I am in Ghana and had some Ghanaian friends in the apartment here while I was watching the budget. I was ashamed, and they were incredulous, at the sheer crassness of the entire event. Hammond’s manner and delivery were beyond embarrassing. The constant stream of infantile jokes, of which the lengthy stream of toilet humour was just one part, was beyond childish. The worst thing about it is that Hammond apparently genuinely believed he was funny.
But even worse was the petty party nature of so much of it. The obsequious reference to DUP MPs by name, the grovelling towards new Tory “star” Ruth Davidson, the puerile digs at the SNP, the shoehorning in of an anti-semitism reference, the pathetic jibe at John MacDonnell’s accident. The Ghanaians with me observed that it would all have disgraced a school debating society.
Most of the budget’s rehashed public spending announcements and tax cuts for the wealthy are not worth analysis. The condemnation of PFI was very welcome, but it has taken 20 years for the political class – Red Tories or Blue Tories – to acknowledge the blindingly obvious, that they have used it as a device massively to abuse public services to rip off the taxpayer to the benefit of the bankers and wealth managers who funded the PFI schemes.
Hammond made the constantly repeated Tory claim that the income gap between rich and poor in the UK is shrinking. It depends what you are measuring. While it is indeed true that the income gap between the top and bottom deciles is slightly shrinking, the gap between the top centile and the bottom decile – or any other decile, including the between the top centile and the top decile – is expanding very fast. In short, we are taking on the characteristics of a helot society, where distinctions between the upper middle class and working class are reducing, but the gap to the extremely wealthy is growing.
In Ghana this last week I have made a point of asking a large number of Ghanaians, from drivers and students to businessmen and senior ministers, whether, in exchange for a higher standard of living and free immigration to the UK, they would give up Independence and become a colony again. I have been met with incredulity and outrage that I would even ask such a question, and even anger from those who misunderstood my motive in asking.
Ghanaians are of course quite right. Any nation should be outraged at the idea it would voluntarily become subservient, or that its allegiance can be bought for money. Which is why I am incapable of understanding the mentality of unionists in Scotland, many of whom were swayed in 2014 by arguments their pension might be reduced or their currency depreciated.
As everybody who canvassed in the 2014 knows, and opinion polls confirm, it was not those on the breadline who were influenced by these arguments. The worse off were solidly pro-Independence (except for the Orangemen, whose thought processes are not rational). It was the bungalow dwellers of suburbia who were swayed by the fear that they might not be able to trade in their Nissan Qashqai after three years as they intended.
In fact, I think the arguments Scotland will be worse off after Independence are demonstrably nonsense. But even were they true, I cannot express the degree of my contempt for those who value national freedom in pennies, and weigh self-respect against gold.
Independent states which are geographically, climatically, and in population and demographics closest to Scotland – Ireland, Norway, Denmark, Sweden, Iceland – are all markedly wealthier than Scotland, despite Scotland’s terrific endowment of national resources. Why do some Scottish people believe they are inferior to the inhabitants of these countries, and would be unable to run their own affairs and economy?
The fact that Ireland, Norway, Denmark, Iceland and Sweden are all markedly wealthier than England, but that Scotland is poorer, should be sufficient indicator that the Union has not brought the claimed historical benefits, compared to those small independent states. So should the fact that, in 1707, the population of Scotland was a quarter that of England, and after three hundred years of union it is a tenth, while the population of the Highlands has only just returned to the original level. The fact that the A1 is, amazingly, still not much dualed north of Morpeth, while Crossrail is a national UK expenditure; the fact that high speed rail – like Crossrail accounted for in GERS as a national UK expenditure – will not come north of Leeds; the massive concentration of central government functions in London, and the long term effect of that on economic development: given all these indicators, you have to be slightly crazy to believe an independent Scotland would not be better off.
