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Glenrothes by-election: Darling stresses UK role in weathering downturn

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Published Date: 27 October 2008
By DAVID GUNN
THE clout of the United Kingdom is crucial in overcoming the current economic crisis, Chancellor Alistair Darling said today.
Mr Darling was speaking during a visit to Fife ahead of next week's Glenrothes by-election.

The Westminster by-election follows the death of Labour MP John MacDougall, who had a majority of 10,664 in 2005.

However that is smaller than the 13,507 majority the SNP overturned to win the Glasgow East seat in the summer.

Mr Darling said: "It is important at this time that we remember the strength of the United Kingdom.

"It is only because of the strength of the United Kingdom we were able to put into place measures to increase the capital in the British banking system, including RBS and HBOS, both Edinburgh-based.

"And it is only the strength of the United Kingdom that gives us the clout in the rest of the world and the clout in the coming months to support our economy, which is absolutely essential."

With recession looming, Mr Darling said the situation was "probably the most profound shock to the world economy that we have seen in decades".

Mr Darling also said the SNP proposal to scrap the council tax in favour of a local income tax was a "ridiculous idea" and urged First Minister Alex Salmond to ditch it.

The Chancellor said: "The last thing Scotland or Fife needs is a local income tax."

Mr Darling stressed he remained confident the UK could come through these difficult times.

He said: "At this time when our economy, in common with every other economy in the world, is slowing down, I believe it is absolutely essential that we continue to do everything to help people.

"As the Prime Minister and I have been making clear, we will support the economy as it slows down because that's the right thing to do.

"We showed just a few weeks ago how we in this country, working with other countries around the world, could come together to deal with the severe banking crisis that confronted the whole world.

"We need to show that same determination, both here at home and working with other countries in the rest of the world, to ensure we get through what is probably the most profound shock to the world economy that we have seen in decades."

The Scottish Government and others have been lobbying to keep key banking jobs in Scotland in the wake of the proposed takeover of HBOS by Lloyds TSB.

But Mr Darling said: "If you want people to come here to work in the banking industry, if you want to encourage people to work here at the moment, to put up their income tax over and above that which everybody else is paying in the United Kingdom, I believe would be extremely damaging.

"If you are trying to attract people to come and settle in Scotland, or to stay in Scotland, telling them income tax will be more here than it is in the rest of the country would be extremely damaging.

"I believe it would be a profound mistake if the SNP insist on that."

The Scottish Government confirmed at the weekend they were considering changing their local income tax proposal to include income from shares, and to give local councils power to reduce the rate below 3p.

But Mr Darling said the idea of having 32 different rates made "a bad idea even worse".

He also argued that some retired people relied on a "modest" income from shares and would lose out if dividend income was included.

Mr Darling said: "At this time, when we need to be doing everything we possibly can to not only retain jobs but build new jobs into the Scottish economy, it would be the wrong thing to do.

"The SNP need to remember they need to play their part.

"All of us need to be working together at this time. The Government, Scottish Government, and councils should all be working to do everything we can to help people through undoubtedly a very difficult time."

He urged Scottish ministers to ditch the local income tax plan and said: "Alex Salmond has got to realise this lies within his own power to scrap this ridiculous idea.

"It would be extremely damaging for Fife, extremely damaging for Scotland, extremely damaging for jobs and it should be rejected."

Page 1 of 1

 
1

Alan B,

27/10/2008 13:24:21
The story behind Browns regulation of the financial instutions and what we are really bailing out.

Sunday Herald:

"The Nothern Rock didn't actually own most of its mortgages - it had sold £50 billion of them to a structured investment vehicle (SIV) called Granite, based in Jersey. Granite was registered as benefiting a charity for children with Down's Syndrome in the northeast of England. What generosity! Except that the children never saw a penny - it was all an exercise in financial engineering.
....
Basing these special-purpose vehicles off shore not only means they are able to avoid UK tax, they can also ignore UK banking regulations and capital requirements. This allows them to trade in all manner of derivatives financed by cheap credit on the wholesale money markets - activities which would be illegal under UK jurisdiction."

