Breaking up the banks
Stephen Hester is not happy.
The RBS chief executive reckons that the latest impositions upon his banking group depart from the course he was steering.
He is not, however, in a strong position to protest. Think beggars. Consider also choosers.
His dispute is with the European Commission which has, among other things, ordered RBS to dispose of insurance interests and other subsidiaries.
Mr Hester feels such an approach will serve neither enhanced competition nor the prospect of speedy repayment to the Treasury.
The demands, he says, were "more material than we had hoped".
Translated into Scots, the RBS has had a skelping for past misdeeds.
And there's more.
Lloyds Banking Group - which includes the grumbling wraith that was once the Bank of Scotland - is also to dispose of parts of its government-encouraged empire.
That includes the 185 Lloyds TSB branches in Scotland.
And that revives the chimerical prospect of recreating a small Scottish bank.
Once more, the ever-affable Bill Jamieson at The Scotsman is to the fore in that regard.
He suggests that the Scots investment banker Ben Thomson might have a role in such an endeavour.
Only a year ago, there was a vigorous campaign to prevent the Bank (or, more accurately, HBOS, its brutally titled modern guise) from being swallowed by Lloyds.
There was much talk of Scottish patriotrism linked to enlightened self-interest.
Perhaps understandably, the Scottish financial sector now seems somewhat cowed, cautious and sullen.
Even more understandably, the Scottish government is declining to comment at this exceptionally early stage.
But others, such as Tavish Scott, are arguing that a distinct new (or recreated) Scottish bank just might "restore some pride and self-confidence".
I'm 
© MMIX~RS~q~RS~~RS~z~RS~13~RS~)
Comments
Sign in or register to comment.
Good post, Brian, but it's a reserved matter, Will you be asking the Glasgow NE candidates their opinions?
They might actually be able to do something about it in the House of Cards!
And while you're at it will you be clearing the air over localgate and birthgate?
Even the Herald now admits Bain works in London and that Kerr's mum lived in Glasgow NE when he was born.
Complain about this comment
Talk about a new Scottish Bank is interesting. Perhaps lessons from history should be considered.
Slightly ironic that this news comes on the same day in 1698 that the Scottish expedition to Darien landed at 'New Caledonia'??
Complain about this comment
Tavish wants a Scottish bank, good for him how about letting us have a Scottish vote in a referendum then!!!!!
Here we go again, yes lets try and get a Scottish only bank something we can be proud of and start rebuilding our reputation (cant help think this would still be better in an independent country somewhere we can plonk our oil/water funds!!!)
Any hoo Tavish once again shows his colours (what ever shade it may be)
Complain about this comment
But others, such as Tavish Scott, are arguing that a distinct new (or recreated) Scottish bank just might "restore some pride and self-confidence".
Interesting. If distinct Scottish institutions are better for Scottish pride and self-confidence then why does Tavish not want a truly Scottish Parliament?
It would be interesting to find out at what point between complete integration with the UK and complete independence from the UK for both government and business institutions does Tavish thinks that being more Scottish turns from good to bad.
Complain about this comment
And that revives the chimerical prospect of recreating a small Scottish bank
Geez, Brian, you've gone up in my esteem again. You're the first Scottish journalist, that I'm aware of, that accepts that the banks in Scotland were never really Scottish in the first place.
Complain about this comment
# 216 dukess2008 (previous blog)
The Labour doorsteper I had was elderly, English and wearing a red cagoul & knitted hat, an old party trouper I assume.
The reason that I was asking the nationality of the Labour activists was the possibility that if Labour couldn't get enough activists together for a by-election in Scotland and had to import them from elsewhere then it is a pointer that they may not have enough to carry out the work needed to secure a majority in Scotland in a general election. Interesting times ahead.
Complain about this comment
"restore some pride and self-confidence"
As in asserting yourself by making your own decisons, being responsible for them, thereby being in control of your own destiny and not letting someone else do it for you?
So in Tavishes book Self determinaion is nefarious. But national self confidence and pride will be restored.
Let me see, do I feel confident and should scotland?
Hmm, firstly British Financial instiutions ran out of control within UK oversight... The UK gobbles up what is left, throws public funds at them, EU intervnenes, forces breakup and our nation is handed back some branches and 'voila' you have some new downsized, santized, high street banks.
Yes that just fills me with national self confidence no end.
Gordon was right 'no more boom and bust'. In Scotland the was no boom, followed by some bust, plenty breakup and spiralling public debt. So, Lets all vote for more of the same UK governance. After all Scotlands past, present and future Financial, Energy, Manufacturing and all other sectors are in competent, safe, UK reserved hands.
