UK NEWS
£7BN TAX BRIBE TO SCOTS
The Scots have had a pretty good deal
By Jason Groves
TONY Blair has admitted using billions of pounds from English taxpayers to bribe the Scots to remain in the United Kingdom.
He said a formula which allows the Scots to spend far more on schools and hospitals without raising taxes was “a small price to pay” for a united Britain.
Public spending north of the border is 21 per cent higher than in England. That equals £1,500 more per person and adds up to over £7billion a year – equivalent to an extra 2p on income tax.
Scotland has recently scrapped prescription charges and now plans to cut primary school classes to just 18. Scots also get free university tuition and personal care for the elderly is also free.
Patients with Alzheimer’s disease and the most common cause of blindness get free medicines that have been ruled too expensive for English patients, condemning about 20,000 in England to losing their sight each year.
Scotland’s good fortune dates back almost 30 years to the complex Barnett Formula, set up as a one-year measure but still used to calculate public spending.
Tory MP Sir George Young, said: “I think the Prime Minister greatly underestimates the growing resentment in England about the situation. He has miscalculated this one badly.
“It cannot go on – it is completely unbalanced and, I suspect, unsustainable.”
But Mr Blair has insisted: “If we want to keep the UK together, the Barnett Formula is a small price to pay for that, even though I understand why it causes concern in parts of England.
“If you look round the world at the secessionist pressures and separatist pressures there are in various countries, I think we have found a way through that.”
AND SCOTLAND DOSNT CONTRIBUTE ANYTHING TO THIS UNION?
27.06.07, 12:02am
Funny how as soon as scotland gets somthing out of this god awfull union the english are up in arms! The english have taken plenty from us over the decades. If our oil money hadnt been stolen the english economy would have collapsed long ago and scotland would be one of the richest countries in the world! If it wernt for scotland the uk would never have become the military or economic power it has been in history. Its only fair we get some compensation for what we have done for this union!
Now i have alot of sympathy for the english and belive they need a parliment and of their own etc but honestly stop looking at scotland as a country that takes and never gives.
And you wonder why labour has been ready to bribe the scots to stay in the union? its because the uk will need us again in the future.
Also the barrett formula is complete rubbish that makes scotland look like it takes alot more than it actually does.
• Posted by: scots_lad • Report Comment
ARE YOU SURPRISIED. I HIT THE WRONG KEY. SORRY.
24.06.07, 7:04pm
Correcting my mistake.
• Posted by: Watchkeeper • Report Comment
ARE YOU AUPRISED AT THE BRIBERY?
24.06.07, 6:57pm
With this Dishonest, Unreliable and Treachous
System of democracy, Westminster and Whitehall can do just about anything they want to.
Until you Legally stop them from collecting Direct Taxation, they will continue on their merry way.
While you Google, "Campaign for an Enliish Parliament", also Google for "Sovereignty Politics Taxation Economy".
To exert your wishes upon these Unprincipaled Obnoxious "Tossers" first take the money away from them. Regards ATFlynn Watcherkeeper.
• Posted by: Watchkeeper • Report Comment
£7BN TAX BRIBE TO SCOTS
24.06.07, 2:39pm
tony blair, the song when$ he first went into office ,things can only get better, sholuld be
things can only get worse.he went to see the pope what for because he has given us gordon brown,
whats it all about
cameras all over the place invading our privacy
congestion cahges,more tax. who nsaid that the
communism did not work. it certainly has
labour we will keep the red flag flying high
• Posted by: garyh • Report Comment
UNITED KINGDOM?
24.06.07, 12:47pm
I think not.
Labour has and will continue to use England as a cash cow.
How long will you stand for it?
I urge all English folk to Google for the "Campaign for an English Parliament" and start fighting back.
• Posted by: HomeRule • Report Comment
To view all 'Have Your Say' comments, click this button...