I voted yes....but felt like I'd been kicked in the ba's the day

[Hairdrier]

Scotland's biggest problem is it's excessive reliance on the public sector - where will the funds for that come from if we became independent (which we won't)?

[stewarty27]

Maybe you will answer me. Please explain how an independent Scotland will handle the 15 billion pound hole in our finances ?

Bodie please try and understand what is being said here. GERS is compiled by the Westminster Government regardless of who is in charge and the base data comes from the Treasury in London these are facts. Using the data supplied to them the civil servants in Scotland compile the GERS figures using accounting rules laid down by / agreed with the Treasury for all regional accounts, North of England, Wales etc etc – it therefor includes a population share of costs of running the UK of which many would not apply in an independent Scotland. These figures cannot be used to compare an independent Scotland. Much of this particular figures have been accrued in Westminster. I'll give you one example ..Defence Scotland's contribution is £3Bn but it only has £1.3 is spent in Scotland thus we have £1.7Bn added to our running costs. So the point I'm trying to get across is its totally ridiculous to ask how an Independent Scotland would deal with a £14Bn deficit because we would be in a completely different situation. Without being rude do you actually understand that Bodie. ?

[noahrab]

Bodie please try and understand what is being said here. GERS is compiled by the Westminster Government regardless of who is in charge and the base data comes from the Treasury in London these are facts. Using the data supplied to them the civil servants in Scotland compile the GERS figures using accounting rules laid down by / agreed with the Treasury for all regional accounts, North of England, Wales etc etc – it therefor includes a population share of costs of running the UK of which many would not apply in an independent Scotland. These figures cannot be used to compare an independent Scotland. Much of this particular figures have been accrued in Westminster. I'll give you one example ..Defence Scotland's contribution is £3Bn but it only has £1.3 is spent in Scotland thus we have £1.7Bn added to our running costs. So the point I'm trying to get across is its totally ridiculous to ask how an Independent Scotland would deal with a £14Bn deficit because we would be in a completely different situation. Without being rude do you actually understand that Bodie. ?

SNP quite happy to use GERS when it suits though.

[JackSnakes]

It isn't actually Scotland's deficit though is it?
It isn't actually a debt incurred by Scotland to be payed back is it?
It is simply a calculation based on the difference between the amount of money Scotland gives to the UK treasury and the total amount of public spending in Scotland divided by the population. I would imagine that when it was Scotland's money Scotland was spending, they wouldn't be quite so liberal with the sweeties...

Bottom line though - this isn't actually any kind of debt that Scotland has...

[noahrab]

It isn't actually Scotland's deficit though is it?
It isn't actually a debt incurred by Scotland to be payed back is it?
It is simply a calculation based on the difference between the amount of money Scotland gives to the UK treasury and the total amount of public spending in Scotland divided by the population. I would imagine that when it was Scotland's money Scotland was spending, they wouldn't be quite so liberal with the sweeties...

Bottom line though - this isn't actually any kind of debt that Scotland has...

Its a good barometer of where we'd be though.

Of course all government has debts to pay for major infrastructure projects, something the separatists fail to mention when they bang on about uk debt.

Difference being most governments borrow against bonds released to raise money and also from world banks. That's fine if you have a good credit rating with these organisations.

At the referendum the SNP at one stage said they wouldn't accept any of the U.K. debt. Great for our credit rating aye.

Still waiting on Braveheart and Rob Roy telling us why the GERS figures were lauded by the SNP a few years ago when it suited the narrative.....but now is a big bad Westminster conspiracy.

[CraigieBuckler]

I'm beginning to think Far North Britain would be better sticking with Far South Britain, & rely on whatever decisions & handouts we get from there. It's for the best - we are far too wee & stupid to go it alone.