Astonishingly, this collection of untalented careerists that constitutes the “government of the United Kingdom” is managing currently to extend its lead in the UK wide opinion polls, while falling back again into third place in Scotland. I have sympathy for friends in England who do not wish Scotland to be independent, because the Tories have such a majority in England. But they have no right to force Scotland to live under a succession of Tory governments, which it has not voted for in over 60 years. Similarly, the Scots have no right to prevent the English from living under Theresa May – or even under Jacob Rees Mogg – if the English continue inexplicably to wish to do so.
I have expressed for many years the hope that I will see Scottish Independence and a United Ireland before I die. I am happy to say I am now convinced that I will do so. That the end of the UK would be marked by such a squalid, incompetent and dysfunctional political leadership I could not have dared to hope. Thank God the UK will soon be over.
I didn’t think there was anything wrong with the jokes, as humour is one of the best qualities of the peoples in the British Isles, but the whole Budget was a huge exercise in delusion. Senior Tories and their media toadies believe a ‘good deal’ (whatever that actually means, which I heard no journalist ask yesterday) is inevitable because they have been taken in by their own publicity and because the alternative would be so much worse. Sadly, the world doesn’t work like that. Plenty of nations would welcome the chance to profit from a politically and economically weak Britain. It is my feeling we’ll either be presented with a deal with insurmountable disadvantages compared with what we had before or we won’t be offered one at all.
Yet Hammond’s entire budget was based on there being a Brexit deal that doesn’t harm our economy – which I don’t think is actually possible, never mind likely.
I get the feeling we’re now seeing the government doing whatever it needs to to stay in power for a few more months.
The budget speech was a stunt. There is not much new substance in it, on the Chancellor’s own admission and he just used the speech to try and score political points. Of course there is no harm in some soft humor but this was rather juvenile humour if that at all. Politicians should have some levity but when the whole speech is based around poor humour it shows how empty the contents are. Moreover it is not just the attempted humour, it is the jeering that goes on in waht is supposed to be a lawmaker’s chamber. Imaging trying to conduct any sort of communal activity with this embarrassing behaviour. Imagine a moderator in a debate having to threaten people with expulsion to keep them from behaving like hooligans.
“There is not much new substance in it, on the Chancellor’s own admission and he just used the speech to try and score political points.”
Another talentless over-ambitious careerist with delusions of grandeur abusing his office and using an occasion of national importance to set his stall out for the upcoming leadership contest. The fact that the Tories are not polling in single figures is due entirely to the blind support they receive across the corporate media, as can be testified by the front pages’ reaction to the puerile drivel, which in turn set the tone for TV and radio.
Here here. Spot on
Another great and accurate article by Craig. I worked in Ireland for some time and did a similar line of questioning. I got same response, so to unionists I ask,what really is this unequal London rule giving us ?
It’s certainly showing up our own politicians for what they are….
Here is Ian Blackford and his opinion on why he doesn’t care what the Scottish Govt. Listen from 1.40
https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/m0000wxp
Well said. The end of the UK is nigh. Long live a United Ireland. An Independent Scotland may not be far behind, but the UK minus the north of the island of Ireland, will be shored up by the pro union Corbyn Labour party.
A few referendums to be won before you can celebrate a United Ireland, I wouldn’t count your chickens just yet!
I would on the cards.
On the cards, the Brexit debacle has shown the people on the island of Ireland what the UK government are capable on. Agreeing to a backstop in December and reneging on it by February. In fact they’ve shown the world that they are not to be trusted.
NI looks more like a colony than Scotland. But in NI the colonisers seem to have a majority at least at the moment.
That argument won’t win you many friends in Northern Ireland or advance the pro-UI argument.
I am well aware.
In that case, fancy campagining for a united Ireland when the referendum comes around? 😉
nice report hopefully it will be the end of the empire in my lifetime also praying for it not religious at all .
Holidaying in the republic of Ireland this year what a brilliant country wishing we could be like this . Scotland budget of 40 billion comparatively to Ireland of 28 considering our populations are similar .A must this time soon , need to take the plunge
Independence is such a good idea that it’s worth running a pilot. Falklands maybe? It already has many of the home comforts, thistles, sheep and rain.
