Reply to: EU would be enthusiastic if Scotland applied to rejoin

[darmstadt]

So clearly darmy you are refusing to read between the lines.

He is in a position of power and can influence many many things but in reality nobody has really had a vote as to whether they want that or not.

Many people in the UK felt the whole of the EU was just a bunch of sycophantic, back slapping slime balls whose sole interest was lining their own pockets and who could not give a fook about any other human being - and so we voted to leave.

Obviously if the rest of the countries in the EU see this sort of things as a benefit then they can continue as they are.

As someone else has pointed out, numpty...

'When I go into Downing Street they do what I say; when I go to Brussels they take no notice.'

[original PM]

He isn't you know. He's the President of the EPP, but that's an appointed position, not an elected one. As far as I can tell, he's never actually been elected to any position in the EU. He's clearly got lots of influential friends though, so that's nice...

Do you know what the EPP is though? He was actually elected by 491 votes for and 37 against at the EPP congress in Croatia, it's a bit similar to the chairman of the Conservative Party

So clearly darmy you are refusing to read between the lines.

He is in a position of power and can influence many many things but in reality nobody has really had a vote as to whether they want that or not.

Many people in the UK felt the whole of the EU was just a bunch of sycophantic, back slapping slime balls whose sole interest was lining their own pockets and who could not give a fook about any other human being - and so we voted to leave.

Obviously if the rest of the countries in the EU see this sort of things as a benefit then they can continue as they are.

[wattaj]

RE: Tusk.

I quite like him. He seems to be an honest broker... so much so that Poland -- his own country -- tried to get him replaced.

Fair play to the lad.

[Mordac]

Do you know what the EPP is though? He was actually elected by 491 votes for and 37 against at the EPP congress in Croatia, it's a bit similar to the chairman of the Conservative Party

The EPP is an affiliation of various similarly-minded parties across EU member states*. You can't be an individual member (unlike the Conservative Party) so in that sense it's more like the TUC. And if the biggest electorate he has ever had to face is 528 (assuming the Congress is made up of individuals, rather than voting blocks) it's a pretty piss-poor show. I'm sure he'll get to return the favour when it comes to nominating the next Commissioner for something or other. The UK has issues with democratic process, but the EU takes it to a whole new level.

*I think it was you who actually explained that, many moons ago, so thanks for that.

[darmstadt]

He isn't you know. He's the President of the EPP, but that's an appointed position, not an elected one. As far as I can tell, he's never actually been elected to any position in the EU. He's clearly got lots of influential friends though, so that's nice...

Do you know what the EPP is though? He was actually elected by 491 votes for and 37 against at the EPP congress in Croatia, it's a bit similar to the chairman of the Conservative Party

[Mordac]

Why would she do that, he's only an MEP? Maybe you sat on Farage's knee once...

He isn't you know. He's the President of the EPP, but that's an appointed position, not an elected one. As far as I can tell, he's never actually been elected to any position in the EU. He's clearly got lots of influential friends though, so that's nice...

[darmstadt]

I am pretty sure if Ms Sturgeon goes and sits on Uncle Donald Tusk's knee he will be able to sort it out.

But that would be more like Europe entering Scotland than the other way around

Why would she do that, he's only an MEP? Maybe you sat on Farage's knee once...

[original PM]

Scotland latest: Nicola Sturgeon left red faced as independent Scotland fail EU membership | UK | News | Express.co.uk



Oh dear..............

I am pretty sure if Ms Sturgeon goes and sits on Uncle Donald Tusk's knee he will be able to sort it out.

But that would be more like Europe entering Scotland than the other way around

[wattaj]

Scotland latest: Nicola Sturgeon left red faced as independent Scotland fail EU membership | UK | News | Express.co.uk



Oh dear..............

It is fun, but that's not entirely correct: Scotland's Deficit for EU Membership Fact Checked

However, new members can also negotiate transition periods allowing them more time to meet specific EU rules. There are also no formal timescale that countries must work to as part of the convergence process.