2

Stephen Cowley,

Edinburgh 27/10/2008 13:31:34
Darling is right that a Scottish government would not have had access to UK borrowing as of right. In my view, the commitment of government funds was unjustified and is likely to make the job of restructuring the banking industry more difficult. This has probably contributed to the fall share prices. However,if the SNP agrees with massive government intervention in principle, it clearly has a gap in its argument in saying how it would have accessed the funds required.
3

Nevsky,

Moscow 27/10/2008 13:33:27
Short of flogging Scotland off to Farmfoods it hard to believe anyone could make a bigger mess of things than Brown and darling.

For Darling to state that people coming to Scotland to work in the banking sector would be put off by LIT shows that Darling has a very dry sense of humour.

Brown's and Darling's policies will see hundreds leaving the country to work in other financial institutions, exactly who WILL come to work in Scotland other than those put in place to wind up HBOS and even they can do it from London!
4

Nevsky,

Moscow 27/10/2008 13:37:11
2 Stephen#

You will notice that the UK is not the only model to follow of course. Ireland has had it's whole banking sector supported by the EU, not one of their banks has gone at no cost to the taxpayer.

The UK has borrowed unprecidented ammounts on the foreign money markets to bail out the banking system; the UK is not using money it has but borrowed cash as the UK does not have the funds to do it alone!
5

Arfur,

27/10/2008 13:38:42
yeh yeh, heard it all before Darling.
6

Venachar,

27/10/2008 13:42:59
Mr Darling, the United States has 50 different taxes. Nobody moves from Texas to New York because the sales tax is different. Tax is tax and under your Governement we all have moved from about the 24th May till about the 6th of June before we start earning money for ourselves. Everything before that is tax which has increased dramatically under your boss and his policies. Every pensioner or near pensioner (within 5 years of retirement) knows exactly what the Labour governement has done to their pension funds over the last decade or so.The modest income from dividends from shares is important. Unlike yourself most people in the UK are not on final salary schemes now so your wonderfull plan is going to hurt responsible people who have saved hard for their pensions for the forseeable future.
7

,

27/10/2008 13:49:11
Comment Removed By Administrator
Reason:
8

Calum10,

27/10/2008 14:01:02
A Local Income Tax would significantly reduce the bills people now have to face in Scotland.

A minimum 5p increase in Income Tax is what everybody in Scotland will have to pay for Gordon Brown not saving for a rainy day.

The SNP reduces your taxes and bills.

Labour increases you taxes and bills.

That is the message that is chiming with voters in Glenrothes.
9

Cheradenine,

Edinburgh 27/10/2008 14:08:38
#9 Or at least with activists on the Scotsman message boards.
10

WSS,

sandbach 27/10/2008 14:15:02
DEBT - Brown and Darling always refer to it as borrowings when speaking about the state of our economy. To you and me, the taxpayers, when it is on our tax bill, it's debt, something that we owe and must pay to someone or if not go to jail. Their borrowing plan will result in this country being DEBT for many years to come and it won't be Gordy and Al would will be picking up the bills, it wil be you and me.
11

The Strategist,

27/10/2008 14:30:10
"The SNP need to remember they need to play their part."

My gawd... what an arrogant, delusional prat this man is.
12

Stephen Cowley,

Edinburgh 27/10/2008 14:40:51
#4 and #8
I certainly had not heard of EU support for Ireland. I have heard that the Irish government promised to guarantee deposits, or at least consumer deposits. However, Irish banks are generally smaller and less international than the Scottish HQ'd RBS and HBOS. I would like to hear either a coherent SNP answer to where they would access the funds, or a repudiation of the massive disbursement of public funds. The latter would probably be too bold, so we are left with a gap in the reasoning for the former.
13

Phil C,

27/10/2008 14:50:43
Well done the Scotsman for using Labour's new word "downturn" instead of the more correct "pile of Labour induced poo" or even the apparently dreaded 'R' word.
14

Phil C,

27/10/2008 14:53:53
Darling should be admitting UK role in creating 'downturn' and stop his slithering hypocrisy.
15

Montford's Jaicket,

Hanging around 27/10/2008 15:09:39
Picture caption: Lindsay Roy finally meets a Labour voter.
16

Alan B,

27/10/2008 15:13:03
Labour are making a rod for their own backs rejecting LIT.

The lib dems are sure to make that the price of any future coalition and labour will be in a position of having to argue for it.
17

Alan B,

27/10/2008 15:21:01
#sm753

Given the lit policy as it stands with it set at 3% and with investment income excluded there is little chance it will prevent people coming to scotland.

