Scottish Independence

[janaage]

Yes I think so....who in their right mind wouldn't want to be free of the Tories.

Whilst I hope you're right Reg, I think you're wrong. Scotland has bottled it. It'll be a no.

[Ardiles]

So you really think that what people want is another level of bureaucracy? We'd end up with four levels - local council, regional assembly, national government, EU government.

What's wrong with devolving more powers to local councils? It would need a major overhaul though, a reduction in the number of councillors, making them full time positions running elements of the council day to day and making them accountable. More power to vary council tax, business rates, and stuff like that.

The biggest issue we have to sort in England though is the general lack of interest in politics and voting.

The 'extra' layer wouldn't be extra though.  It would simply take responsibility away from central government.  What I've described works in many other countries incl Germany, Australia, Switzerland and the US.  If there's one lesson to learn from the last few years it's that government is way too centralised.  In fact, the voter apathy you refer to at the end of your post is, I would say, largely a result of folk feeling disconnected from a distant, arrogant and over-centralised legislature based in London.

[Honkytonk]

Go back to having the old Dark Ages kingdoms of Mercia, Wessex, Northumbria etc. as federal capitals of the various areas of the UK. Local councils report to them and they report to the government. Small issues are solved internally, larger ones brought to London.

You could still have the old counties if you wanted, although it'd be an extra layer of government between that of the local councils and the federated fiefdoms of the UK.

And the sooner we set up Starfleet the better, I'm getting fed up with waiting.

[Reg Smeeton]

Go back to having the old Dark Ages kingdoms of Mercia, Wessex, Northumbria etc. as federal capitals of the various areas of the UK. Local councils report to them and they report to the government. Small issues are solved internally, larger ones brought to London.

You could still have the old counties if you wanted, although it'd be an extra layer of government between that of the local councils and the federated fiefdoms of the UK.

And the sooner we set up Starfleet the better, I'm getting fed up with waiting.

Mercia can fuck right off...what do you suppose the Ellandune Centre in Wroughton is about?

[4D]

Those voting yes, what are they actually voting for? If it's purely down to not wanting to be governed from London then it'll be interesting to see how they feel in a few years time.

[Flashheart]

Looking like it's going to be a nooo.

[kerry red]

Och aye the noooooo

[Sir Pissalot]

Glasgow result coming up soon.  That should be interesting!

[horlock07]

Well that's that then!

Whatever you think of Salmond he is a proper politician from his speech you would have thought he had won!

[Ardiles]

I'm delighted.

Also means the result is going to act as a catalyst for change down here as well.

Hope celebrations are restrained, because the rebuilding job starts now.

[FormerlyPlymRed]

Excellent, common sense prevailed.

[Batch]

Excellent, too many unknowns for the Scots to go it alone.. Pissed off we have apparently said they can keep the Barnett formula share, but we can address that injustice in a few years time.

Now to text bait my yes voting ex-colleague:

God save your gracious Queen,
Long live your noble Queen....

[Bogus Dave]

I see lots of people bemoaning the Barnett formula. You do know the south west receives more money per head than Scotland?

North East £8,177 – 111% of UK average identifiable expenditure
North West £7,798 – 106%
Yorkshire and Humberside £8,188 – 115%
East Midlands £6,491 – 88%
West Midlands £7,065 – 96%
Eastern £6,144 – 83%
London £8,704 – 124%
South East £6,304 – 86%
South West £8,677 – 121%

England £7,121
Scotland £8,623
Wales £8,139
Northern Ireland £9,385

http://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Barnett_formula

[ghanimah]

As expected, a comfortable "no" then...the 'status quo effect' prevails. Salmond's lack of a proper exit plan cost him dearly.

[jutty274]

I see lots of people bemoaning the Barnett formula. You do know the south west receives more money per head than Scotland?

North East £8,177 – 111% of UK average identifiable expenditure
North West £7,798 – 106%
Yorkshire and Humberside £8,188 – 115%
East Midlands £6,491 – 88%
West Midlands £7,065 – 96%
Eastern £6,144 – 83%
London £8,704 – 124%
South East £6,304 – 86%
South West £8,677 – 121%

England £7,121
Scotland £8,623
Wales £8,139
Northern Ireland £9,385

http://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Barnett_formula

Technically that is true but as a whole Scottish people get more per head than English people so there are parts of Scotland that get more than the south west, it is all swings & roundabouts.