Are you suggesting that the Union of the Crowns will be reversed and that ‘Her Brittanic Majesty’s United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland’ will become ”Her Brittanic Majesty’s Kingdom of England’ with Wales a dependency akin to the Falkland Islands? Or will we still have a ‘United Kingdom of England and Wales’?
Or do you want to keep the Royal Family coming up to Balmoral every summer??
You have not thought of replacing Hadrians Wall with the M62 motorway? Then Scousers and Mancs could hate each other as Scots and English; Leeds Utd fans could fight Rangers fans twice a season; and John Prescott would bring his brand of socialism to Scotland, much as David Davis could lead the new rainbow nation right wingers. Liverpool and Hull would be just as isolated from Edinburgh as they are from London and arguing about how the Archbishopric of York could possibly amalgamate with the Church of Scotland could bring new sectarian strife to all the honorary Ulsterman living in South Lanarkshire.
Then the new nation could build its own HSR, avoiding Manchester and going to Liverpool (which would chuff the Scousers no end), linking Glasgow via Edinburgh and Newcastle to York and on to Hull, with sidelines into Sunderland, Leeds and Bradford. Mmm…not sure the economics would quite pan out.
yes but, by which time it will be the Peoples Republic of southern Scotia
an’ whit aboot….
an’ whit aboot…
an’ whit aboot…
an’ anuther thing…don’t you just adore my talent for the apologetic apostrophe? Quaint, eh?
I’ve never commented here before, but I’m just blown away by how bonkers your comment actually is. First off, it is the 1707 Union of Kingdoms, which will be undone to make Scotland independent. Any questions over the monarchy are for another day.
The “Union of Crowns” is merely a name for a phenomenon, there is no Act or legislation, nor any actual union taking place. It should never be capitalised, because it is a nothing. One king wearing three crowns.
Wales, as you should know, is actually “a part* of the Kingdom of England. It is not in a union, nor is it a kingdom, thus it cannot be a “united kingdom” of England and Wales. It is simply the English Kingdom.
After this you go off on one completely, and then assess your own imaginings as being bad economically. Are you drunk? High?
I was going to make the same point!
Poor Wales, England’s oldest colony. But at least the Welsh can have the last laugh, since the names “Wales” and “Welsh” are traced to the Proto-Germanic word “Walhaz” meaning “foreigner”, “stranger”, so England is really Wales, and the English are really the Welsh!
Mae’r Cymry, yng ngeiriau anfarwl Dafydd Iwan, Yma O Hyd!
The Welsh also have less Anglo Saxon and Norman DNA, which makes them more British than the English.
100% in agreement.
100% in agreement with the content of Craig’s blog to make that clear.
I hope you are right
Dear Craig, as I’m unlikely to improve on your own words, I’m simply going to semi-quote you: “Death of the United Kingdom… thank God!” ~ enough said!
Thanks, again,
Ewen
Hi, I have not come across Craig Murray before, but he seems to have a flagrant disregard for democracy. He seems to value ad-hoc local canvassing and dubious opinion polls in higher estime than actual election results.
I dislike referendum as a matter of principle, especially without a significant majority being required, but we are where we are. Let’s get on with it.
If you haven’t come across Craig before, I suggest you do a little research before opining about his views on democracy. ‘The Catholic Orangemen of Togo’ would be a good primer.
Is it published in comic form to make it simple enough for Mr Walker?
Hi Steve,
Haven’t you been briefed before being let loose with a user-name?
Is it cut backs? Sloppiness? Or have the old hands been transferred to more pressing matters?
“…he seems to have a flagrant disregard for democracy.”
Unlike the corrupt henchmen of the political party in government; stuffed full of paid shills for corporate interests, foreign governments and multi-billionaires whilst being cheer-led by a corporate media which is owned by a handful of multi-billionaires, all of whom are non-UK citizens or tax-exiles.
I’d prefer dissolution to ‘death’ which sounds violent and bitter?
