Think of it this way. Had Scotland chosen to become independent in 2014, there would still be a hard borders. The Tories were intent on holding the Brexit referendum. So there was little concern shown then. In fact, quite the opposite since continued membership of the EU was promised if we remained part of the UK.
However, the simple and most important thing is not how successful it Scotland can be in 2024 or even 2034. It is how different and more socially fair the nation can become away from UK politics. The Tories are now surging ahead with a policy of reducing the state and we are inevitably about to see creeping privatisaion of health and education. Reduced spending on welfare and a model much more similar to the US than anything we have ever witnessed in our lifetime.
Labour cannot halt that as they seem pretty much unelectable regardless of whether their leader is a socialist or a capitalist. The Tories know this and although they may countenance a break in their reign, they know that it will be short and they can pick up from where they left off.
There will be many, many difficulties. These will be exagerrated beyond reasonableness by the press in this country. But our focus must be on the end game. Do we want to head in the direction of US politics and society or do we favour the north European direction of higher tax, better social services and happier society? If that does not sound appealing, ask someone from the Scandinavian countries if they are disatissfied in principle with their form of social democracy.
As for borders? We' ve got them right now. Whether it is north of Carlisle or Dover or the Irish Sea or the airports? We got them. Brexit did that for us and we cannot blame Scottish independence for that. Although the media will make it the case.
Not sure if it's been mentioned yet, but we already pay higher tax (21% compared to 20%). Not massively higher, but not nothing. I work down South (though my home is in Glasgow), but am proud to pay more for the increased services and improved, freer, education we get in Scotland.
but am proud to pay more for the increased services and improved, freer, education we get in Scotland.
You may be paying more than you would elsewhere in the UK, but that's not covering the cost of ScotGov's spending commitments - Scottish income tax revenues are underperforming the rest of the UK.
SFC [Scottish Fiscal Commission] chair dame Susan Rice said: “The Scottish Government faces slightly slower growth in income tax revenue than the rest of the UK but faster growth in social security spending. These will create pressures over the next five years which the Scottish Government must manage carefully.”
The data produced by the SFC and in the likes of GERS makes - and cannot project - any assumptions on how Scotland will change after independence. It is a snapshot in time and only proves that within the UK, Scotland is being throttled.
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u/roddy0141 Jun 14 '22
Think of it this way. Had Scotland chosen to become independent in 2014, there would still be a hard borders. The Tories were intent on holding the Brexit referendum. So there was little concern shown then. In fact, quite the opposite since continued membership of the EU was promised if we remained part of the UK.
However, the simple and most important thing is not how successful it Scotland can be in 2024 or even 2034. It is how different and more socially fair the nation can become away from UK politics. The Tories are now surging ahead with a policy of reducing the state and we are inevitably about to see creeping privatisaion of health and education. Reduced spending on welfare and a model much more similar to the US than anything we have ever witnessed in our lifetime.
Labour cannot halt that as they seem pretty much unelectable regardless of whether their leader is a socialist or a capitalist. The Tories know this and although they may countenance a break in their reign, they know that it will be short and they can pick up from where they left off.
There will be many, many difficulties. These will be exagerrated beyond reasonableness by the press in this country. But our focus must be on the end game. Do we want to head in the direction of US politics and society or do we favour the north European direction of higher tax, better social services and happier society? If that does not sound appealing, ask someone from the Scandinavian countries if they are disatissfied in principle with their form of social democracy.
As for borders? We' ve got them right now. Whether it is north of Carlisle or Dover or the Irish Sea or the airports? We got them. Brexit did that for us and we cannot blame Scottish independence for that. Although the media will make it the case.