Someone earning 106,000 will pay £3000. That will roughly be the same as that person will pay in council tax. So it will effect few people who earn more than that. And people would have to earn significanly more for it to make a difference.

For those the earn significanly more they will be more bothered with the 40% top rate band and will have taken avoiding messures if they are that way inclined.

Remember labours argument is contradictory as they are telling us the rich will not pay LIT.

Also if they are based in london at the moment or considering movign their then the huge additional cost of living in london with the ridiculous price of property etc has to be balance.

I know people who have opted for glasgow over london even though 25G+ extra a yr was available in london due to the fact that they would not be any better of or it was so marginal.

18

Westfield Bairns,

falkirk 27/10/2008 15:28:49
Darling an Edinburgh MP selling his City and Country short. Does he really think Scots are that thick and that he's got a remote chance of being re-elected in Edinburgh
19

steve52,

Kinfauns 27/10/2008 15:32:06
Mr Darling is quite correct. Scotland is important to the UK in these grave times. It is Scotlands oil that will guarentee any loans the UK government asks for.

People have short memories indeed. One of the first things Brown did when Labour took power was to rod the miners pension fund, not once but twice. He did not even wear a mask. He then went on to rob other pension funds and still no mask.

The answer to the question....where would Scotland have got money at this time is really quite simple.....Scotland would have done what Brown and Darling did....borrowed it with the guarentee of oil.

Brown and Darling are lying their way around the country and gullible Labour supporters believe their every word.

Labour in Scotland was the miners not that long ago and Labour stabbed them in the back by robbing them.
20

paisley1995,

Paisley 27/10/2008 16:49:42
#22
Hope you are right - Scots in general are not thick, but some Labour voters just vote for the party because they always have done. I have said it before - SOME WOULD VOTE FOR A ROLL OF LOFT INSULATION IF IT WORSE A LABOUR ROSETTE.
21

paisley1995,

27/10/2008 16:50:36
wore SORRY!!!
22

Itchy,

27/10/2008 17:11:54
"THE clout of the United Kingdom is crucial in overcoming the current economic crisis"

The United Kingdom is not going to overcome the current crisis because you and your boss think you can spend your way out of recession, Mr Darling. You are completely wrong and we are going to pay for it.
23

New Town Resident,

27/10/2008 17:20:13
13. Indeed yes, and perhaps more to the georgraphical point in terms of our situation, very large numbers of people chose to live in low tax New Hampshire (the next door state) rather than Massachusetts.
24

Alastair the First,

27/10/2008 17:20:51
Why does this article appear verbatim in the Herald? I assume it's actually a Labour Party press release reprinted without any editing.
25

Rasco,

27/10/2008 17:24:41
Everyone says Scotland would not have been able to do anything if we were on our on,so can anyone tell me what England would have done as they would also have been on their on where would they have borrowed from, just a thought
26

,

27/10/2008 17:42:37
Comment Removed By Administrator
Reason:
27

,

27/10/2008 18:02:25
Comment Removed By Administrator
Reason:
28

Marga,

Fife 27/10/2008 18:02:42
What did Mr Darling actually do in Methil, apart from chatting with the candidate? Who did he meet? Who got a chance to question him? What security arrangements were there? How long was he there for? Just long enough to get the photo opportunity? We need rather more detail - in tomorrow's paper perhaps?
29

New Town Resident,

27/10/2008 18:17:57
#27 & 31. The Darling argument is surely completely bogus. If Scotland had been independent;

1. There is no way an independent Scotland would be outside outside an E&W currency and regulatory regime. Salmond has never said it would.

2. 80% of RBS and HBOS business would still be in E&W.

Therefore a seperate E&W would have supplied 80% plus of the money to bail out RBS and HBOS anyway - they wouldn't have had any alternative. Just like the joint Belgium and Dutch bail out of Fortis.

So we are only arguing about a few percent either way as to what the Scottish taxpayer contribution would have been.

