From the warm embrace of passionate citizen activism, Scotland’s future passed to the cold hands of hardened political hacks in closeted rooms. It is a physical impossibility that all 14,000 submissions from the public received by mid-October were even read, led alone properly considered. I am willing to bet most were not even opened.
No, this was the very worst kind of deal-making by callous political operatives, where party interests came first, second and last. I do not give a fig for the result. Income tax devolution is of minimal use if other major taxes are set from London and most income still comes from a Westminster “grant”. Revenue from oil and whisky will still be treated in government accounts as “UK” rather than arising in Scotland. It is far short of the quasi Federal powers which No voters were promised and the Lib Dems pretend to believe in.
Actually, I do not give a fig for the Smith Commission. I want to live in a country where the Westminster establishment does not send our children to fight and die in illegal wars, and which does not harbour weapons of mass destruction. I want a country where governance is decided by citizens and not cooked up the way of this sordid, sordid deal.
That is not to say we should not take advantage of any minor opportunities for increasing social fairness in Scotland that may accrue. But given the continued Westminster stranglehold on overall funding levels, they will be minor indeed.
Nor will I disdain the amusement afforded by the total intellectual mess into which the Labour Party has landed itself. If non-Scottish MPs in Westminster cannot vote on Scottish levels of income tax, it would be absolutely wrong for Scottish MPs to vote on English, Welsh or Northern Irish levels of income tax. That is unanswerable, yet the Labour Party cannot bring itself to acknowledge it. This should be fun.
For those wanting a detailed analysis, we have the excellent Stuart Campbell.
John Goss,
You responded to this – and – if I understand – in effect you said that someone “identify thefted” – “your post” – following:-
“Two days ago Courtenay explained some of the corruption taking place in the Turk and Caicos Islands’ fight for independence from the Crown. I mentioned Haiti and its human rights’ abuses and the banning of masses from voting. This last month people in Haiti’s capital, Port au Prince, have taken to the streets in protest against the Martelly-Lamothe regime. They want voting rights. Ever since the Clintons went there to advise this government by stealth thinks have got much worse for the poor. Thirteen human rights groups have signed a petition to grant government by democracy rather than government by decree.
http://www.dadychery.org/2014/11/04/haitis-human-rights-organizations-say-no-to-dictatorship/
Where are the English and French voices in opposition to US imposed autocracy which is in control of the judiciary.”
Then you said:-
“Note: This comment posted itself without any input from me. See above.”
MY RESPONSE
The UK still has a number of British Caribbean colonies. In terms of economic advantage to HMG – one might rank – or – list:-
Bermuda
Cayman Islands
British Virgin Islands
And somewhere down the line:-
Turks and Caicos Islands.
The benefits to Britain are quite substantial ( albeit disguised).
The islands are small; dependent – and the populations largely neglected. Britain does
have a responsibility and should live up to it.
CB
Should have read:-
Not ” identify thefted” – but – “Identity thefted”
Maybe a man of Craig’s vast and much respected experience might right a post ( or posts) about:-
1.The remnants of the British Empire in the Caribbean ( as colonines) and elsewhere.
2. The international legal responsibilities attendant to maintaining colonies; and
3. The transgressions from the legal responsibilities which HMG is affixed with.
Aluta continua!
Shit – did it again:-
“might right a post” – surely not – “might write…” – right?