Scottish Politics Thread

[rickshaw-major]

Behind a paywall. Why are they 'former'?

Agreed about single issue parties. Why not focus on concerns closer to home rather than some arbitrary concept of 'FrEeEdOoOmM!!1one' Still, I'm sure there party will allow them to continue feathering their nests.

Brodie was an MSP for a single term.

Doig left die Partei after being suspended for homophobic comments about a gay MSP. Oh and he called a female Yes campaigner “seriously stacked”. Renfrewshire SNP: Party tight-lipped over "mysoginistic" and "homophobic" email

 

[rickshaw-major]

Yes; as presumably Scotland would still wish to belong to NATO..... .

You think?

 

[Hohenidoom]

Personally can't think "Scottish defence" will end up much more than Irish style naval forces and token air cover, for ensuring the daily herald has a nice piccy of those pesky TU-95s being escorted out of scotch airspace. Maybe a few blokes in kilts for ensuring Her most royal and potent majesty Nicola has a sufficient guard at the shed of doom, too.

The question remains though, what's the point of funding it at all when you've got England + co with all the expensive naval and air units to essentially do the job for you?

 

[johnboyzzz]

Here are a couple of articles from couple of years ago and the beginning of the year

Scottish independence and defence – A look at the numbers

Since the publication of the SNP's 'Growth Commission' report, many commentators have discussed the assertions, recommendations and inconsistencies in the 354-page document.

ukdefencejournal.org.uk

Expert outlines potential form of an independent Scottish military

Stuart Crawford, who was also a British Army officer, has said the Scottish Government should focus on specialising in certain areas.

ukdefencejournal.org.uk

 

[Emcon Ecomcon]

You think?

If Scotland decided to become independent, then it will need to have a foreign policy and Defence is part of that policy. What the SNP don't seem to get, is England and the Union is not the end, but the beginning of other countries and blocs like the EU or US having some say over that policy.

The SNP standard method of negotiating, which consists of publically demanding something from London, won't work with other capitals and after independence won't work at all with London.

 

[rickshaw-major]

If Scotland decided to become independent, then it will need to have a foreign policy and Defence is part of that policy. What the SNP don't seem to get, is England and the Union is not the end, but the beginning of other countries and blocs like the EU or US having some say over that policy.

The SNP standard method of negotiating, which consists of publically demanding something from London, won't work with other capitals and after independence won't work at all with London.

Oh I get it I'm just not sure the SNP do.

 

[Dredd]

Yes; as presumably Scotland would still wish to belong to NATO..... So every Scottish Department and overall Government spending would take a minimum 10% (deficit+defence) cut on day one of Independence.

Then you have the 'haircut' where the market value of Scotland will be seriously diminished, as no longer belonging to the Union has costs, remember the remainers including the SNP never shut up about that as a downside of leaving Brussels. I would expect a structural recession, may well be staved off in year one, by say year five of independence, the rest of the UK will have moved on and Scotland frozen in time with minimal investment and losing market share in England.

No, they won't. As they appear to copy everything else from Eire, that will be another thing they copy as they stand proudly outside NATO but occasionally train with them, while safe in the protective envelope it offers.

 

[dun_n_dusted]

Didn’t you read the cult‘s white paper just before the once in a lifetime neverendum? They‘d already baggsy’d what they thought they were due from the rest of the UK. Strangely enough there wasn’t much mention of funding, just a bluffers take on Simon says we get ten Typhoons.

And of course they have the pilots, ground crews, replacement parts and the rest that goes with them

 

[Dan Gleebles]

And of course they have the pilots, ground crews, replacement parts and the rest that goes with them

Well, at least they can fill the Scots Infantry battalions...

 

[Helm]

Well, at least they can fill the Scots Infantry battalions... With Fijians

There.

 

[Dan Gleebles]

There.

I'll set them up...

 

[Emcon Ecomcon]

No, they won't. As they appear to copy everything else from Eire, that will be another thing they copy as they stand proudly outside NATO but occasionally train with them, while safe in the protective envelope it offers.

Every argument for remaining in the EU, can be multiplied by 10 with Scottish independence. The nation has around 10% of the UK GDP and starts out with either higher taxes, or a 10% cut in its expenditure, that also applies to political capital and Scotland loses 90% of its political capital and outside of NATO, you could delete a little bit more.

 

[Auld-Yin]

The Great Leader constantly drips on about not being able to borrow money, which would solve all her problems. But money is not gifted but loaned based on the credit rating of the country. Currently I think UK is AAA or AA+ whatever, it is at a high level of credit worthiness making borrowing money easier and cheaper - less of a risk.

I doubt very much that Indy Scotland would have a very high credit rating - anyone know what the rating is, has it been done as an exercise in independence? I guess it will be low thus meaning Indy Scot would borrow less for more. Strange how SWMBO does not talk about that much/at all!

 

[johnboyzzz]

Every argument for remaining in the EU, can be multiplied by 10 with Scottish independence. The nation has around 10% of the UK GDP and starts out with either higher taxes, or a 10% cut in its expenditure, that also applies to political capital and Scotland loses 90% of its political capital and outside of NATO, you could delete a little bit more.

We already have higher taxes

 

[johnboyzzz]

The Great Leader constantly drips on about not being able to borrow money, which would solve all her problems. But money is not gifted but loaned based on the credit rating of the country. Currently I think UK is AAA or AA+ whatever, it is at a high level of credit worthiness making borrowing money easier and cheaper - less of a risk.

I doubt very much that Indy Scotland would have a very high credit rating - anyone know what the rating is, has it been done as an exercise in independence? I guess it will be low thus meaning Indy Scot would borrow less for more. Strange how SWMBO does not talk about that much/at all!

IIRC there was some mention of a rating of A in 2014

ETA link

Scottish independence: Moody's predicts Scotland would get an 'A' credit rating

Scotland would likely hold a lower credit rating than the rest of the UK immediately after independence, according to the ratings agency Moody's.

www.bbc.co.uk

But, 3 years later it would be classed as ..............................drum roll

Scotland faces JUNK credit rating if Sturgeon leads nation out of UK, warns Moody's

SCOTLAND'S credit rating could be classed as 'junk' if it were to split from Britain amid a huge hole in its finances thanks to falling oil prices, top rating firm Moody's has warned.

www.express.co.uk

 

[Auld-Yin]

She could always apply to Amigo Loans!

 

[Emcon Ecomcon]

The Great Leader constantly drips on about not being able to borrow money, which would solve all her problems. But money is not gifted but loaned based on the credit rating of the country. Currently I think UK is AAA or AA+ whatever, it is at a high level of credit worthiness making borrowing money easier and cheaper - less of a risk.

I doubt very much that Indy Scotland would have a very high credit rating - anyone know what the rating is, has it been done as an exercise in independence? I guess it will be low thus meaning Indy Scot would borrow less for more. Strange how SWMBO does not talk about that much/at all!

Don't forget all the SNP fairy tales are based on pre-covid best case..... Since Covid hit, the Debt argument means the Scottish share of UK Debt is over 100% of Scottish GDP and the costs of Independence even for slovakia, was around 4% of GDP in stable times, so its probably 1.5 times that now and I would imagine Scotland would lose 6% of GDP in the first couple of years through natural friction.

 

[johnboyzzz]

I agree with Joe

 

[HCL]

Is that taking into account the current fiscal deficit of 9% of GDP.

You'll be lucky to be issued a cap gun, just don't hold out for any caps....

JB

Basically the Army under Labour in the late 70s?

 

[johnboyzzz]