There, I've made a strong anti-unionist point which incidentally I don't many of the SNP supporters making, so don't always accuse me of always being a unionist troll please!
30

Pocket Dictionary,

27/10/2008 18:18:29
Like the rest of the Care in the Community cases these pathetic vote chasers only seem to hang about the Kingdom Centre. Go visit the Macedonia estate and see how bad things really are for some or your electorate.
31

Islandboy2,

Skye 27/10/2008 18:29:22
One word....Muppet!
32

Sile,

27/10/2008 18:32:46
##31## Everyone says Scotland would not have been able to do anything if we were on our on,so can anyone tell me what England would have done as they would also have been on their on where would they have borrowed from, just a thought

How different it would all be for a start it is very unlikely England would have had the bLiar govt it was Scottish Labour votes that have kept them in power,whole new scenerio to think on.. one things for sure Brown and Darling would not be in power, they would be back in Scotland so be careful for what you wish for , lolol
below is a spoof interview by an american I have had sent me ''Brings to mind 'Many a true word Spoken in jest''

Gordon Brown flies into Washington , still an unknown quantity to most
people in the U.S. despite his bizarre appearance on American Idol
recently. In advance of the trip, profiles of the Prime Minister have
been appearing in the U.S. This column tuned in by satellite to
Eye-Witness News, Palm Beach , for a preview of the visit:

'Good morning America , how are you? This is your favourite son, Chad
Hanging, reporting. The President of Englandland, Norman Brown, is
arriving in our nation's capital this afternoon to meet with President
Bush. But just who is this guy? Let's cross to our special correspondent
Brit Limey.'

Hey, Chad . As you can see, I'm standing in the world-famous Trafalgar
Circus, with the House of Fayed directly behind me.

So what can you tell us about Norman Brown?

Well, Chad , he has been President for some nine months now. He used to
be Chancellor.

What, you mean he's, like, German?

No, that's what they call their Treasury Secretary over here.

And is he a Conservative, like President Tony Blair?

No, Chad . He's Labour. President Blair wasn't a Conservative, either.
He only pretended to be.

So how did Brown get the job?

He just kept shouting at President Blair until he stood down.

But he won an election, right?

No, Chad , there wasn'
33

Sile,

Finish of above post.. 27/10/2008 18:36:29
No, Chad , there wasn't an election. He did think about calling one, but
decided against it because he was frightened he might lose.

How can you change Presidents without having an election? I mean, it's
not like President Blair was assassinated.

That's just the way it works in Englandland. The leader of the party
with the most seats in the House of Lords gets to be President.

So Norman Brown was elected leader of the Labour Party?

Negative, again, Chad . He did raise money and have a leadership
campaign, but no one stood against him.

What, nobody? No primaries, no general election, nothing?

Affirmative, Chad .

Let me get this straight. His party hasn't elected him, the country
hasn't elected him, yet he still gets to be President. Sounds like a
tinpot Commie dictatorship to me.

You could say that, Chad . Norman Brown doesn't really like anyone being
given the chance to vote on anything.

Someone must have voted for him, some time.

Oh, yes. He was elected to the House of Lords by his constituents in
Scotlandland.

He's Scoddish, then?

That's a big Ten-Four, Chad.

So is he President of Scotlandland, too?

No, that's a guy called Alan Salmon.

Hang on, if Brown's from Scotlandland, how can he be President of
Englandland?

That's just the way it goes in this crazy country, Chad . Brown can make
laws for Englandland, but not for his own people in Scotlandland. Not
that it matters much because Brown has signed away most of Englandland's
lawmaking powers to unelected European bureaucrats in Brussels ,
Belgiumland.

That would be like stripping Congress of the power to make laws in
America and handing it over to Mexico .

I guess so.

How in the Hell did the people of Englandland vote for that.

They didn't. Brown wouldn't let them, even though it was a solemn
promise in his party's manifesto the last time people were allowed to
vote.

Couldn't the Supreme Court have stopped him?

Not really. The Suprem
34

Sile,

last page I hope 27/10/2008 18:38:56
Not really. The Supreme Court of Englandland is now in Strasbourg ,
where the geese come from.

Isn't there any opposition?

There's a guy called Boris.

Sounds Russian.

I wouldn't be surprised, Chad . There are millions of Eastern Europeans
living here now, mainly in Peterburl. Englandland has seen mass
immigration over the past ten years, but no one voted for that, either.