With the inevitable caveat:

Therefore, a deficit of three per cent of GDP or lower is not an official requirement for entry to the EU. The EU could grant an independent Scotland a transition period that would allow the country to join the EU with an initial budget deficit of more than 3 per cent, then apply pressure to ensure Scotland works towards achieving it.

My emphasis.

I believe that the EU is still *helping* Greece with its budget deficit for example.

However, the real question is "would they", and, perhaps more importantly "why would they"?

[shaunbhoy]

Scotland latest: Nicola Sturgeon left red faced as independent Scotland fail EU membership | UK | News | Express.co.uk

To be considered for membership to the EU, applicant states are required to have a deficit no higher than three percent. However, the latest figures show Scotland’s deficit is now just over seven percent and rising. This means even if Scotland were to become independent it would not be allowed to join the EU

Oh dear..............

[shaunbhoy]

A poll of how many people?

Taken from which demographic?

A straw poll conducted in the canteen at SNP HQ aka Fort Bumble!

HTH

[wattaj]

I'm odd because I like to put a factual basis on my decisions ?

You really don't. But go with that delusion if it gets you through the day.

Just for your info, Scottish Corp Tax receipts published in GERS come from a UK survey of 60 companies which is extrapolated to give a UK Corp Tax figure. A population based percentage of that is then attributed to Scotland. Or, in other words, they're pretty much made up. eighty odd percent of the figures quoted in GERS are estimates made up from estimates and extrapolations of estimates.

How very kind of you to underline the point that I originally made in response to your question: IT'S A ******* ESTIMATE.

The point being that it's an estimate made by people who do this for a living AND have their work peer reviewed by others that also do that for a living.

Is your position that Scotland is being cheated? REALLY?

And you think that I'm the ******.

[TestMangler]

*sighs* Corporation Tax receipts -- as Corporation Tax is not actually collected in Scotland -- is estimated as a based on analysis of purchases made in Scotland. The precise methodology is published on the Scottish Government's website somewhere AISTR.

Again, what's your point? Do you actually want the mechanics? Is that how you "win"?

You really are an odd, little man.

I'm odd because I like to put a factual basis on my decisions ?

Waste of time clearly trying to have any sort of fact based discourse with you.

Away back to waving your flag and wanking your bulldog

Just for your info, Scottish Corp Tax receipts published in GERS come from a UK survey of 60 companies which is extrapolated to give a UK Corp Tax figure. A population based percentage of that is then attributed to Scotland. Or, in other words, they're pretty much made up. eighty odd percent of the figures quoted in GERS are estimates made up from estimates and extrapolations of estimates.

Should we move on to how UK infrastructure spending is divvied up for GERS ?

[wattaj]

You are a lost cause, always running down Scotland.

No, not lost. Still to be convinced. The fact that you cannot persuade me to your cause and resort to name-calling shows the paucity of your argument.

...The job of the Yes movement is to persuade soft Noes to Yesses. It's working, as we can see with the polls. Brexit, when it actually happens, will turn it into a landslide

You mean "lie"?

Aye, good luck with that.

[wattaj]

I can't work out whether you're acting stupid or just are.

You were the one who claimed that arguments against the deficit shown in the GERS figures are fantasy/unicorns/fairy dust, yet you have absolutely ZERO comprehension of what the GERS figures actually are or how they are derived.

I don't need to broaden my argument. You need to put some factual basis behind yours.

I asked AS AN EXAMPLE, rather than a representation of the whole, how are Scotland's Corporation Tax receipts, for the purposes of GERS, calculated. Do you know ?

*sighs* Corporation Tax receipts -- as Corporation Tax is not actually collected in Scotland -- is estimated as a based on analysis of purchases made in Scotland. The precise methodology is published on the Scottish Government's website somewhere AISTR.

Again, what's your point? Do you actually want the mechanics? Is that how you "win"?

You really are an odd, little man.