Tory Majority in the UK?

[n111ck]

Presumably neither Wales or Scotland could be financially self sufficient - so does anyone know how much of a drain they are on English tax payers?

 

[[TW]Fox]

Presumably neither Wales or Scotland could be financially self sufficient - so does anyone know how much of a drain they are on English tax payers?

I would imagine Scotland is not that much of a drain, if at all?

 

[guyfawkes5]

Scotland is not a drain on the English taxpayer, or at least to any degree that matters. Wales is probably too far integrated into the larger English state both historically and functionally to survive on its own in the forseeable future. Northern Ireland certainly couldn't survive independantly in its current form, given its dependence on English subsidies and civil employment thereof.

 

[semi-pro waster]

This is actually a very good point

Scots and welsh having their cake and eating it seems like.

Not really. If, and only if, Scotland or Wales had fully devolved powers (i.e. full self-determination) then you could argue that neither should have MPs in Westminster (or another, English specific parliament). However with the current situation both Scotland and Wales have some limited matters that they have control over for their own affairs but the much broader remit remains with the Westminster Parliament so if they do not have MPs there then their interests may not be as fairly represented.

However I would argue that Scottish MPs (and possibly Welsh too although I know less about their Assembly) should not be voting on matters specific to England - if you must have an analogy then it's not having their cake and eating it, the situation is slightly better described as these MPs having the opportunity to micturate in English tea cups. That is to say they're not getting a better outcome for themselves or their constituents by voting on such matters generally but they can certainly make others worse off by their actions.

I would imagine Scotland is not that much of a drain, if at all?

It depends on whose figures you believe as it's been debated almost ad infinitum but I'd suspect overall Scotland could very nearly balance its income and expenditure - it might take some cuts in certain areas but it should be possible for Scotland to exist on its own.

For what it matters I'd prefer for Scotland to continue as part of the Union although I think some clarification of the situation might be helpful. However while remaining unified is my preference if Scotland were to have a referendum then I'd support the results. I am not one of those that believes Scotland would be destined to fail if it were to go alone and negotiate decent terms of seperation.

 

[robgmun]

That is to say they're not getting a better outcome for themselves or their constituents by voting on such matters generally but they can certainly make others worse off by their actions.

Yep, have their cake and eating it. A lot of Scotts love to put the boot in to the english for the sake of it

 

[semi-pro waster]

Yep, have their cake and eating it. A lot of Scotts love to put the boot in to the english for the sake of it

I don't think it's an appropriate analogy, it's doubtful that most of the Scottish MPs in Westminster are there solely (or even in any significant portion) to make things worse for England - it is much more likely that they've been whipped to follow the party line so suggesting the Scottish MPs are gaining anything much from it would not be entirely true.

I'm not going to get into which nation is worse about the pettiness of the rivalry, it seems to me that neither has a monopoly on small-mindedness.

 

[rojones]

Should we have a Labour government then? That's benefitted the average working family of the UK yes?

No not really. I didn't vote labour. Voted plaid because i wanted more of a voice for Wales on the UK stage because it was pretty obvious the Conservatives were coming back in to power and they always screw over Wales. Personally i would have liked to see Lib Dems in power and maybe in a way we will still see that.

 

[Orcish-Horde]

If we exclude the results from Scotland and Wales from this general election, the result is a Conservative Majority parliament for England.

Given that Wales and Scotland now have their own parliament, is it not time people from these countries had votes excluded from a general election? Were it not for people in Wales and Scotland propping up the Labour seats, we wouldnt be facing a period of uncertainty at all - we'd have a strong Conservative government.

Why is our parliament full of Welsh and Scottish MP's if they have a parliament of their own?

In the past N Ireland had its MP numbers cut due to the old Stormont. Now with devolved government in Scotland, Wales and N Ireland them numbers should be cut again to match the devolved governments we have.

 

[BF-Bert]

I think it was on the bbc news where a student was complaining that Scottish MPs had voted for scrapping Uni fees in Scotland but voted against scrapping them in England. Now straight away we know if this was to happen in England it would be more expensive but my question is how they can contradict them self’s so much. If what the bbc showed was true then this is a perfect example of how stupid the current system is.