Sorry to disappoint, Craig, but if Scotland has such ‘terrific endowment of national resources’, why doesn’t it rank separately on the list of the income generated from them. The whole of the UK only manages 132nd place, could Scotland do better on her own? Hmmm
https://www.theglobaleconomy.com/rankings/Natural_resources_income/
In control of our tax income for ourselves, we would be approximately 13 th.
I don;t suppose that it would be possible to entice you to explain how it would be possible for Scotland to move from 132nd to 13th on the referenced table.
Not to worry I will explain it for you,
The table shows the percentage of GNP derived from energy. Therefore the higher and the more diversified your GNP then the lower percentage contribution energy will make irrespective as to how much energy production or energy reserves you may have.
So in order for Scotland to rise to 13th place on this particular list it would be necessary to massively shrink other component parts of the total Scottish GNP. Maybe you fancy completely wiping out agriculture or forestry. Or perhaps you prefer destroying the distillery business or maybe wiping out the education sector.
It is entirely up to you but I would have thought your fellow Scots might be interested in which parts of the economy you propose to destroy in that Scotland rises to 13th place *or thereabouts) on a list of countries deriving high levels of percentage GNP from energy.
It would’ve been a whole lot simpler if you’d pointed out that what the table referred to was percentage of income, and that Bill had obviously thought he was talking about something else, such as GDP per capita, rather than churning out that response. Especially in light of the fact that either Baron misunderstood what he was reading himself, or deliberately misused the data to mislead and confuse, something which does come very naturally indeed, to certain types.
SNP did not make a good enough argument for Scottish independence, offering instead the usual EU-phemistic, multi-culti bromides. What’s the point of independence if you’re going to lose your identity and invite the world in? A more nationalist approach may well have worked – but Sturgeon is no Salvini!
Quick Jannie, there is still time to move to join Mr. Salvinis indebted nation, running away is all the rage these days.
It will take courage, endless courage, Craig.
This tune is inspirational:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OFJWDVUqfxA
The Foggy Dew (les Quais de Dublin) by Gilles Servat and the late and great Ronnie Drew.
I think The Dubliners ”The Button Pusher” more appropriate for the coming months………………
‘I am the man, the well fed man
In charge of the terrible knob
The most pleasing thing about it
It’s almost a permanent job
When the atom war is over
And the world is split in three
A consolation I’ve got, well, maybe it’s not
There’ll be nobody left but me’
Ah drink, what would we be with out it. Coherent.
I can barely imagine how sickening it must be for people in Scotland to be ruled by posh home counties tories, have the doings of the England cricket team inflicted on them when they’re watching the evening news, host English royals enactng Marie Antoinette fantasies in the highlands and all the other affronts to the senses. I found it very odd indeed that when finally afforded an opportunity to end the farce in 2014 a majority of Scots voted to perpetuate it.
“I found it very odd indeed that when finally afforded an opportunity to end the farce in 2014 a majority of Scots voted to perpetuate it.”
Oh I don’t know I thought we came pretty close considering, the media was against us, the British government was against us. Scotland’s own politicians the Tories, Libdems, and Labour, who told pensioners on their doorsteps that they’d not get their pensions (a blatant lie) if they voted yes, were and still are all against us.
The EU was very tacit about Scots remaining in the EU if they voted yes (now they openly say it would be easy for Scots to join the EU).
We had David Cameron swanning around EU countries virtually begging foreign ministers to say Scotland would be out in the cold if they voted yes.
We had David Cameron ask President Obama to tell us to stay in the union, he did. We had the head of Nato Lord George Robertson, say that if Scots voted for independence it would lead to the Balkanisation of the Western Europe.
We had threats of losing the BBC (if only) we had threat of more expensive mobile phone calls (Just as the EU was lowering roaming charges).
We had the threat of our airport runways being bombed, we were warned we could be attacked from outerspace (One of my favourites I might add).
We were told we couldn’t use the pound, and that we are, too wee too small, and too poor. The Economist produced a cover on their magazine to tell us so, calling it Skintland.
