Learn to read what I wrote and stop inventing. No, it’s not about to run out - I never said that it was - but it will run out in the nearish future. 10 years? 20 years? 50? It will run out. Of course, if you’re only looking 5 years ahead, the picture is indeed rosy.
Yes, we do. You may recall that my brother does reservoir modelling. But there aren’t that many years left, and it will run out, and then what?
Perhaps you should have gone back and re-read that thread: you mis-remember. I mooted Shetland independence for dislike of Edinburgh rule.
Umm… did you actually read that article? Stocks aren’t yet sustainable. Look at the graphs here:
Really? When Scottish votes are a key constituency for Labour? Tony Blair and Gordon Brown essentially led a Scottish party to run Britain for more than a decade.
I had trouble with an NI bank note in Manchester one time. The teller said “wow, this is completely different, how can I tell if it’s real?” and I said “well usually if you’re trying to counterfeit a bank note you make it look the same as other notes.” Dude laughed and accepted it.
Under the last government, we had 2 Scottish Prime Ministers (Tony Blair, born in Edinburgh, and Gordon Brown), Chancellor (Brown again), Home Secretary (John Reid), Foreign Minister (Robin Cook), Lord Chancellor (Lord Irvine), Health Ministers (Reid again, who really shouldn’t have been eligible for the job, seeing as he was elected to a Scottish Constituency, and Scottish Health Care is now devolved to the Scottish Parliament), Defence Minister (George Robertson) not to mention Wendy Alexander, Yvette Cooper, Doug Henderson etc etc
Even in the current cabinet you have Iain Duncan Smith, Michael Gove, Danny Alexander and the Lord Strathclyde.
Scots are pretty well represented in Whitehall really
If anything it is English interests that need to be strengthened for a fairer UK parliament - but most English are willing to concede that position to support the Union.
Oh - and Hogfather - it is a ***British ***government in Westminster not an ***English ***one.
Add to that the fact that Scottish (and Welsh & N. Irish) MPs get to vote on matters that only affect the English, such as raising university tuition fees. If anyone should feel disgruntled, it’s the English.
Interestingly, I noticed the stuff about Andy Murray because all of my (Scottish) life I’ve been hearing about the phenomenon you describe, but I never really saw much evidence of it. With Murray, I do feel it has been noticeable. He’s the exception, though, rather than the rule IME.
Agree I want the Scot’s to vote on Scotish matters - they should only vote on things that affect Scotland - same as English voting on anything that affects England. (the only thing at the moment that should be voted on by all is if it affects the UK as a whole) Hope I used the correct term affect/effect always get me.
What you are referring to, Hogfather, is the West Lothian Question - the claim that it’s unfair that Scots can vote on English affairs but not the other way round.
I, personally, disagree; I think it’s completely fine for Scots to vote on English affairs because England’s demographic and economic dominance means that its decisions impact the other countries in the Union.
And I speak as someone who’s family can be traced to the Domesday book to be living in Essex!
Well, my point was that he does seem to have faced a degree of animosity from some sections of the UK media because of his Scottishness. The complaint many Scots level is that Scottish sports stars are “Scottish” when they lose and “British” when they win, at least according to the national press.
In general, I think this charge is nonsense, but it does seem to have some merit when one considers Andy Murray.
Murray didn’t endear himself to the press or English with some of his comments as a raw teenager, notably his response of “anyone but England” when asked who he wanted to win the World Cup. However, he has matured a lot since then and has recanted that particular comment.
It’s an area of much misunderstanding. I personally have never noticed the winner=British, loser = Scottish thing (I’m English). I have seen Scottish people being thoroughly unaware of the level of support amongst the English for Scottish teams and players.
No I pesonally thing is whats good for the goose - if we dont want English voting on Scottish affairs then its only right Scot’s dont vote on English affairs - seems reasonable to me.
