Tag: economy

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England’s national debt is 885 times Scotland’s borrowing limit

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The Herald today reports: UK public sector borrowing came in higher than expected in June, according to the Office for National Statistics (ONS). Borrowing was £14.5 billion in June, £3.2 billion less than June last year, but well above the £11.6 billion forecast by the Government’s spending watchdog, the Office for Budget Responsibility (OBR). Scotland can borrow a bit, contrary to some claims. From the Ferret: Under the fiscal framework, Scotland’s borrowing powers are limited. However, they do have some ability to borrow within the fiscal rules.  The Scottish Government is able to borrow for both resource and capital spending, but does not … Continue reading England’s national debt is 885 times Scotland’s borrowing limit

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It may seem like we in North Britain live in a backwater but Starmer has jumped on the ideas of Mariana Mazzucato

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By stewartb It may be hard for many – perhaps the majority(?) – of folk in Scotland who are not glued to the weekly goings on in politics and the constant implementation of economic, social and environmental policies by the Scottish Government to resist the feeling that Scotland is crap. So often that’s the message relentlessly pushed. And on days like today in Westminster with the ‘King’s Speech’, it may seem like we in North Britain live in a backwater. It takes determination and effort to fill the ‘positivity void’ created and sustained by the BBC and most of the … Continue reading It may seem like we in North Britain live in a backwater but Starmer has jumped on the ideas of Mariana Mazzucato

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Has Labour in Scotland now shifted its stance on NHS use of private healthcare?

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As ‘Investors eye opportunities in Labour pledge to boost private health sector’ has Labour in Scotland now shifted its stance on NHS use of private healthcare? By stewartb We know that a key plank in the Labour Party’s plans for the NHS in England should it win the upcoming General Election is to increase the use of supposed spare capacity in the private healthcare sector as the solution to stubbornly long waiting lists for hospital treatment. It seems, at least from the tone of BBC and mainstream media reporting, that the ‘Overton Window’ – the window of discourse that frames the range … Continue reading Has Labour in Scotland now shifted its stance on NHS use of private healthcare?

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Scotland’s extraordinary fiscal contribution to UK economy revealed and that’s before Oil and gas revenue!

johnrobertson834

Many thanks to Andrew for spotting this From The London Economic yesterday but largely ignored elsewhere: Scotland’s annual tax contributions to the UK have increased by £14.2 billion over the last decade, with income tax, capital gains tax and taxes on productions such as environmental levies driving this increased contribution. New analysis shows that the Scottish public sector generated an annual revenue of £73.3 billion during the last financial year, a 24 per cent increase versus a decade ago, equating to an increased contribution of £14.2 billion to the UK economy. As a result, Scotland now accounts for 8 per … Continue reading Scotland’s extraordinary fiscal contribution to UK economy revealed and that’s before Oil and gas revenue!

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98% of Scottish lamb exports goes to EU and far less than the other 2%, well actually FA, goes to Oz

johnrobertson834

Talking-up Scotland costs nothing so donate to our friends at  https://www.broadcastingscotland.scot/donate/ or take out a subscription to the Scots Independent newspaper in which I have a column, at: https://scotsindependent.scot/FWShop/product-category/subscriptions/ According to Politico, in June 2023: Prime Minister Boris Johnson personally apologized to his Australian counterpart Scott Morrison for Britain’s decision to join the EU almost 50 years earlier as he signed away greater access to Britain’s beef markets than had ever been conceived by his senior officials. https://www.politico.eu/article/boris-johnson-sold-out-uk-farmers-australia-trade-deal-uk/ On 14 March 2024, we hear from National World: Brexit: no British beef exported to Australia under UK’s first post-EU trade deal due to red … Continue reading 98% of Scottish lamb exports goes to EU and far less than the other 2%, well actually FA, goes to Oz

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Should Scotland follow Ireland, Denmark, Portugal or Slovakia

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By Alasdair Galloway Jill Stephenson, retired Prof of Modern German History at Edinburgh University, but for our purposes an indefatigable defender of the Union while equally contemptuous of Independence, has a letter in this morning’s Herald, which illustrates some important issues, not least the limitations of infantile Economics. I have to admit that I was concerned about Humza Yousaf’s use of Denmark, Finland and Ireland as comparators to illustrate Scotland’s potential if independent. The main point of contact between Scotland and these three countries seems to me to be population size, but beyond that comparisons become more difficult. For instance, … Continue reading Should Scotland follow Ireland, Denmark, Portugal or Slovakia