[Red_Zeppelin]

if we were to break free from south Britain's had outs then how would north Britain replace the near 14k jobs that would more than likely be lost in defence and in the ship yards building naval ships etc.

the guy from the GMB was on the radio this very morning talking about this.

if this question is too difficult to answer then you can just ignore it

EDIT: link http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotlan...iness-37252256

[JackSnakes]

I personally believe the economic scare stories are just that. These things find a balance.
Economics and immigration and all that pish aren't really the issue - all things will find a balance - it is the way of things. National sovereignty is really the only issue - you either want it or you don't.
Scotland's geography and lower population density means that certain things cost more than they do in England, which is why Scotland receives more public money than most other 'regions' of the UK.
Scotland as an independent nation would have to find more and better ways to save money and make money.
The Scots are globally renowned as a resourceful and inventive people who have led the world in many areas.
It is not unreasonable to suggest that making enough money to survive and thrive is not outwith the wit of the Scots, but Scotland has social diseases that mean that many are passengers. The shiftless drunks, junkies and lazy bassas who won't get a job will not help. Everyone would need to grab an oar and start rowing.
Scotland has much to offer: IT industries, tourism, food and drink exports - the Scottish brand is recognised around the world as a mark of quality - renewable energy with wind and wave power, currently untapped oil and gas reservoirs... but it would require investment in infrastructure, which would initially mean more borrowing etc. Having just got back from Italy, their inter-city train services are absolutely fabulous. We used trains to get from Rome to Naples and back, Rome to Florence, Florence to Pisa and back, and Florence to Bologna. Comfortable seats in air conditioned trains, running EXACTLY on time, taking people to where they wish to go. How hard is it to do that?
Anyway, fkn rambling again... the fact is that iScotland would have to either spend less or make more, neither of which is an impossibility. It only requires the wit and the will of one of the most resourceful and inventive countries this planet has ever seen.

[stewarty27]

Its a good barometer of where we'd be though.

Jezzo Paddy you make me work hard !!! OK will answer your point why the SNP lauded Gers .... Unionists and Nationalists alike spin the figures for cheap political points. Currently, the unionists are winning: GERS 2015-16, But previously in fact up until 2013 GERs showed a surplus in Scotland's favour. Its a political game both sides play.


It give's us a barometer says you ..Wrong !! You just cannot compare these figures of how an Independent Scotland would fare it just doesn't make sense.

As it stands, Scotland operates according to the economic priorities of a rightwing UK government it didn’t elect. With independence, it could set different priorities under a parliament it did. these GERs include expenditure NOT spent in Scotland like defence. Other costs, debt servicing for instance can be mitigated against assets to be shared. The whole point of Independence is to do things differently

The fact that GERS (good or bad) is based in the activities of a government not chosen by the Scottish people. GERS is simply a reflection of the spectacular failure of a Westminster government running Scotland's economy. The bigger the 'deficit' the bigger the failure of a Westminster government, And as I said Scotland did not vote for.

[noahrab]

Jezzo Paddy you make me work hard !!! OK will answer your point why the SNP lauded Gers .... Unionists and Nationalists alike spin the figures for cheap political points. Currently, the unionists are winning: GERS 2015-16, But previously in fact up until 2013 GERs showed a surplus in Scotland's favour. Its a political game both sides play.


It give's us a barometer says you ..Wrong !! You just cannot compare these figures of how an Independent Scotland would fare it just doesn't make sense.

As it stands, Scotland operates according to the economic priorities of a rightwing UK government it didn’t elect. With independence, it could set different priorities under a parliament it did. these GERs include expenditure NOT spent in Scotland like defence. Other costs, debt servicing for instance can be mitigated against assets to be shared. The whole point of Independence is to do things differently

The fact that GERS (good or bad) is based in the activities of a government not chosen by the Scottish people. GERS is simply a reflection of the spectacular failure of a Westminster government running Scotland's economy. The bigger the 'deficit' the bigger the failure of a Westminster government, And as I said Scotland did not vote for.

You are a phuckin idiot.

Try and answer a question without trying to deflect it away and you might convince people that independence is indeed the way forward.

Always blaming someone else doesn't phuckin wash.

It didn't work last time and it won't work if theirs another one.

Until you c**** come up with real answers and solutions you'll never convince anyone other than the independence at any cost mob.

We don't want to hear about how big bad Westminster, Tories, the MSM etc etc has it in for us, we're tired of hearing it. Give us answers to income, expenditure and borrowing in an iScotland....or are you scared we won't like the truth?