Complain about this comment
It’s nice to see Brown and Darling getting their butts kicked by the EU. Only a month ago both of them were still trying to justify what they did with the banks and saying they should not be split, making the argument that it was not the composition of the banks that caused the problems. In reality they were just trying to justify their decisions (we are not wrong!). Now Myners is trying to make a (Labour) virtue out of splitting them up. This am Andrew Neil gave John McFall a good doing for sitting back and letting it all happen. But of course he claims it was all necessary at the time.
Complain about this comment
So gathering together all the information from all the BBC blogs, it seems the Scottish branches of LloydsTSB will be sold off. This is particularly interestng for my family, as the only reason we're LloydsTSB customers is because there's a branch up the road from the family home in Aberdeen. Once this is sold off, will our accounts be automatically transferred to the new owners, or will we need to go through the rigmarole of switching banks just so my mum can continue to use the branch up the road? If she has to switch, we'll all do it, because it makes lending each other money easier.
I like the idea of recreating a Scottish bank, rather than creating a new one. In fact, let's recreate two: the TSB and the Bank Of Scotland. Perhaps sell off the bits of RBS that were absorbed from takeovers as well, like NatWest.
Complain about this comment
So once RBS sells its Scottish branches in England and its English branches in Scotland and the Germans or even the Chinese or perhaps that other small country Tescoland buys them and has a slightly UK wide presence all will be well.
My thanks to Fred Goodwin, Alistair Darling, Gordon Brown, the FSA, Neelie Kroes and all the other players in the week`s exciting episode of "Soap", look it up if you can`t remember seeing it on TV.
Also thanks to Tavish "Pride and Self Confidence" - just don`t let them actually have it, Scott whose nomination for best new comic talent is well deserved.
I think this calls for a decent single malt, not Diageo of course.
Complain about this comment
Strange I would have thought Tavish would have been more of a "British bank" kind of guy.
Is this the beginning of the attempt by the London led unionist opposition parties to steal the SNP's clothes?
The spectre of Iain Gray, Annabel Goldie and Tavish Scott trying to do a Jim Murphy and attempt to act in Scotland's best interests whilst taking orders direct from London is fraught with difficulties.
I can see them in their cubby holes at Holyrood with a flagpole out the window hauling the union flag inside and substituting the saltire according to how the wind blows.
Even nationalist poster boy ( though in reality unionist/ befuddled federalist) Iain MacWhirter has predicted that Labour "will become very much more nationalistic" after the next GE.
Regrettably with this political expediency, the phrase "Proud To Be Scottish" will become , like an unlamented former poster, a byword for unionism.
Complain about this comment
And where is the £40 BILLION bailout to come from?
Oh the printers of course. Even "In the Thick of it" would find this scenario implausible.
Complain about this comment
Online Ed Here
Perhaps understandably, the Scottish financial sector now seems somewhat cowed, cautious and sullen.
The Dunfermline scandal was the final straw when the Scottish media did nothing.
HBOS was hurriedly 'saved' by Lloyds, even ignoring laws aimed at limiting bank sizes to do it. The takeover came just in time for Lloyds to blame it's own perilous state on .............. HBOS.
The suspicion is that Lloyds was in a dreadfull state and that HBOS was used as a blame hound. It gave the Unionists the perfect soundbite that they continue too use 'UK saved Scottish Banks' instead of the more accurate 'UK led to downfall of Scottish banks', it also let the board of Lloyds off the hook - the perfect quid pro quo [remember the meeting between Brown and the Lloyds chairman just prior to the HBOS takeover]?
On Willie Bain, the man will pass through the by-election never have been taken to task for his grossly untrue campaign - it was expected.
Finally, Newsnet Scotland has obtained the postal vote figures for this and the 2005 election. We will publish all when the numbers for proxy vote applications are established this week, the deadline for such applications is Wednesday.
I had another look at the Glenrothes figures and they still look incredible. Leaving aside theories of wrongdoing, the numbers were simply too incredible for words and should have been analysed by researchers. Of course, the missing registers probably made that more difficult.
My gut feeling on looking at the numbers for Glenrothes, Glagow East and the 2005 Glasgow North East is a 2000 majority for Labour. A very good local campaign can put the SNP in with a shout, however it's an outside bet.
If this election had received the same media coverage as Glasgow East where the candidates appeared on prime time TV it could have had the effect of making it 50/50.
Best performer in this election campaign has been the tory, Kerr not far behind Bain has been dire and only saved from the booby prize by the lamentable Baxendale.
Lib Dem votes may find their way to the SNP candidate - Tory votes will do one of three things; Go to the SNP, Vote Tory or abstain.
In summary, the media have conspired to allow free reign to a poor Labour candidate who has campaigned on two soundbites and an unworkable knife crime policy.
