It's GERS time again and the figures reveal the strength of continuing to share risks and rewards in union and expose the emptiness of nationalist rhetoric
I have nothing against you and I agree that the current devolution arrangement suits no-one.. but Scotland will likely never again vote for a bunch of entitled toffs who have forced a damaging Brexit on us and have assisting in creating one of the most unequal societies in the first world. You can't just tell us to stop whining and get on with it.
Has brexit hurt the Scottish economy? Yes. Has the ever-changing merry-go-round cast of characters occupying No.10 undermined the economy? Absolutely.
But when 92% of those services sector firms asked say this SNP administration doesn’t comprehend the business community, there's no point the SNP blaming Brexit.
When 80% of hospitality firms when asked say the SNP have no clue about the business environment faced, it’s really bad.
The figures you refer are in specific reference to some of the green policies that are understandably unpopular with business. The reality is they will have to be forced through by everyone at some point.. even by the Tories. Unless they were lying about their commitment to net zero.
It is well done. The area of contention being largely the transition to a well being economy. I know you feel on firmer ground here than you did with your silly GERs article... So perhaps to can provide evidence of the actual financial damage of the New Deal, so we can make a comparison with the ongoing damage of Brexit, Boris and truss?
If the GERS figures showed a massive surplus, presumably the nationalists would trumpet this as a sound underpinning for independence. Unfortunately the GERS figures are the opposite of this, so you have to do quite a lot of mental gymnastics to argue that they also support independence so it is no wonder that Forbes has tied herself in knots about this.
Your article relies on the very logic you use to attack the Kate Forbes article Dean and your thesis that the Scottish economy benefits from the union ignores all the evidence which GERs cannot take into account. The Barnet formula was devised to take into account the geographical costs of providing services in the North. An independent Scotland would develop supply chains that would mitigate these costs. What about taxation, how many companies have operations in Scotland but only pay tax to the UK govn? What about the money a scotgov would save in not supporting the running of the UK governmental infrastructure? GERs make no attempt to account for such factors and can only be used as a starting point... Not a big bat to knock Indy on the head.
There isn't a cost. We already pay for two governments. Respected estimates suggest that not paying for Westminster alone would decrease our deficit by 3%. That would virtually align our deficit with the UKs deficit.
I have nothing against you and I agree that the current devolution arrangement suits no-one.. but Scotland will likely never again vote for a bunch of entitled toffs who have forced a damaging Brexit on us and have assisting in creating one of the most unequal societies in the first world. You can't just tell us to stop whining and get on with it.
Has brexit hurt the Scottish economy? Yes. Has the ever-changing merry-go-round cast of characters occupying No.10 undermined the economy? Absolutely.
But when 92% of those services sector firms asked say this SNP administration doesn’t comprehend the business community, there's no point the SNP blaming Brexit.
When 80% of hospitality firms when asked say the SNP have no clue about the business environment faced, it’s really bad.
https://deanmthomson.substack.com/p/scottish-businesses-side-lined-and?utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web
The figures you refer are in specific reference to some of the green policies that are understandably unpopular with business. The reality is they will have to be forced through by everyone at some point.. even by the Tories. Unless they were lying about their commitment to net zero.
They’re from fraser of allander’s business survey work
https://fraserofallander.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/FAI-SGs-Relationship-with-the-Business-Community-30-08-2023.pdf
Yes, but you are choosing to ignore my substantive point. Which is consistent trend throughout all your replies..
The findings were in relation to the ScotGov new deal of business I understand.
It is well done. The area of contention being largely the transition to a well being economy. I know you feel on firmer ground here than you did with your silly GERs article... So perhaps to can provide evidence of the actual financial damage of the New Deal, so we can make a comparison with the ongoing damage of Brexit, Boris and truss?
If the GERS figures showed a massive surplus, presumably the nationalists would trumpet this as a sound underpinning for independence. Unfortunately the GERS figures are the opposite of this, so you have to do quite a lot of mental gymnastics to argue that they also support independence so it is no wonder that Forbes has tied herself in knots about this.
The SNP once did trumpet GERS figures, but not in recent years. Suddenly they're no longer relevant. Funny that.
Your article relies on the very logic you use to attack the Kate Forbes article Dean and your thesis that the Scottish economy benefits from the union ignores all the evidence which GERs cannot take into account. The Barnet formula was devised to take into account the geographical costs of providing services in the North. An independent Scotland would develop supply chains that would mitigate these costs. What about taxation, how many companies have operations in Scotland but only pay tax to the UK govn? What about the money a scotgov would save in not supporting the running of the UK governmental infrastructure? GERs make no attempt to account for such factors and can only be used as a starting point... Not a big bat to knock Indy on the head.
If we're not supporting the UK governmental infrastructure, what's the cost to us for duplicating what already exists?
There isn't a cost. We already pay for two governments. Respected estimates suggest that not paying for Westminster alone would decrease our deficit by 3%. That would virtually align our deficit with the UKs deficit.
There's no cost for duplicating something?
Man maths has always been questionable, but separatist maths is farcical
What needs to be duplicated?
We're duplicating a covid inquiry for a start.
£8 million before any public hearings.
8 million? Is that one off really the best example you could come up with? Boris probably spent more on his COVID piss ups