in our 2013 Annual Report and Accounts from our Chief Executive David Nish and Chairman Gerry Grimstone.”
@John Goss, 2.05pm – Agreed; good point.
The referendum question is very simple. “Should Scotland be an independent country.” Yes or No. On voting day, Scotland is de facto independent until the result is declared.
‘Yes’ means all decisions affecting Scotland are taken in Scotland, by the folk that live there. ‘No’ means that we hand all that power to another country that may have different priorities.
Will the song be ‘Scotland the brave’. or ‘Scotland the slave’?