Complain about this comment
And to think we laughed at Terry Pratchett's "Making Money", while in the real world of Oink-MorePork all we can do is weep for our children's children who will have to bail us out.
Complain about this comment
The Westminster turnips Brown and Darling assured the world that metger/ takeover was the only viable option. Now the European overlords tell them to dismantle the banks and hand over another 30 billion. Who exactly is running the country, Westminster or Brussels? If Brown knew that Brussels would force the break up of the banks then he was lying again, if he didn't know then this again demonstrates how incompetent he and his government are. It does not reflect well on the rest of Scotlands politicians , Alec and Swinney included if they too were unaware of or ignoring the law as imposed by Europe. The whole episode looks like an enormous cock up by a bunch of idiots.
Complain about this comment
"the RBS has had a skelping for past misdeeds." said Brian. Pity no journalist has even tried to verbally 'skelp' Mr brown and Mr darling, as they are they architects of this disaster.
HBOS and the Dunfermline could have, and more importantly should have, been saved. The cost to the taxpayer would have been significantly less. Stil brown and darling think all they need to do is print more money. The reporting (or lack of it) has been glencampbelly and the fiscal ideas mugabesque.
This EU decision, although correct, will merely further line the pockets of bankers. Thanks again to the labour party.
Still nothing about where 'Bain of glasgow' lives. And not a cheep about how much Scottish labour MPs have scammed.
Complain about this comment
No5; Spot on, and the perpetual myth that these banks were solely 'Scottish' at the time of their demise is a sinister constant that goes on unchecked by the media, with the media in Scotland actually encouraging it. Worst perpetraitors being Blabby Gobertson and Ailing Squawk on GMS who seem to be fronting some sort of reality radio politics magazine serving only to embarrass us all.
HBoS were principally the Halifax lets not forget and RBS, by swallowing the bloated and inanimate Nat West, allowed itself to absorb the arrogant unaccountable culture of that dinosaur setting it on its doom-laden path.
Small, big, Scottish or otherwise lets have banks carrying out banking as it should be done with prudence, integrity, common sense and decisions being made in and around the communities they serve. All this selling unsuitable products over the counter, sanctioning ludicrous credit cards to people who cant afford it, decisions being granted by HO non-entities who have never met a customer in their corporate life etc etc has to stop. A new Scottish bank might be the answer if it does follow and sticks to principles that Scottish Banks used to embody.
Complain about this comment
kaybraes @15 I think you are being very unfair regarding the Scottish Government. The banking decisions were ALL made in westminster.
The Scottish Government were kept in the dark, but they did speak out against the proposals. Don't you remember all the glencampbelly hoo-haa about "picking another fight with westminster" ? :)
Any new bank, whatever its name, will be British or possibly European.
Complain about this comment
#221 Chiefy1724 [previous thread]
Many thanks, and you have an excellent memory. It was at 7:41 for about 5 minutes, so 1h 41m in to the GMS iPlayer stream here.
I have to agree that Gary Robertson was not at all glencambly, and did an excellent job of dragging Bain off Holyrood issues, by making him defend the local MSPs. He could have questioned Bain's "only local candidate standing" remarks, but that is probably a capital offence in BBC Scotland.
Where he did shine was to ask whether Bain was sending a message to Duff Gordon and Capn. Darling, which Bain was completely unprepared to handle. Best question was undoubtedly "so you want to see Michael Martin thrown out of the House of Lords?", again causing Bain to ramble.
Masterly understatement in your "Bain came across as pretty poor", but I fear you're spot on re Robertson and Room 101.
Complain about this comment
I don't think the Scottish Government were in the dark, nor do I think the banks would have behaved any differently under and independent Scottish Government, especially when you consider Salmond previously spoke about "light touch" regulation.
However, that is in the past. This "recovery plan" has turned out to be a total shambles. Does any politician in the UK really understand anything about banking? With the EU commission issues why was this not picked up by senior government figures in both Westminister and Holyrood.
Best thing is to sort out the mess and start afresh, working to proper procedures and acceptable standards. Keep the politics blame game out of it and concentrate on running a successful bank.
Complain about this comment
# 19 Brownedov
Wow, nearly a 2 second silence by Bain on the Michael Martin 'question'. Didn't anybody tell William Bain that 2 second silences, after a question, on radio sounds like half a year and gives the impression of being found out. I wonder if this was recorded or live. Normally if these things were recorded gaps like this are edited out. I have done it myself on numerous occassions as I would only be restricted to a certain amount of time. Leaving the gap in sounds, well...fair for a BBC Scotland programme. Do I detect something here?