What in the name of Ulysses S. Grant is going on over there, Brit? We're
talking about the country which gave us Magna Carta, saw off the Armada,
stood alone against Hitler and invented parliamentary democracy. How
does Norman Brown get away with it? He must be a popular guy.

Far from it, Chad . According to the latest opinion polls, he's the most
unpopular President ever. His approval ratings are even worse than
George Dubya Bush. There's talk about him having to stand down soon.
He's already promised the job to some guy who works for him - name of
Balls.

Say again, Brit, you're breaking up.

Balls.

You're damn right there, buddy.
35

Wee Fifer,

Edinburgh 27/10/2008 18:47:24
I am sick of these wreckers of the Scottish economy trying to convince us all that it is all for our own good. Unbridled cynicism from Darling - and not a thought for all the jobs that will be lost with the bank merger if it goes ahead. Shame on them.
36

arc of insolvency,

27/10/2008 19:11:43
#33 Rodster you typify the SNP supporter always talking Scotland down to bolster an independence agenda. Has Alex Salmond actually said how he would have supported HBOS and RBS.....didn't think so. Salmond the eternal opportunist.
37

weh,

27/10/2008 19:35:51
The opinion poll carried out by YouGov today puts Labour 9 percentage points ahead of the SNP, but this poll is misleading. The actual poll puts Labour at 30%, SNP at 35%, Conservatives 21%, and Lib-Dems 12%. YouGov have now rectified this mistake, and have apologised.
38

English Bob,

England 27/10/2008 20:46:21
He means the English tax payer of course.

Please vote SNP! We canna take noo more!
39

Traquir , Alba,

28/10/2008 01:20:51
"Darling stresses UK role in weathering downturn"

Yep we all know the UK's role in being culpable
for this financial mess. The British Government keeps
asserting that they are a world power player yet when
things go wrong they deny involvement as if they
are not part of the G8 etc.

"It is only because of the strength of the United Kingdom we were able to put into place measures to increase the capital in the British banking system, including RBS and HBOS, both Edinburgh-based."

Could be more fairly stated as It is only because
of the unbridled avarice of the United Kingdom we were
unwilling to put into place regulation to prevent
a complete meltdown of the Scottish and English
economies.

The culpability is undeniable.

26th March 2008 - House of Commons

Question

"It is now nearly eight months since the start of the credit crunch, and one of the key questions is how well prepared we are."

Gordon Brown

"But if I may say so, if the right hon. Gentleman now looks around the world and sees what happened to Bear Stearns, sees that three banks have fallen in Germany and sees what happened to Société Générale in France, he will realise that we have been better protected than other countries against the global financial turbulence, and that that is precisely because we did not take the Opposition advice that would have caused instability."

"as far as the Financial Services Authority is concerned, it is true that it has been regulating for solvency, and it has done a good job."

see - tinyurl.com/6p8w8u

So even a few months before Gordon Brown
was in complete denial
and taking no significant steps to prevent the carnage of both English and Scottish Banks

All kind of familiar given previous massive financial failures under Browns watch.

March 2004

"collapse of the Equitable Life insurance company resulting in losses of about £4 billion to 750,000 policyholders."

Lord Penrose - "blamed the government’s “ineffective’ r
40

Traquir , Alba,

28/10/2008 01:21:23
cont.

Lord Penrose - "blamed the government’s “ineffective’ regulator for the losses and condemned the “manipulation and concealment” by some managers"

“Find a way to get us out of this,” ordered Brown in what has been portrayed as “ice-cold panic”.

see - tinyurl.com/3blbco

So several years before some warning signs on the need for more regulation, but yet more inaction by Brown as he allowed the economy to 'grow' based on some
Alyce in Wonderland
delusions of unrealistic house prices and massive credit debt.

Iron Chancellor, Super-Brown, I think not he
is proven as an incompetent fully culpable for the current financial situation.

And the latest chancellor Darling, who is conspicuously absent behind Super-Browns cape, is no better

November 1997

"the Financial Services Authority, will therefore make the United Kingdom a world leader in financial regulation amongst the major financial centres."

see - tinyurl.com/62j4sz

So given the evidence did they try and tighten regulation ? Nope they
decided to loosen it even more.

