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SNP rejects Calman plan for future of devolution

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Published Date: 04 June 2009
By David Maddox
THE SNP has warned that plans to redraw Scotland's financial relationship with the UK would create a constitutional mess.
As revealed in The Scotsman yesterday, the commission studying the future of devolution, chaired by Sir Kenneth Calman, proposes that the Barnett Formula should be scrapped and replaced with assigned revenues from the proportion of taxes raised in Scotland.

However, this would not include Scotland's share of oil and gas revenue and Holyrood would get no new tax-raising powers, although it could be allowed limited borrowing powers.

SNP Treasury spokesman Stewart Hosie said Calman's compromise would just create another constitutional mess.

"The best position is for the Scottish Parliament to have full control of the financial levers that can fight recession and deliver jobs and prosperity," Mr Hosie said. "That includes powers over taxation and Scotland's oil and gas revenue to invest in our future."

However, he agreed the Barnett formula, dreamed up in the 1970s, was no longer sustainable.





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  • Last Updated: 03 June 2009 9:25 PM
  • Source: The Scotsman
  • Location: Edinburgh
  • Related Topics: Devolution
 
1

Canny Mann,

The Kingdom 04/06/2009 01:41:07
Instead of sending every penny of scottish raised revenues to westminster to be given a portion of it back in the scottish begging bowl. We could wait until the general election, vote SNP, elect said party to rule at Hollyrood, declare UDI. The UN will recognise scotland independance. From then on scotland will keep all its raised revenues. Including oil and gas revenues,(That will be a first).

Calman is a busted flush as one poster said already. What do the voters in scotland want to do. Go back to the old days of "Thatcher/Major and Blair/Brown" its these type of piggies we want out of the trough. Tyrants like Thatcher never able to dictate to a scottish electorate who never voted for her or agreed with her mandate to lord over us, as she smashed the working class all over the UK (no jobs in your area, get on your bike), where scotland was used as a guinea pig, as the Tories imposed the poll tax.

It is time for scottish politics to change, Lets make it independance. In a union where the countries of Scotland and England are in Law recorded as equals, the contract between them has been broken. Scotland is no longer recognised as an equal. Has no voice as an equal. Cannot raise taxes or borrow money. Cannot go to the queen and request her intervention in matter of state. Scotland is a "SILENCED" partner.

Its time to put the "Roar" back into the Lion Rampant..

Vote SNP and get rid of the Piggies in Wastemonster.

Alba gu brath...
2

KampungHighlander,

Jakarta 04/06/2009 05:53:33
The most hilarious part of Calman is yet to come.

I can't wait to see the Unionist Parties reaction.

It should most definitely be one of the three options in the Independence Referendum even if the Unionists Parties reject its recommendations.

1) Status Quo
2) Calman
3) Independence
3

McNasty,

Edinburgh 04/06/2009 08:16:23
Calman should GO AWAY.
4

The Tin Man,

04/06/2009 08:23:28
Stuart Hosie is correct. Giving the scot exec powers to borrow money and raise taxes on top of Westminster borrowing and tax increases, is stupid. Also, Holyrood's existing ability to raise or lower income tax should be removed.

Soar Alba
5

,

04/06/2009 08:27:23
Comment Removed By Administrator
Reason:
6

Gregor Addison,

Glasgow 04/06/2009 09:35:30
Calman excluded on a whim the right of 37% of those who voted the right to have their opinions taken seriously by the commission. Given that support for independence remains between 30 and 40% it seems remarkable that this significant block is not big enough for the Unionist Calman Commission to take seriously.

Calman is a nondecision-making process, a study in feet-dragging, masquerading as a promissory note that will deliver utopia and at the same time as a stick to beat us with (the threats to take powers from us). As James Mitchell once said: "The idea that the interests of a group can best be looked after by another group has been the most persistent corruption of the democratic ideal in the twentieth century."

We should be offered a multi-option referendum and Calman should be the one to make a u-turn and admit arguments which make a case for Scottish Independence. Not to do so is to continue to seek political advantage by editing and deleting subjects for debate. Calman is far from being an open forum so long as it panders only to the unionist establishment.

I agree with poster #3. Let's vote Calman out of existence by sweeping aside the Unionist parties in a General Election.
7

The Tin Man,

04/06/2009 09:45:34
Meanwhile, according the the National Conversation, the future of the Scottish political system is enscribed on the serface of the moon, and can be viewed by looking through the wrong end of a pair of binoculars, while wearing sun-glasses and squinting your eyes. Soar Alba.
8

billalba,

fife 04/06/2009 10:21:19
Tin Man.. Calman will say what the british state wants it to say...we don't need binoculars to see that.
9

connaughtboy,

stonehaven 04/06/2009 11:13:21
Calman, the best argument for independence that I have seen.
10

Eve,

Scotland 04/06/2009 12:32:31
It's typical that they would try and rip us off!!

#4 KampungHighlander,: I suppose that's one great thing about the Calman Commission is that it gives us something to laugh about. I only wish it was because it was funny and NOT harming our country.

I personally can't wait to vote in a referendum for Scottish Independence. Though I see the unionists parties stopping it at every turn, no matter how much it make sense.
11

Sgian Achlais,

04/06/2009 13:30:02
Well I am really surprised to find out that the Unionist Lapdog and London Establishment minion has come up with exactly the result his Unionist supporters wished to hear.

Who cares. It is not for them to decide. It is for the people of Scotland. We should move forward steadily and confidently towards Independence by competent governance in Scottish Parliament while highlighting the waste, incompetence and arrogance of Westminster.

More and more people are joining the movement for independence. More and more people are reading about Scotland and seeking the truth about this damned Union.

Self determination will come. We just have to keep working.

Hopefully today will be a good day for the London parties to start seeing the change in Scotland.

Hopefully the west central belt has finally woken up to reality.

Vote SNP for a democratic and free Scotland.
12

The Tin Man,

04/06/2009 14:12:35
Stuart Hosie agreed with the Calman commission. Another misleading Hootsmon headline.
13

Iainbroch,

04/06/2009 17:02:49
Yes Calman is a mess! So no surprise that it would get rejected the same way you would step round something deposited by a dog on the pavement!
14

Alan B,

04/06/2009 19:02:25
So Calman recommends what brown wanted at the outset.

The lib dems have been lead up the garden path. they and wendy set up the calman commission both with a view to fiscal federalism and then brown scuppered the whole thing.

This proposal just shows what a mess the whole thing is.

It is also a great advert for independence as the devolution alternative is down right daft.
15

Alan B,

04/06/2009 19:06:11
Interesting the scotsman do not run the lib dem response.

Tavish Scott is on record as saying scotland should raise and spend the majority of a basket to taxation. So on of the key partners that set up calman obviously does not agree with the outcome.

We should be told their response and what they care to do about this humilation.
16

Scotindy,

Los Angeles 05/06/2009 00:41:19
Roll on the Referendum on INDEPENDENCE AND BE DONE WITH THIS PATHETIC STEALING DISHONEST DISGRACEFUL UNION WITH england.BRING IT ON.............
17

KampungHighlander,

Jakarta 05/06/2009 08:35:09
The Calman Commission is set to deliver the full report on June 15th. The contents of which have been know since its founding.

The Big Question is will Gordon Brown still be PM when they deliver the findings he drafted?

 

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