git-intae-thum

How does the UK manage to maintain its public expenditure? Given it has barely been out of deficit for the last 50 years.

Where does the funding come from for the UK government's spend policies?

Labour have promised this for 100 years.

Greater than 60% and above support in every age group under the age of 60. The correct answer being obviously pretty soon.

Indeed. It is the nuclear option. Its risky. There needs to be solid support. However an independence majority in a Holyrood election is absolutely a solid mandate to begin withdrawing any further consent or support for UK law and institutions.......and to begin transition negotiations.

Interesting reflection by a scottish Unionist who realises there is no longer a union to defend. https://bylines.scot/news/scotland/independence/is-the-union-still-a-voluntary-one/ Wonder how many are feeling the same at the moment.

Thanks for the invite.....but am busy that week. I didn't say I agreed with the UK supreme court notion. Does any Scottish unionist? In fact it would appear to be a relatively recent assumption based on the establishment of the 1998 Scotland Act. Between 1707 and then, the often agreed principle was that union was a joining of nations. Well that idea has certainly been flung out the window. Scottish Unionists should be outraged that our nations rights and free participation has been so readily set aside and subsumed. They have done over our independent Scots law, in contravention to the Acts of Union. I don't remeber being asked or having a vote about that.....what's next?

Lets put an end to this "am a unionist" nonsense. No such thing as a "union". Scotland ceased to exist in 1707 according to the UK supreme Court.

The devolved settlement entails limited allowance for variance of expenditure. So its not really Scotgovs fault no matter how hard SLAB agitators wish it to be so. It is just highlights why we need the full fiscal powers of. independence.

once then that you too have finally been persuaded......how you going to express your democratic choice?

Since the UK's supreme Court has decided the nation of Scotland and therefore the union does not exist.....what are Scottish "Unionists" going to call themselves now?

Re the teachers strike......Scotgov cannot win on this issue tbh. I would imagine most have sympathy for the plight of all workers when faced with cost of living rises far outstripping pay. Where does it stop though. A devolved administration with limited fiscal levers cannot fix the public sector finance disaster initially caused by Labour and magnified by the Tories. When the teachers get their rise...who is next. With a fixed budget it just can't happen. SLAB Britnats in the public sector unions and the media know this, but it doesn't stop them agitating. Full fiscal independence would allow the necessary fiscal leverages that could be used to try to offset any rising cost of living demands. Incredulous anyone purporting to want an independent socialist Scotland can't see this tbh.

My understanding is that the election will be the de facto referendum. No further referendum is needed. Greater than 50% of votes for pro independence parties is a sound democratic mandate to open negotiations for independence. Why bother seeking Westminster approval for another referendum when they have shown no respect for our democracy.

That ones on Sturgeon. Time to put country before party.

Really. How so?

I would imagine starting to charge the rUK for the 17 TW of electricity (worth an estimated 2.4 billion pounds) we currently give them each year for nothing would be a start..........actually we are that generous we pay them just now to give them our electricity. If it comes to the worst, we could always just do what the financially bust UK does just now. Have the central bank create new money from nothing or borrow from the markets.

And it just needs to be pointed out (patiently and politely) that only absolute thickets, or those seeking to decieve, believe the figures have any relevance to the economy of an independent Scotland.

1. There is a way to test who is in the majority. One side refuses because they know the will lose. 2. Its all very well criticising the SNP government....and much of the criticism is justified.....but painting a devolved administration with limited powers and fixed fiscal constraints as being primarily responsible is being disingenuous. The bulk of our nations economic and social woes continue to be the fault of, as you described, shite British governance. 3. This is just pish.....and you know it.

Hmmmm......so what if we are stuck on a 50 to 55 percent pro independence majority in perpetuity. Is it justified to continue to deny that majority its democratic right?

Keep digging

^^^ Point and laugh

Pretty accurate. But what do you suggest Scotlands independence majority do to ensure their democratic voice is heard?

And then a government was elected who had a commitment to hold a referendum and a referendum was had.......that's democracy. Scotland is in a situation where it has now repeatedly voted for a referendum and been consistently ignored. Now it is told there is effectively no legal democratic route to decide its own future. What happened today has just increased the power on the UK constitutional pressure cooker. It is going to have to find a vent. I think most reasonable UK nationalists recognise that. That is why there will be a political route open up.

3. UK nationalists will now have to define an alternative democratic route for the people of Scotland to express their will.

In the midst of all this it should be remembered it was the Labour Party who introduced a UK "supreme" court therefore superceding Scots Law. The Acts of Union specifically agreed Scotlands law was to remain supreme in Scotland. The Scotland Act 1998 was the biggest infringement of this principle in the Unions 300 year existence. It was Labour that have effectively enshrined our colonial status in the new "UK" law. Its a good job Scotland finally cottoned on to them.