20th June 2007

"We want authorities to have as much flexibility as possible to manage their investments, which was one of the freedoms we conferred under the prudential capital finance system in 2004. Before that, investments were subject to a complex system of regulation that we inherited from the previous Administration. Now, instead of regulations, we have statutory guidance, which is in simple language and gives authorities considerable discretion to make decisions."

see - tinyurl.com/67bakn

So less regulation and "considerable discretion" for local authorities
to invest in terrorist labeled states like Iceland which don't even deserve to be countries anyway.

At least The Telegraph was able to foresee this Brown enabled financial Armageddon -

August 2006

"Everyone will now pay for Brown's profligacy"

"so used have the public and financial institutions become to the explosion of credit"
41

Traquir , Alba,

28/10/2008 01:21:49
cont.

August 2006

"Everyone will now pay for Brown's profligacy"

"so used have the public and financial institutions become to the explosion of credit"

"Many people are indebted beyond the hilt. With some mortgages now at a multiple of more than five times annual earnings"

"The interest rate rise, and its contingent damage, can be blamed solely on Mr Brown. He has allowed an expansion in the money supply of more than twice the combined rates of inflation and growth. Public spending is excessive, and wasteful."

"These are traditional vices of governments that seek to use an explosion of credit to keep consumption high and unemployment down"

"The interest rate rise will compound recent above-inflation increases in utility, energy and council tax bills.

Mr Brown ensures that the rate of inflation is calculated to eliminate some of these embarrassingly expensive items from the basket."

"An honest Chancellor would have it recalculated to reflect reality"

see - tinyurl.com/s24de

So the credit crisis was stoked deliberately and with fervor to primarily keep the Labour Government in power, but at what cost ? A government of liars and incompetents who deny sny wrong doing
in the ensuing financial chaos. No doubt the electors of Glenrothes will see through this latest Labour Government spin denying any wrong doing.

Saor Alba
42

Traquir , Alba,

28/10/2008 01:47:50

Being an open minded sort of Cybernat I thought
I would have a look at Labours campaign website for
Glenrothes.

see - tinyurl.com/5k6dgh

Of course there is also the usual spin
& lies, but I was
kind of surprised to see that the so
called "Scottish" Labour Party is again as
with Glasgow East hosting their website with
a London based company Tangent PLC. This is
itself is of course very disappointing as I am
sure they could have found some good talent
in Scotland to direct their campaign monies
to, but it would appear spending Scottish money
in the South East is more to their liking.
I would have thought they would have learnt
their lesson though from Glasgow East where again
they spent campaign money down South,
"Software imported from England was unable to recognise twin-number Scottish tenement addresses"

see - tinyurl.com/5whhmg

However I like to be generous to our foes and want
to give them the heads up that they may want
to change hosting sites not
just to spent the money in Scotland, but that
given Gordon Browns mastery of the economy
their chosen hosting site could easily go
belly up very soon as its share price
has already collapsed with increasing
velocity losing more than 60% in the
last 6 months.

see - tinyurl.com/5f8du6

I wonder if the Unionists will gloat as
much about this England based hosting
company going belly up as
they have gloated about the devastation being
wrought on the Scottish economy under the
management of the British Government ?

Saor Alba
43

Traquir , Alba,

28/10/2008 03:07:02
I see that the Scottish media Pravada
censorship appears to be in full swing again.
The Scotsman continues with
its Unionist/Labour biased reporting and fails to
report on Darlings denial of Scotland's rightful
share of £120 million renewable energy cash
from Ofgem. The Herald does report, but as
with all of their political
stories ban all comments. So nice to live in a
British style democracy.

see - tinyurl.com/6s8n93

Speaking of renewable energy here are some interesting
snippets on how well Scotland does on the renewable
front within this London centered Union.

"Ofgem chief rejects claims that charges hit renewable plans"

"Jim Mather, the Scottish Government's energy minister, yesterday called for Ofgem and National Grid to change the "unfair" regime."

