FREEDOM!!!!

Independence is back in the news here again.

First up the Chancellor of the UK George Osbourne has given some money (back) to North Sea Oil;

'Chancellor George Osborne has announced a tax measure to support investment in older North Sea oil and gas fields.
The allowance for "brown field" areas will shield some income from the supplementary charge on their profits.
The Treasury said it was expected that the long-term tax revenues generated by the change would significantly outweigh the initial cost of the allowance.
Speaking about the new allowance, the chancellor said: "Today's tax allowance is more good news for the North Sea, good news for jobs and good news for the broader economy.
"It will give companies the incentive to get the most out of older fields, creating jobs and delivering more revenue for taxpayers.
"This government has signalled its absolute determination to get more investment in the North Sea, a huge national asset. We think investments over the next year or so could be at least £2bn better because of the news today."
He said such announcements "help to attract new investment to keep these old fields going, which is crucial for everyone in Scotland".
He added: "If we get this right, we're looking at another 50 years activity still in this basin."

Now this is a bit rich- when the Tory/libdem government came to power the very first budget raided North Sea oil with the referred to 'supplemetary charge'- the result of which was many oil companies froze research and development as they could no longer afford it, they didnt hire as many people as planned and it made them over cautious as Osbourne raided them without warnng, so there is no way to know he wont just do it every time the Treasury needs a bit of quick cash to spend in England. And confidence is everything.
Since the budget raid the SNP have demanding Osbourne do something to help companies invest in the north sea.
So this is still giving less back than the extra he took but at least Osbourne seems to be seeing a bit of sense.
But the Chancellor says its 'good news for the North Sea, good news for jobs and good news for the broader economy.'
So presumably when he took the money in his raid it was 'bad news for the North Sea, bad news for jobs and bad news for the broader economy' then? Funny I dont remember him saying that at the time.

And how come when the Treasury talk of North Sea oil revenue its for decades ahead and seems to bankroll all their plans- yet when its spoken about in the context of independence the Westminister governent tells us it will run out a week next Thursday and we couldn't build an economy on it?

And in other independence news;

'One of Scotland's most influential business leaders has declared his support for an independent Scotland.
Clyde Blowers chairman Jim McColl said the Scottish government's efforts to turn the economy around were being "constrained" by the lack of economic powers at its disposal.
He also claimed the UK government had failed to recognise the importance of the construction industry.
He said that suggested Scotland needed "the levers of full economic control".

..

Ahh Autumn. Its definetly here. You can tell from pics like this- that's sea foam by the way - dont fancy their cleaning bill!

I saw this and thought of you, Petty.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-north-east-orkney-shetland-19783214

I'm not sure whats more typically Scottish here- a man with his head stuck in a bin trying to find some buckie dregs or the thoughtful passersby who have stopped to point, laugh and generally take the piss?

They are not even pointing at the man... I bet he's saying:
- Look mate! The bin might be taken, but the one across the street has no people in it! Go get it!

He's pointing at the fireman with the little saw.. and laughing evil.

All this talk of Scotland becoming independent has reminded me of Puerto Rico. For those who don't know, Puerto Rico is a US territory, not a state. Every now and then some faction of Puerto Ricans get their dander up and start lobbying for Statehood....until somebody points out that then they'd have to pay the same tax rate as in the rest of the states, and the movement vaporizes.

Maybe Scotland should be aiming to be a sort of territory instead? Get all the benefits of being largely ignored by the British as a mere territory with little of the extra work required to be fully independent.

Thats called Devo-max. Its not bad actually- if your Scottish- not so good if your any other part of the UK as it basically means we'd get all the perks of independence whilst having the rest of the nations support our currency.

MEANWHILE IN SCOTLAND

Uh, Ally...

The scary thing is, I can well imagine how that might happen...

"ooh a piece of candy"..."ooh a piece of candy"...."oooh a piece of ca-" ................................. ....................... ..... "erm.. help. anyone".

That only works on James Woods Norc- now if it was a buckie trail you might snare a Scot.

the "candy" was a synonym for that

Davoid Cameron gave his leaders speech to Conference yesterday- a 50 minute speech in which he addressed the potential break up of the United Kingdom- for an entire 27seconds of the speech. Yup you read that right- 27 seconds (and most of that was slagging Alex Salmond becuase in the Olympics sports people from all over the UK draped themselves in the Union Jack (he forgot to mention they dont have much choice as you arent allowed to have any other flag or to compete under then name of their individual nation).

Cameron should take lessons in rhetoric and likability from Mitt Romney.

.. yeah, Mitt Romney is good at that, consider how many who actually like him despite the fact that he talk utter bullshit.

I don't think he's actually that good; most of his support comes from simple partisan division (as is often the case in U.S. politics). I was trying to be sarcastic.

I know, I get sarcasm I was sarcastic too.. in a way

Pettytyrant101 wrote:Thats called Devo-max. Its not bad actually- if your Scottish- not so good if your any other part of the UK as it basically means we'd get all the perks of independence whilst having the rest of the nations support our currency.

Did someone say Devo ?



God made man but a monkey supplied the glue.
Are we not men, we are Devo.

Devo max, despite the name, is less entertaining. (But probably has better pants)

The referendum gets a step nearer- on Monday the Scottish and UK government will sign on off the deal for what the referendum will be like.


'It is expected to have a single Yes/No question on whether Scotland should leave the UK on the ballot paper.The UK government is expected to grant limited powers for the Scottish Parliament to hold a legal referendum, under a mechanism called Section 30.
It is also believed the agreement will make provisions for 16-year-olds in Scotland to vote in the referendum.'- BBC Scotland

So lets see- Salmond wanted one question on the ballot (but has been floating the idea of two to flush the unionist out into making promises they cant keep about devomax)- but one question suits the SNP- its what they have always stood on.
And looks like he has got his provision for 16 year olds to vote too.
So after the entire first half of the year being Cameronposturing and claiming red lines and saying Westminister would decided ect ect- the SNP have been handed the referendum they always wanted, with the single question they wanted, and a change to the voting age which favours their position (the young are among the most keen for independence).


Camerons plans to save the Union continue apace then!