To be honest I dont care about student fees I think they should pay for unless degree's but degrees and courses that are needed skills in this country should be free.

Oh and morning

Yes thats probably true....... its called party politics, Scottish Labour follow the Labour lead.

 

[Digitalle]

Wonder how long Scotland would last if it was to part from the UK, my crystal ball tells me about 5 mins.

Yeah that's because we spend far too much money, especially on education and public-sector employment. If we, god forbid, ever became a separation nation from the rest of the UK it would mean a great sacrifice in spending, which I think amounts to around £10bn more than our £86bn GDP. But we would survive.

 

[PMKeates]

In the past N Ireland had its MP numbers cut due to the old Stormont. Now with devolved government in Scotland, Wales and N Ireland them numbers should be cut again to match the devolved governments we have.

The number of Scottish MPs has been recently cut by 18%, from 72 to 59, though they are still slightly over-represented in relation to England (but not by much).

 

[Dolph]

The number of Scottish MPs has been recently cut by 18%, from 72 to 59, though they are still slightly over-represented in relation to England (but not by much).

A much simpler solution is to prevent them voting on devolved matters that cannot affect their constituents.

 

[Rotty]

Time to chose, part of UK with no seperate parliaments/laws or go it alone

 

[Raumarik]

West Lothian question - raised by a Scottish MP at Westminster should be solved by simply stopping Scottish/Welsh and NI MPs voting on anything that's not applicable to the nation their constituency is part of, that way forming an "English Partliament" without the need for the huge costs of running a separate one.

Save the UK - I like this country. Too many people have died defending it to chuck it away now. The UK voted the tories in as the largest party, so Scotland/Wales/NI just have to lump it - that's democracy as it is in the UK.

 

[I get around]

Well no, because the people in those countries probably realise what absolutely lying cheating prejudiced filth populates the con party.

Really don't believe how many people don't see it, cameron isn't even a good liar, he stutters slightly and his body language changes when he lies, it happens a lot on tv.

 

[jas72]

That's exactly what happens.
The SNP do not vote on English only matters.

There are quite a few things that are English/Welsh (or Scottish) only, off the top of my head: Health, education, local government, tourism, police/fire but no doubt a few more.



Coming from Westminster? Mmmm, nothing that I can think of. Can't think of any reserved matter which would only have implications for Scotland. The obvious one is the oil fields, but I understand they stretch into 'English' waters.

The siting of our nuclear deterrant perhaps?

 

[Dolph]

The siting of our nuclear deterrant perhaps?

I'd more than welcome the nuclear deterrent and associated jobs back into england, given that Brown has committed to sending the hunter/killers as well as the bombers to Scotland.

We already have everything we need down here to be home to Trident/Trident's replacement.

 

[jas72]

Yeah that's because we spend far too much money, especially on education and public-sector employment. If we, god forbid, ever became a separation nation from the rest of the UK it would mean a great sacrifice in spending, which I think amounts to around £10bn more than our £86bn GDP. But we would survive.

You are forgetting like all others who give figures that we would not have the same defense budget therefore would not require the same spending as we do now.

"The Government plans departmental spending through the process of the spending reviews. As part of most recent settlement, the Defence Budget is set to increase from a baseline of £32.6Bn in 2007/08 to £36.9Bn in 2010/11 in Total Departmental Expenditure Limit (Total DEL). In real terms (i.e. after inflation) it represents average annual growth of 1.5%. By 2010/11 the Budget will be some 11% higher in real terms than in 1997, and represents the longest period of sustained growth since the 1980s."

http://www.mod.uk/defenceinternet/aboutdefence/organisation/keyfactsaboutdefence/defencespending.htm

or around 5 billion for scotland.

 

[nydryl]

A much simpler solution is to prevent them voting on devolved matters that cannot affect their constituents.

This. Allow Scottish MPs to vote on matters that will affect Scotland and bar them from voting for issues affecting only England.

 

[z3r0]

Time to chose, part of UK with no seperate parliaments/laws or go it alone

+1