"The current system is based on location, meaning a power station in Scotland pays about £25 million more per year to transmit electricity than one in Yorkshire."

see - tinyurl.com/6pvxtz

"Charges still unfairly target Scottish Generators"

"Under Option B of the access to grid pricing
proposals Scottish generators could see their transmission prices rise from £5.441 to
as much almost £25 per kW, while generators
in the south of England could receive subsidies of
up to £9 per kW2."

see - tinyurl.com/5z3btb

"Scotland faces highest National grid costs"

"The Highlands and Islands of Scotland have the highest charges in Europe for connecting its renewable energy provision to the national energy grid"

"According to the study by Highlands and Islands Enterprise (HIE), producers of 'green' energy in the country's northern mainland "almost certainly" pay costs "many times greater" than in the rest of the UK - and 30 times higher than Denmark."

see - tinyurl.com/5bvxr3

"UK grid connection charges ‘discriminatory’"

"Producers of renewable energy in Scotland’s islands and north mainland almost certainly face the highest charges in Europe to connect to a national
44

Traquir , Alba,

28/10/2008 03:07:24
cont.

"UK grid connection charges ‘discriminatory’"

"Producers of renewable energy in Scotland’s islands and north mainland almost certainly face the highest charges in Europe to connect to a national electricity grid"

see - tinyurl.com/5pabce

"Fairer charging regime"

Again the Scottish Government is making efforts to
rectify the in-balance in charging so that Scotland
can maximize the economic benefits of our vast
renewable energy reserves. The effort being expended by
the Scottish Government is substantial and exposes
to shame the inaction of Labour both whilst they
were in power and now where they still
continue to blindly tow the Westminster/London line.

see - tinyurl.com/57xbj3

Saor Alba
45

Rufus T. Fireball,

Grampian 28/10/2008 05:55:03
Brown’s plan for ‘national British day’ is shelved

Not much about this in the paper today?
46

suchaparcelofrogues,

Scotland 28/10/2008 06:44:02
"It is only because of the strength of the United Kingdom we were able to put into place measures to increase the capital in the British banking system, including RBS and HBOS, both Edinburgh-based.

Yes which is why he is trying so hard to sell of HBOS and insists that RBS sell off their insurance business before he gives them a penny.
47

suchaparcelofrogues,

Scotland 28/10/2008 06:44:43
53

He couldnt find enough "British" people to participate.
48

suchaparcelofrogues,

Scotland 28/10/2008 06:47:31
41

Our share of Trident would have gone a long way to raise cash for the bail out plus money we could borrow from abroad. Where do you think the money is comming from for the UK bail out? your taxes? no its your taxes that is going to go to pay off the interest for the loan.
49

A Better Way,

Scottish Republic 28/10/2008 06:57:58
Well it looks like the first part of my predictions is moving on nicely.

Brown and Darling are to raise borrowings just for this month alone to 60 billion Quid. According to the Times, who have been backing Brown for the last 6 weeks, borrowings are to be increased to 110 Billion quid in the next month.

The pound is falling in value every day since the announcement by Brown and Darling of borrowings of 60 billion for one month alone. The news of that amount increasing to 110 Billion will produce an even greater run on the pound. Lets not forget that the International Financial Bodies are well aware of Brown and Darlings 100 billion borrowings for PFI/PPI that are not listed on the UK debt.

The Bank of England Board have just announced that there will have to be a further injection of funds into the Banks who are expected to lose 150 billion in the next 8 weeks. Theres little or NO Doubt that borrowings are set to increase well past the 200 billion present debt by January.

If anyone would care to check my previous post on this subject , you will see I have already stated that we should she complete disaster strike at the start of February.

What really concerns me is that the remaining Unionists just cant face up to the fact that Brown and Darling have basically achieved something that has never occured in hundreds of years. They have basically bankrupted the UK.

Why are there only a few voices screaming out for Brown and Darling being thrown out of Office?. It simply staggers belief that the People of the three nations are putting up with this. Dont they realise that after the run on the pound, the government will have no choice but to declare a STATE OF EMERGENCY to subdue the RIOTS that will eventuate out of Brown and Darlings actions.

The best thing that can happen is that firstly the IMF be called in right NOW, followed by the Immediate Declaration By Scotland to go its own way. Scotlands Natural Wealth is more than enough to satisfy its 8.7%
50

A Better Way,

Scottish Republic 28/10/2008 06:59:17
Scotlands Natural Wealth is more than enough to satisfy its 8.7% of the current National Debt of what would be the former United Kingdom.

