Thought Id start this one going because its rather dead on this board at the moment and I suppose all my usual muckers are either at the Stella tennis event watching Dim Tim (lose again) or at Henly Regatta eating cucumber sandwiches (they wish,...NOT).

Anyway please feel free to just talk to yourself blast away and let it go on any company or subject you wish. Just wish Id thought of this one before.

cheers GF.

.

.

Independent Scotland would keep sterling, says Alex Salmond

First minister launches blueprint for Scottish independence promising 'a new and better direction for our nation'

Nicholas Watt and Severin Carrell


theguardian.com, Tuesday 26 November 2013 12.40 GMT

http://www.theguardian.com/politics/2013/nov/26/scottish-indpendence-fairer-prosperous-alex-salmond




Sweet dreams are made of this....


David Cameron would be in breach of undertakings to the Scottish people if the UK refused to allow an independent Scotland to join a sterling currency union, Alex Salmond has said.

As he launched the SNP's 670-page white paper on independence in Glasgow, the first minister said the prime minister had agreed in last year's Edinburgh agreement to respect the result of the referendum and to work constructively with the Scottish government.

Salmond announced that the Scottish government would follow the launch of the white paper by embarking on a diplomatic charm offensive to promote an independent Scotland's membership of the EU and Nato.

The Scottish first minister urged Scotland's 4 million voters to seize a "once-in-a-generation" chance to create a fairer, more prosperous country by voting to leave the UK and taking control of their own destiny. He promised to cut corporation tax, extend free childcare and increase the minimum wage.

The first minister said Scotland would continue "constructive working together" with the rest of the UK, sharing the pound and the Queen, take 90% of North Sea oil, but without Trident nuclear weapons and the BBC. He argued that independence would free Scotland from having policies such as the bedroom tax imposed by Westminster governments "rejected at the ballot box in Scotland", which inflicted pain on the most vulnerable in society.

The pro-UK Better Together campaign has highlighted the Scottish government's demand to form a sterling currency union with the rest of the UK as one of the SNP's central weaknesses. Gordon Brown has described it as "self-imposed colonialism".

But Salmond said Cameron would be in breach of the Edinburgh agreement if the UK rejected a currency union. The two governments have agreed to respect the referendum result and to work constructively "in the best interests of the people of Scotland and of the rest of the United Kingdom".

Salmond said: "The Bank of England and sterling are as much Scotland's assets as London's assets. They are certainly not George Osborne's assets. We put forward in this paper our willingness to accept liabilities. We are also entitled to the share of assets."

The first minister dismissed suggestions that an independent Scotland would struggle to join Nato if it abandoned the UK's Trident nuclear deterrent, and would be obliged to join the euro as part of EU membership terms.

"There have been lots of discussions," he said. "We have put forward a proposition believing there will be enthusiasm for Scotland's membership of the EU.

"We certainly haven't heard anything to the contrary. The international affairs secretary will be conducting discussions with a range of representatives from consulates tomorrow."

Alistair Darling, the leader of the Better Together campaign, said: "Nothing has changed as a result of this white paper. The nationalists have ducked the opportunity to answer the big questions about Scotland's future.

"It is a fantasy to say we can leave the UK but still keep all the benefits of UK membership. The white paper is a work of fiction. It is thick with false promises and meaningless assertions."

The white paper also says the SNP would ask the UK government to immediately cancel the rollout of universal credit in Scotland if there were a yes vote next September. It also adds that it wants Trident to be removed from the Clyde by 2020 - the end of the first independent Scottish parliament.

In his foreword to Scotland's Future – Your guide to an independent Scotland, Salmond said: "That is the real democratic value of independence – the people of Scotland are in charge.

"It will no longer be possible for governments to be elected and pursue policies against the wishes of the Scottish people … Independence will put the people of Scotland in charge of our destiny."

The white paper states: "If we vote no, Scotland stands still. A once-in-a-generation opportunity to follow a different path, and choose a new and better direction for our nation, is lost. Decisions about Scotland would remain in the hands of others."

Stating too that the union flag would no longer fly in Scotland, the document confirms a series of Scottish government and Scottish National party pledges for independence, including:

• Retain the pound as Scotland's currency and would take on a fair share of the UK's debt.

• Take a full geographic share of North Sea oil and gas reserves, with more than 90% of the UK reserves in Scottish waters.

• No rise in general taxation to fund public spending, while increasing tax allowances in line with inflation.

• A new written constitution with the Queen as head of state.

