Great interview

[VNA]

 

Scotland is not a member of the EU.

That’s strange, cos our legal system and everything we do is fully compliant with the European Union.  I can travel and work across Europe and I can buy goods from Europe without paying any extra duty.  But according to Lew Scotland is not part of the EU.  Somebody needs to point this out to both the Scottish government and the European Union. :lol

Just on a few technical points :
1. Scotland would welcome increased migration. It has a skills shortage and plenty of empty space.
2. The Barnet formula doesn't 'give' Scotland money. It shares out UK revenue, which of course the Scots pay into. 
3. Farage is a cunt.

Spot on Mtread.  I was however stunned to hear Mr Farage talk sense a couple of weeks ago on question time, they were discussing Saudi Arabia, which just so happens to be the birth place of Wahhabism, which Saudi have promoted around the globe and of course Wahhabism has given birth to the so called Islamic State.  Yet, as Farage pointed out, the biggest terrorist sponsors in the world, the friends of IS are our buddies whom we happily sell arms to.  Quite bizarre to hear Will Self call Nigel Farage and Donald Trump “grubby little opportunists” then next hear them both agree about the UK equally grubby relationship with Saudi Arabia. :eek  But there you go.


But yeah, Scotland is concerned about the loss of free movement, it’s working well for us. 



but most low income workers are below the tax threshold and have in work benefits


I’m not sure you understand what Independence means.  It means Scotland will elect it’s own governments and those governments will serve Scotland.  Scotland didn’t elect Maggie Thatcher, we didn’t want New Labour, we didn’t want David Cameron or Teresa Remainer one minute hard line Brexiter the next May. 



I don’t see Scotland running wage and tax structures that subsidise the rich.  Which is what the bulk of in work benefits are – tax breaks for the rich.  Between the biggest corporations in the country not having to pay any tax at all and their workers not getting paid a living wage, well the UK has become the country where socialism for the rich functions.


Look people in England voted to leave the EU by a narrow margin.  Scotland voted to Remain.  But what people haven’t voted on is what Brexit is.


There is also the possibility, which would be fine, that the Tory party will fall apart when Brexit is defined.  If one thing always splits the Tory party, it’s Europe.  One reason Teresa May won’t define Brexit is because the minute she does it’s likely her party will split and tear itself apart.


As for securing the future of the UK.  It’s not that difficult.  If there is a BREXIT (and I say if, as it’s still not clear that any of this will amount to anything) it must be a ‘soft’ BREXIT ie we remain in the single market, further powers that come back from Brussels must come back to the Scottish Parliament , ie fishing, employment law, immigration.  And as compensation, and to secure a future for the UK, corporation tax needs to come under the Scottish Parliament.  Basically federalism.


And clearly if Scotland doesn’t get a good deal one way or another, the option to go alone is still there.

but there is no way that we can have a situation where Scotland is part of the EU allowing un fetted immigration only for them to then just walk across the scot - English border.   

There will be an open border between Northern Ireland (another country being forced out of the EU against it’s will by England) and The Republic of Ireland.