We were told oil and gas were running out and it was a terrible burden rather than an asset. However after no won, oil and gas once more became a great British asset.
The above is just the tip of a very big unionist propaganda iceberg, that still floating around Scotland reeking havoc.
Even after all the lies and machinations pushed by the media and the government and turncoat Scottish politicans, a final poll some two weeks before the independence vote remarkably showed yes in the lead.
The unionists in a panic concocted a false promise known as the Vow, and used the Daily Record, a die-hard unionist news rag to publish their false promise in, and it worked, no won and yes lost.
The promise (The Vow) was never kept. Imagine what the result would’ve been on a even playing field.
Carl, A majority of Scots 52.7% voted for independence in 2014, according to a large survey conducted by the university of Edinburgh. However 72.1% of rUK residents and 57.1% of non UK residents in Scotland swung the vote to remain
Great piece. And the Ghanian anecdote is “high five”
You are lucky, Craig, to be out of the country today. You didn’t see the headlines in the tabloid papers. “Phil-good factor”, “No tricks, just treats”… A great joy presented to the lucky public.
Spreadsheet Phil’s graveyard manner was blown apart with his pre-scripted ( as Thatcher’s always were) jokes to his chums and fellow mourners in Parliament.
To stick with the dark analogy.
The Budget was basically this:
You know how we were buried six feet under after austerity – Phil has now raised us to around five foot – eleven under.
Going off BBC reporting, a paradigm shift has occurred.
Then again Norman Smith seems to drink a lot of Red Bull. Perhaps that explains it?
It is a measure of the hubris of those who manage the British state that they are unfazed by the tv images at PMQs etc of junior common room boorish behaviour. It’s British parliamentary democracy guys! A gift to the world.
The Mother of Parliaments is a vituperous, sclerotic old tart. Fortunately, the fabric of the Mother’s house is so decayed we can cheerfully expect the structure to fall on dear old Britannia.
Post Office being privatised. It’s been happening for years but I’ve only just become aware of it.
https://www.theguardian.com/business/2016/apr/13/post-office-to-move-up-to-61-branches-to-wh-smith
You were lucky to be away. The viewers had another dose of Philip (rather too many Philips in the tory party for my liking) this morning on all the new channels. He was speaking from a factory that makes motor parts, as were told, where no activity seemed to be taking place. I thought that the location chosen by his spinners and SPADs was completely appropriate in this Britain that is so bust and broken.
He is as useless as a………!
a) John MacDonell should be John McDonell
b) There was a BBC Radio 4 analysis or file on 4 program about Irish unification recently. This pointed out that the demographic ascent of the republican population could mean that there could be a majority for unification by a border poll in 2021 (when the next census is due). Arlene Foster (the DUP leader) was asked if she would accept a border poll that voted for unification, and said that she would leave N. Ireland. Who knows, perhaps she’d move to Glasgow. A number of the usual whack jobs made darker hints.
I have mentioned previously that young voters coming through, who were born after the Good Friday agreement, will be less inclined to vote along sectarian lines, especially as the republic is a more liberal, progressive and forward looking government when compared to the current unionist government of the UK, led by (when it comes to N.I.) the sociopolitical retards of the DUP. Add into that the undoubted negative financial impact of Brexit on average peoples standard of living and the choice of re-joining the EU under a united Ireland will be a no-brainer. The only thing the people of N.I. have to worry about is the British stirring up the troubles (again) so that they can scrap the Good Friday agreement and therefore the mechanism for Irish reunification.
The first half of your statement is correct. The aspect about the British stirring up the Troubles is wide of the mark in my opinion and isn’t backed up with anything in terms of evidence.
Plenty of historical evidence available.
That the British ‘stirred’ the Troubles?
Define stirred then cite your sources and evidence so we can make a judgement.
I wonder how much stirring the Irirsh republicans and Ulster loyalists did in comparison to the State?
Actually John McDonnell
eg https://mobile.twitter.com/johnmcdonnellMP?