• The renationalisation of the Royal Mail.

•A new Scottish defence force of 15,000 regular personnel and a new intelligence and security agency.

•A guarantee that the minimum wage will rise by inflation: if that had been policy already since 2008, the lowest paid would be £675 better off.

•A network of 70 to 90 embassies and consulates costing up to £120m.

• Cutting corporation tax by 3% and cutting air passenger duty by 50%.

• Extending free childcare to one-year-olds, creating 35,000 new jobs.

• A new Scottish Broadcasting Service to replace the BBC.

• An "early agreement on the speediest safe removal of [Trident] nuclear weapons a priority".

Can I vote yes, yes, yes to some of that.

Wales next.

North of England afterwards.

And then Cornwall.

.

you've forgotten - you never ever vote, just whine

Get to bed.

Hays hays hays.............. this would give labour over a 100 seat clear majority..........

electionista ‏@electionista 20h
UK - YouGov/Sun poll: CON 32%, LAB 40%, LDEM 10%, UKIP 12%


Just admit defeat bud.

You know your numbers up. Defiance is futile.

I remain unconvinced that any party will win an overall of majority, or if so, one of any meaningful size - and that is despite the pro-labour skew achieved when the various boundaries were shifted about :-)

for sure the tories were always on to a hiding to nothing having picked up a heavily poisoned chalice, but i do agree that they really haven't made the best fist of many (quite) important issues - and that is looked at dispassionately!

however, i doubt very much if labour will or would have done any better, even with raising taxes on middle england, which assuredly they will (have) to do, even if only for cosmetic political appearances

i'm afraid i see no natural let alone charismatic leader anywhere, and even fewer competent henchmen

Denis Skinner ‏@BolsoverBeast 7m
Tories are offering election promise tokens this Christmas.

Guaranteed to carry on, even when they're broken.
(Batteries not included.)

Call Me Dave goes into panic mode....




David Cameron sets out more benefit restrictions on EU migrants

Plan is sensible and reasonable, say Lib Dems amid move to avert influx from Romania and Bulgaria



Patrick Wintour, political editor


The Guardian, Wednesday 27 November 2013



http://www.theguardian.com/politics/2013/nov/27/david-cameron-benefit-restrictions-eu-migrants

'

Fortress England with Faupage as PM, corporals Cameron and Wavey Dave as bouncers.

No wonder the salmon is jumping.

But will only stay with the pound until the books are straightened and then he will be into the pound.

Is there any estimate how much the money exchanges skim off the costs of deals between of the EU and UK.

(For pressing buttons.)


--------

Hays hays hays be worried..................

UKIP on 30% in South Thanet


Retiring Tory MP Laura Sandys was well-liked in parliament but an arch-Europhile and a dripping wet, so South Thanet always offered potential for Farage. Now she is standing down there is no incumbency factor either, and a seat-specific poll from Survation has the Tories down 20 points in third place on 28%. Labour are up in first in 35%, though it is UKIP’s 24 point increase to 30%, just 5 points behind Labour, that is interesting. Arguably most worryingly for Cameron, 78% of UKIP voters said they wouldn’t vote Tory even if there was no UKIP candidate and 52% said they did not care if Miliband became PM. Voting purple puts red in, and the Tories are so far completely failing to convince voters of the consequences…

Via Survation and Mike Smithson.

Voting purple puts red in.........................................nice.

Why would you want the lesser spotted millibandus in power?

Because he is more appealing than the alternatives who ponce about without disconnect from the majority of voters.

If "you" want do something "practical" about "low wage rip-off Britain" then here's one thing that you can do:

I am aware this might be a time of year when books may be on the purchase list. Don't know if you have heard about Hive Books - they supply books like Amazon - but give a proportion to local book shops. Their web address is www.hive.co.uk. There is free delivery or you can pick them up from your local book shop. I have found them to be efficient and helpful.

If you can forward this email to anyone who might be interested that would be great.

Max if you lived up North youd know why we want milly in.

All this so called feel good factor and the economy is getting better and things are looking up, well it hasnt hit us in Yorkshire yet, i was at a meeting of the local Chamber Of Commerce last wed and it was all doom and gloom. The talk at the pub after was so depressing.

I accept that places like london and in general the south is getting better but theirs no signs here at all.

Update - Labour lead at 7
by YouGov in Politics
Wed November 27, 2013 6 a.m. GMT

Latest YouGov / The Sun results 26th November - Con 32%, Lab 39%, LD 10%, UKIP 12%;