Blueprint for Scotland

[MicrosoftBob]

Has Mr Salmond said what he's going to do if the referendum doesn't go his way?

Isn't it rather important for Scottish voters to know how their First Minister will act if Scotland remains a part of the UK?

Surely he'll keep wanting the referendum redone until he gets the right answer, just like the EU did to Ireland

[original PM]

FTFY - the only thing that really matters

Surely not... unless they come to England to buy a ticket? or not?

But yes the Scots get huge benefits simply from the fact they do not have to support their own infrastrucutre as they are part of the larger UK infrastructure.

As soon as they have to pay for all that themselves then it become less attractive.

Also what currency will they use?

[d000hg]

They're going to abolish bedroom tax, there'll be no rise in income tax and they're going to hand out lots of freebies.


Am I the only one that spots a gap in this business case?

I think the "bedroom tax" (what a terrible slang term by the way) is a bit of a non-issue really.

[russell]

BBC News - Oil prices fall after Iran agrees nuclear deal

Plus, Brazil's just found a load of oil off the coast and Venezuela shows signs of turning back from the lunacy of the last decade.

They'll need the whisky to drown their sorrows.

This guy even disagrees with you.

It is pretty clear that there is not much chance of finding any significant quantity of new cheap oil. Any new or unconventional oil is going to be expensive. ”

— Lord Ron Oxburgh, chairman of Shell, October 2008

[Mich the Tester]

Oil may dip now and again but it's long term trend is up, it's a finite resource past its peak, owning it is like owning the last bottle of water in a desert of thirsty billionaires. i.e. a sellers market.

You may be right, long term, but the future doesn't happen long term; it happens in lots of little short terms where circumstances often conspire to confound the best laid plans. Nasty things happen when you make yourself dependent on commodity prices; they tend to go down when you need the cash and up when you need to buy. Why do you think Dubai has put so much effort into diversifying its economy? Oil is now 6% of their economy, and of course Dubai has a geographical advantage in having nice weather and a big port on a growing trade route between Africa and Asia. Scotland is just a cold rock halfway between some other cold rocks.

[Mich the Tester]

This guy even disagrees with you.

No he doesn't disagree. Cheap or expensive isn't the point; dependence on a commodity price that fluctuates, sometimes quite wildly, is a problem.

Oh yes, add in a peace deal in Congo and Chinese investment in oil drilling there and in Angola, and we might just have a big dip on the roller coaster.

[eek]

oil may be the solution to Scotland's problems.

But on the figures I've seen on some pipelines I really wouldn't be betting on it. There is a reason why Grangemouth needs to start importing gas from North American and the price of gas there is only part of it.

[Mich the Tester]

oil may be the solution to Scotland's problems.

But on the figures I've seen on some pipelines I really wouldn't be betting on it. There is a reason why Grangemouth needs to start importing gas from North American and the price of gas there is only part of it.

Look at the graph of crude oil prices. While it may well be true that the long term trend is up, how long term is that? We knew back in the 80s or even earlier that oil will become scarce someday, but there was a 15 year period of low (compared to now) prices followed by a big spike; what next? And what if the next long trough coincides with the years that Mr Salmond wants to build his Scottish dreamland of free childcare and low taxes?

[vetran]

I think the "bedroom tax" (what a terrible slang term by the way) is a bit of a non-issue really.

not the way its been implemented. Th councils are unable to transfer people because they have no spare smaller properties and the left are spinning for all they are worth. Pity no one has pointed out its a follow up from Labours legislation for private tenants that did the same to people not lucky enough to have won the council house lottery.

[DirtyDog]

Surely not... unless they come to England to buy a ticket? or not?

No - the infrastructure etc. for buying a national lottery ticket will remain in place, they have confirmed.

Whether the Scots would be eligible for part of the "Good Causes" spending would be a different matter.