The ghastly ex Tory Chancellor, Gideon George Osborne, is on Newsnight tonight. Employee of the Lebedevs and the US outfit, BlackRock @ £650,000 pa for 4 days ‘ ‘work’ per month.
This sort of ‘work’ –
BlackRock makes £95m bet on UK private healthcare
Sector presents a big consolidation opportunity, and BlackRock has former Chancellor George Osborne to help manage political risk
April 26, 2018
https://www.fnlondon.com/articles/blackrock-makes-95m-bet-on-uk-private-healthcare-20180426
Brilliant Post Craig, Thank you.
” Independent states which are geographically, climatically, and in population and demographics closest to Scotland – Ireland, Norway, Denmark, Sweden, Iceland – are all markedly wealthier than Scotland, despite Scotland’s terrific endowment of national resources.”
An eight-year-old boy in Glasgow was so hungry he stole tomato sauce sachets from school to make soup –
” Suzanne McGlone, a worker with the CCG, told the Evening Times it was actually at “the lower end of the scale.”
“He was mixing the sachets with boiling water to make soup because there was nothing else,”
I could not put how I feel better than The Wee Ginger Dug –
” I’m fed up with a Scotland that’s impoverished by successive Westminster governments. A Scotland which Westminster and its apologists demand must apologise for the poverty that Westminster has created. I’m fed up with a Scotland which cries in the wilderness and which is never heard. I’m fed up with a Scotland which is treated as a satrapy by a state which promised partnership. I’m fed up with a land which is blessed with an embarrassment of resources, of natural wealth, of human talent, being told that’s poor and incapable by a British state that looks upon it as a reservoir to be drained.”
The land that we live in –
https://weegingerdug.wordpress.com/2017/05/04/the-land-that-we-live-in/
Craig heading back to court? Go on the Murray, stick it to these war hungry scum. You know it makes sense.
If we are going to have hard borders between Northern Ireland and the Irish Republic, and between England and Scotland, we’ll have to do a lot of wall building. Perhaps we can get the Mexicans to do it. I think they already own a cement company in Britain.
Well, NI is going to join Eire, so that’s one wall we won’t need. A bit of border realignment and there is quite a lot left of the last wall built between England and Scotland which just needs a few minor repairs.
Are we? Polls say otherwise.
Not this one:
“Poll: Northern Ireland voters will back united Ireland after Brexit”
“Over half (52%) said they would vote for a united Ireland after Brexit, with 39% wishing to stay part of the UK.
In the event of Brexit with a hard border, 56% favoured a united Ireland, with 40% choosing to stay in the UK.
Should the UK somehow remain in the EU, the poll found that more than half (52%) would want to stay in the UK, with just 35% supporting a united Ireland.
Only around three quarters (73%) of those from a nationalist background said they would support a united Ireland if Brexit was avoided – compared to 94% wanting to leave the UK after Brexit.”
So, Brexit changes everything.
https://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/news/northern-ireland/poll-northern-ireland-voters-will-back-united-ireland-after-brexit-37275256.html
‘The five most recent opinion polls taken in NI show similar results, with support for the North staying in the UK ranging from 45 per cent to 55 per cent, and averaging around the 50 per cent mark’ – Irish Times 1 Oct 2018
Also there is an adequate summary at the following: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_Ireland#Opinion_polling_in_Northern_Ireland_on_a_United_Ireland (use the links to drill down further into the methodlogy – persoanlly, I consider that LucidTalk polls withstand most scrutiny.
Brexit has the capacity to change everything – in no small part due to the disasterous decision of the DUP and many within the UUP to support a Leave vote.
NI will only survive if a signifcant portion of Catholics and those from a nationalist background can see the economic benefits of the staying in the Union. Unfortunately, Brexit and the possiblity of a hard border has reset this argument.