Scotlands Independance is fully justified purely on the Economics of how it would fare in this terrible situation brought about by two countries. The UK and Bush's USA. The rest of the Worlds economies were in fact trading very well. The majority of the Worlds Banks were in very positive positions. This article Quotes Darling as stating only UK clout can fix this problem, which in my opinion is a frivolous statement based on increased DEBT. My opinion is exactly based on the opposite act. There has never been a more perfect time to abandon Westminsters total debt by declaring Independence and accepting Scotlands share of 8.7% of the total debt.

Just as a matter of interest, the UK spends 37.7 billion pounds a year on its military forces. Isnt that the exact same it has just put into the banks?. Now what does that tell you?.

If any of the Unionists would care to debate my predicted outcome, I will be more than happy to answer sensible questions.
51

Andrew Allan,

28/10/2008 07:52:34
It could easily be said that regardless who you are you are going to have to weather the down turn, even if like the UK you are part of the reason it has become so dangerous.
52

Marian,

28/10/2008 09:19:28
Darling is delusional with his claim that "the clout of the United Kingdom is crucial in overcoming the current economic crisis."

For the real story on how much value the EU puts on the UK "clout" see the following quoted from the Daily Mail and Bloomberg on 15 October 2008:-

HEADLINE: “Brown 'begged to join euro'

The Luxembourg Legend that is Jean-Claude Juncker has offered an intriguing analysis of the financial bail-out in an interview with the Rheinischer Merkur, which we might have missed had it not been for the eagle eyes of Bloomberg:

Oct. 15 (Bloomberg) -- Luxembourg Finance Minister Jean-Claude Juncker told German newspaper Rheinischer Merkur the U.K. will consider adopting the euro once the credit crisis abates. ``The British prime minister had to beg to be let into the room in which the euro group was meeting,'' Juncker told the newspaper in an interview published today. ``I'm sure that when the storm is over, the British will think about whether they shouldn't become an equal in all decision-making bodies.''”
53

Sunrise,

Fife 28/10/2008 09:41:05
Brown and Darling. What a pair?

Brown told us he was mending the roof while the sun shines.

I reality he sold the roof and indeed borrowed against the rest of the building during the good times and now he has to borrow more to put thing back the way they were (if that is possible).

Incompetent policies over the last decade from people who are bankrupt of thought.

The Tax and spend, and borrow, policies of this government have now put us in a very poor position going forward and will saddle the county with dept for generations.

Their Golden rules have been shot for ages, long before this latest crisis came along. Now that we are in a deep mess they use it as a reason for doing what they would have had to do, to lesser extent, anyway.

So we borrow and spend our way out of trouble and they seek plaudits for coming up with this idea. Gings!

I wonder at the adage that “you can’t fool all of the people all of the time”. Well I do hope so because this Labour Government will be proved in years to come as the worst fiscal managers in UK history.
54

Alan B,

28/10/2008 12:27:18
It would help if Darling admitted that Brown caused much of the recession.
55

Truth Teller www.oilofscotland.org,

http://www.oilofscotland.org 31/10/2008 00:57:02
Did Gordon Brown harm HBOS as it is Scotland's Bank

The problems caused by greed in the banking industry were predicted well before the recent credit crunch. The tax payer has been forced to bail out banks in countries that the Government has not acted fast and effectively enough. As RBS and HBOS are the largest banks in the United Kingdom it is obvious that the lack of Governmental regulations within the Banking Industry would hit these banks hardest. As soon as HBOS shares dipped Gordon Brown announced a merger with Lloyds TSB making a super bank, a merger that breaks the merger regulations. The announcement of this possible merger caused shares in both banks to tumble as money markets do not want a monopoly in UK banking.

The question is, did Gordon Brown deliberately for political reasons announce a merger that would cripple HBOS a Independent Scottish Bank to make it disappear to make Scot's question Independence. The fact that, Westminster has announced, that if the merger does not go ahead the 13 Billion taxpayer bail out for HBOS will be withdrawn. This proves the underhand Unionist Politics of Westminster.

Now Brown and Darling look like they may be doing a U turn on this rushed merger. Now that HBOS is recovering from harm that the comments and actions of Brown and Darling have had on it.

www. oilofscotland.org for more opinions fact figures secrets and scandals.
56

bluehead,

edinburgh 31/10/2008 09:09:29
no matter what direction you look,you will never see anything as evil in the political world,as brown,darling and mandelson

 

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