By stewartb
Do third sector organisations with missions that extend across the UK feel unable to make statements that (in terms) state the following truth and if so WHY?
‘The situation in (a UK nation with a government with only limited, devolved powers) may be bad but – based on statistical analysis – not nearly so bad as in England, the nation with a government with EVERY power to have avoided this bad in the first place and with EVERY power now to deliver the necessary solution.
‘It is the government of England in Westminster – the one with ALL the powers – the one which also substantially impacts the ability, the finances of (the nation with a government with only limited, devolved powers) – and so it is Westminster that ultimately is the source of the problem and also has the power to enable the solution.
‘All paths from wherever in the UK on social and economic policy matters lead to Westminster!’
Do the branches of the major UK-wide campaigning charities in for example Scotland lack understanding of how the UK state ACTUALLY WORKS? Surely the leadership of these organisations is not deliberately avoiding acknowledgement of the reality of where agency, specifically where enabling financial power, lies due to concerns about sustaining public perceptions outside England about the worth of the Union?
‘Fiscal rules’ that constrain improvements in the social fabric of England and by extension the rest of the UK are political choices, once made by the Tories and now by Labour. By contrast, the governments in Belfast, Cardiff and Edinburgh have budgetary constraints long since set by statute.
The latter operate in a ‘rob Peter to pay Paul’ world: England’s government In Westminster DOES NOT!
Do the national branch offices of campaigning charities not understand this – or is it too sensitive an issue, is it not regarded as acceptable to admit this openly when there are national movements to dissolve this England-dominated Union?
Talking-up Scotland 'Albatraz' 
Charity bosses angling for selection as candidates for Brit Nat parties in elections.
Prove their “credentials” by lies, smears and “Trumpist” tactics.
gavinochiltree.
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“Do the branches of the major UK-wide campaigning charities in for example Scotland lack understanding of how the UK state ACTUALLY WORKS”?
Well if they do “lack understanding of how the UK state actually works” then perhaps they, as in respective Directors of these various Charities, are in the wrong job as funding and the distribution of that funding is something those in charge of these Charities should be fully aware of.
They should also understand the financial constraints of a devolved government whose access to finances are distinctly limited from that of more fortunate governments in the world who have the luxury of controlling an independent country and so who have access to all powers and monies .
The Scottish government does not have access to an endless source of money. They, as you state, are expected to juggle and mitigate via sometimes being expected to ‘rob Peter to pay Paul’. Thus that involves there always being winners and losers dependent on what needs are identified as being needed more urgently as a priority.
Yet another unfortunate outcome resulting from Scotland being within the UK state and made to be reliant on a more central (UK) government controlling more powers and monies from within another country (England) outwith our own country (Scotland) within that same UK state.
I think some within the Charity sector have at times, perhaps too often, a tendency to try to politicise matters in some crossing a line in them being quoted as saying something that is more politically critical and politically motivated than just a fact driven and honest observation relevant to their respective charity.
Sometimes it’s not just the media who misinforms but certain individuals connected to some organisations are also not averse to spreading misinformation for what one assumes is a political purpose as opposed to the good of their own specific organisation.
“All paths from wherever in the UK on social and economic policy matters lead to Westminster”
Yes indeed though Labour would have us believe that it is not applicable for Scotland and our government yet very much applicable for Wales and their government especially when the Tories were in power as the UK government.
It is unfortunate that many both within and outwith politics are motivated to attack the current Scottish government based purely on their own constitutional position that favours the UK more than the idea of Scottish independence.
However that seems to now be the constant occurrence that we witness via various sources of MSM in respect to some individuals who hold positions of power within various UK organisations and so we have now become very familiar with both seeing and reading about negativity towards Scotland and our government in newspapers , TV & Radio news programmes and political debate and discussion programmes too.
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Absolutely, well said.
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Charities often misrepresent problems or facts to try and get more taxpayers monies. They are often not good at statistics and finding solutions. Naive. Seek headlines for publicity. Certainly do not understand the Barnet Formula or Devolution powers. Reserved and restricted.
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I suspect they do certainly understand the Barnett formula etc…they hope those donating do not however.
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There are lots of charity shops in the area I live in Edinburgh. One had a sign saying ‘what’s made in Scotland stays in Scotland’, it’s been taken down, because it was no doubt not true in the first place. Most charities are HQ’d in England. It would be interesting to see what % of their takings do ‘stay in Scotland’ via their many outlets here.
When charities like ‘Shelter’ harp on about the Scottish government not doing enough for the homeless, (the term used in the states is, ‘unhoused’), they must know that the ScotGov have both hands tied behind their backs yet are working miracles in trying to mitigate EngUKGBGov terrible disgraceful austerity on the poor and vulnerable.
As an aside, when people are being forced onto ‘universal credit’ and having their ‘legacy benefits’ removed, the UKEngGov leaves them with nothing for at least three weeks, no housing benefit to pay their rent, no money. They offer, in fact insist, that a person should take a loan of up to £1k to fill the gap, or starve. I have no idea where or who the ‘loan’ ie debt is benefitting, but that’s the sort of thing charities should be up in arms about. The EngGov are literally plunging people into debt.
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Scottish capital block grant was cut by 9% by Westminster.
Scottish Government turned that into a 24% cut in the Scottish Affordable Housing Programme.
Surely it is exactly the job of Shelter Scotland and others to call this out. Alex Neill certainly is. This article sounds like ‘dissent should not be tolerated’ that has so poisoned the Yes movement over the last couple of years.
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agencies in Scotland including Charities are crammed with english people they are here for a reason , they impart the english ideology upon us union jackery , british this and british that all jolly good countries together as UK as long as we understand who is boss
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