However, we are a long way from a referendum which votes to support a united Ireland. Unlike in Scotland, there is a clear option for those of us in NI. We know what sort of political and currency system we will be entering, at least initially. When people consider the GP fees we will need to pay, the thousands of public sector jobs that will be lost and the need to completely re-orietate the economy to make it more entrepreneurial and less reliant on an artifically inflated public sector then I am confident people will vote to remain within the Union after the first border poll.
That gives Nationalists and Republicans a minimum of seven years, under the terms of the Good Friday Agreement and NI Act 1998, to build a convincing economic and social case, as it will be economics and social issues that decide the future of NI, not religion or outdated aherance to a flag. Something which both the DUP and Sinn Fein should learn.
@Bayard
Yes, if we rebuilt Hadrian’s Wall as the border, it would give Scotland a bit more territory.
As an Englishman that would very much welcome English independence from Scotland I find your desire for independence understandable but unlikely to fulfill your expectations for riches for Scotland. I’m afraid your country is far too socialist for that as a result of being subsidised by England for so long. However I hope you get your wish as small is always better when it comes to government. However your stated liking for EU membership is diametrically opposed to that. The EU is bent on becoming a single state. You would be swapping rule from London for rule from Brussels. This is surely nonsensical. Please do not get the idea that I have any love at all for English politicians, all would be far better residing at the Tower of London than the Palace of Westminster. It’s just that I do not understand your views,
England was doing better when it had a more mixed economy. Oh I know trips and trinkets have got cheaper, but there were massive engineering, research and social projects. Activity now generally looks tawdry by comparison. Lots of people can’t even believe that men went to the Moon any more.
There is no requirement for you to understand Craig’s views.
Just as there is no requirement for me to agree with your opinions.
What opinion would that be?
No opinion is expressed beyond the statement that he hopes Scotland will become independent. So the only thing you reserve your right not to agree with is that Scotland should become independent.
Way to go amigo – A complete and total lack of logical coherence and that is exactly why the majority of people are, and will remain, implacably opposed to independence.
I can only assume that you are in fact a troll and an employee of British MI5 or similar.
Loony
David D makes many controversial assertions which AI or anybody can interpret as an opinion. For example he asserts that England would be independent of Scotland, something not even on the cards. Then there is a made up bit about socialism and impoverishment which frankly does not make sense. He then goes on to make a controversial statement that the EU is aiming to be a single state.
So despite what you state you stand on a very poor wicket and it is you who seems to have made a rather inappropriate reposted to AI.
The comment is FULL of opinions. Loony.
One of Hammond’s attempt at ‘humour’ yesterday. Worthy of a primary school child.
‘Local authorities have long been able to provide discretionary business rates relief to other bodies, but not to themselves. And so following representations from my hon. Friends the Members for North Cornwall (Scott Mann) and for St Austell and Newquay (Steve Double), I am pleased to announce a new mandatory business rates relief for public lavatories, so that local authorities can, at last, relieve themselves. For the convenience of the House, Mr Deputy Speaker, and without wishing to get unduly bogged down in the subject, this relief—
Peter Dowd (Bootle) (Lab)
Toilet humour.
Mr Hammond
Well, at least I am demonstrating that we are all British. This relief will extend to any such facilities made available for public use, whether publicly or privately owned. I can honestly say that that is virtually the only announcement in this Budget that has not leaked. [Hon. Members: “More!”]
https://hansard.parliament.uk/commons/2018-10-29/debates/897F500F-64B1-4F68-A4BA-23008D9ED4C4/FinancialStatement
Out! Out! Tories out!
Well written article as usual Craig,personally I cannot fathom why independence is not at least at 60% in polls when we have a Tory government careering to god knows where on our behalf.I’m a hill farmer from NE Scotland with little further education,I am shocked by the ignorance,incompetence and so lacking of intellect of the arrogant British nationalist government we have. Soar Alba gu brath.
Scotland is not a colony. Yes Scotland and Wales have suffered adverse discrimination over the years but they are not colonies.
England on the other hand might be a colony.
Would you like your monarch back Craig? Well, you can have Andrew, anyway.