tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8764541874043694159.post7388569665104158809..comments2024-03-28T12:23:39.665+00:00Comments on Coppola Comment: The Scottish independence sagaFrances Coppolahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09399390283774592713noreply@blogger.comBlogger4125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8764541874043694159.post-85020471395227809082014-10-01T09:19:29.202+01:002014-10-01T09:19:29.202+01:00Totally agree. Totally agree. Frances Coppolahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09399390283774592713noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8764541874043694159.post-29670687699695411992014-10-01T09:18:30.998+01:002014-10-01T09:18:30.998+01:001) Hate to say this, but that would be popular wit...1) Hate to say this, but that would be popular with everyone except the Scots, who would lose out.<br /><br />2) Total devolution of taxation would need fiscal transfer to be assessed on a retrospective basis using reported tax revenues. Not impossible, but complex and open to abuse. There is also the problem that if tax rates between the four countries became openly competitive, fiscal transfers from a country being undercut to the one doing the undercutting (say from England to a Scotland that was undercutting England's corporation tax rate) would be political dynamite. I think we need a two-tier federal model, rather than total devolution. Frances Coppolahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09399390283774592713noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8764541874043694159.post-21181521036428316342014-09-30T23:57:43.172+01:002014-09-30T23:57:43.172+01:00The leader of the Scottish Conservatives - the not...The leader of the Scottish Conservatives - the not so memorable women whose name honestly escapes me stood up today at their conference and (according to the BBC) proclaimed today that the Tory party was not toxic in Scotland and that it stood up for the silent majority. <br /><br />As a no voter who has sympathy for the well being and prosperity of my fellow citizens of the UK, let it be clear that the current political class, in my eyes, is reaching a Marie Antoinette moment and to use a Scottish phrase " Hell mend them" if they don't start to recognise the sentiment of negative feelings towards them that is experienced by the average citizen.<br /><br />I don't claim any benefits in case my anger is blamed on me being a scrounger, I actually can afford plenty of cake but the UK could become a scarier place if they don't wake to their arrogant shortcomings.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8764541874043694159.post-71207833509201463972014-09-22T21:59:50.192+01:002014-09-22T21:59:50.192+01:00One question I've been pondering:
1. How diff...One question I've been pondering:<br /><br />1. How difficult would it be to revise the Barnett formula so that all four home nations are treated on the same basis (which isn't the same as saying they're all given the same amount of money per head)?<br /><br />2. How difficult would it be to revise the Barnett formula in a world where all four home nations can independently set their levels of taxation?<br /><br />My own thoughts are that (1) is quite easy - and would probably be welcomed throughout the UK - whereas (2) looks incredibly hard. But you might have some cunning suggestions.<br /><br />It makes me start to wonder whether the devo max proposals were properly thought through... because IF there's a Barnett-like formula in place, what's to stop Scotland from lowering its taxes and receiving a subsidy? Or vice-versa? How could such a system be made fair?Alexhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12912173255354626589noreply@blogger.com