YouGov’s poll on 7^th and 8^th November, has some interesting data on attitudes toward taxation and nationalisation which suggest quite clear differences between the people of Scotland and those of the South of England.

On raising the basic tax rate to 21% to spend more on public services and infrastructure, 43% of Scots supported this but only 33% of those in the South of England would. At the higher rates, the gap was smaller, but Scots were more supportive of the idea.

On nationalising the energy companies, 51% of Scots supported the idea and only 19% opposed it but for those in the South of England the figures were 46% and 32%. Perhaps reflecting the chaos on the rails there, support for nationalising the railways was equally strong in the South at 58%. Of course, Scots were asked about nationalising already publicly owner water companies.

Click to access TheSundayTimes_VI_191108_w.pdf

This has given me the excuse to revisit the notion of differences in dominant values which, I realise, are not necessary for independence but, I’d argue, make it more needed. Here are a few of them:

Scotland drifting away from nasty place as SNP Government launches funeral benefit for those on low income

Different NHS Scotland and Wales reject England’s hostile environment for vulnerable migrant mothers-to-be

Scotland IS a different place as its universities offer guaranteed places to care leavers

Abuse of women and the disabled far higher in England than in Scotland

Less homicide, less knife crime, less domestic violence, safer cities and now much lower alcohol problems: should Scotland’s old stereotypes be sent south?

Racial hate crimes increase by 33% in England & Wales while falling by 10% in Scotland: Who says we’re not different?

Scottish Muslim students far less likely to report abuse or crime?

Only in Scotland! ‘A review of small country’s approaches to public policy reform in response to economic, demographic and other pressures found that only in Scotland could this ‘golden thread’ be so clearly discerned’

With 1 in 4 living wage employers already in Scotland, the Scottish Government aims to make this a ‘Living Wage Nation’

8% of the UK population and 28% of living wage employers. More evidence that we are different enough to want to run the whole show?

80 000 lowest paid workers in NHS England still on poverty wages as NHS Scotland follows Scottish Government policy to pay a living wage to all public-sector employees

Scottish care workers to receive Living Wage for ‘sleepover’ hours while English care workers receive only the National Minimum Wage.

Different Scotland in the UN report on ‘Workhouse Britain’

Scottish values making oil and gas firms a tad different too?

Are Scotland’s employers also different – more willing to pay a decent wage?

With 1 in 4 living wage employers already in Scotland, the Scottish Government aims to make this a ‘Living Wage Nation’

8% of the UK population and 28% of living wage employers. More evidence that we are different enough to want to run the whole show?

Another difference as UK small and medium-sized business people prefer Boris while Scots prefer…

Another difference between Scotland and rUK?

Scottish Government support for small businesses superior to that in non-Scottish parts of UK