Complain about this comment
#13 Online Ed wrote:
"The suspicion is that Lloyds was in a dreadfull state and that HBOS was used as a blame hound. It gave the Unionists the perfect soundbite that they continue too use 'UK saved Scottish Banks' instead of the more accurate 'UK led to downfall of Scottish banks', it also let the board of Lloyds off the hook - the perfect quid pro quo [remember the meeting between Brown and the Lloyds chairman just prior to the HBOS takeover]?"
---------------------------------
Do you have any evidence for that suspicion, or is it just that? I ask as a shareholder of Lloyds who has seen the value of his holding plummet. The bank was in good shape before the ill-advised and (from a shareholder's point of view) very unpopular, take-over of HBOS. Whatever the motive of Mr Daniels in providing a political fig leaf for Gordon Brown, it didn't seem to include producing the best result for his small shareholders. Promises by Gordon Brown not to invoke competition rules to allow the takeover were always going to be hollow in view of EU law, and we now see the result; a perfectly healthy (and previously conservative and prudent) bank brought to its knees. This is bad enough for shareholders to swallow without the spreading of malicious and unfounded allegations about the quality of their investments before the absurd "rescue" of HBOS just to try and score political points on the internet.
Whether or not HBOS was, in the true sense, a Scottish bank is irrelevant -it was a basket case and Lloyds was not before they "merged". I'm afraid you'll just have to deal with it.
Complain about this comment
#21 "Leaving the gap in sounds, well...fair for a BBC Scotland programme. Do I detect something here?"
Well how else can you convey "startled rabbit in headlights" in a non-visual medium? :-)
Complain about this comment
There is nothing new about bank failures of course, for example the City of Glasgow Bank.
However a thought for you all, an independant Scotland would need a Central Bank and we could perhaps call it the "Central Bank of Scotland". However there was such a bank name in and around Perth in the 1800`s.
Since it had managed to get itself into trouble it was rescued by the Bank of Scotland which in turn was merged (taken over by) Halifax to become HBOS which was rescued by Lloyds TSB which led to Lloyds TSB being rescued by the taxpayer which is leading to -- demergers.
If we complete the circle we could have a Central Bank first and then declare independance. Now thats what I call forward planning.
Complain about this comment
# 23 Caledonian54
Lol. If that was his intent then it worked a treat.
Complain about this comment
#21 gedguy2
"Wow, nearly a 2 second silence by Bain on the Michael Martin 'question'."
Yes, genuine ‘Rabbit in the headlights’ stuff as Online Ed aptly put it. Given the state of the constituency, Martin's role in the expenses issues and Bain's own working relationship with Martin, you'd have thought that's the one issue his "minders" would have coached him into a word perfect response, being bound to be asked by any serious interviewer.
The fact that it doesn't get put on air until the campaign is in to its last fortnight tells us even more about the BBC Scotland than about Bain as a candidate.
Complain about this comment
# 22 PickledPete
Whether or not HBOS was, in the true sense, a Scottish bank is irrelevant
But that is exactly the point that we are trying to put over here on this blog. If it wasn't a 'Scottish' bank then the UK government, under Brown and his cronies, shouldn't be using the travails of this bank as a political weapon to thump the SNP. Anything else is irrelevent. Sorry to hear of your troubles regarding your shares, maybe you should redirect your understandable ire to the British government.
Complain about this comment
If I understand this correctly, RBS virtually created direct car insurance with Direct Line, became one of the biggest players and created a success story worth millions along the way.
Now some alien being from EU land decides they have to dispose of their golden goose and lose the revenue it creates. This, at a time when the banking giants are screaming out for income. How this supposed to help?
Or could it be that Neelie Kroes has someone in mind as a potential buyer, an old school chum owed a favour perhaps?
Complain about this comment
@25 gedguy2, apparently Willie Bain did the interview in a Grizzly Bear costume and when they went off air Iain Gray was at the door of the studio shouting "Why the big pause?"
Complain about this comment
Interesting take on the cannabis story in Timesonline. On the quiet, the US is legalising marijuana if this happens in the USA expect this to happen here shortly afterwards. It seems to back up Professor Nutt's assertions.
Complain about this comment
# 28 omniscotty
Surely you are not suggesting that a politician would deliberately destroy a bank just to help a friend or even look to the future to gain a seat on the board after retiring from politics?
I hear Gordon Brown is thinking of doing charitable work after he retires.
Complain about this comment
# 29 GrassyKnollington
Rofl...stop it!
Complain about this comment
Tavish Scott should instead consider restoring some pride and self-confidence in himself by not preventing his party's members from having their debates in public.
Complain about this comment
Well more public money thrown into the quicksand never to be seen again.
Since our financial defecit is the Worst In The World emigration to Zimbabwe is getting more like paradise.
Complain about this comment
9. KingDouglasD
"will our accounts be automatically transferred to the new owners"
That's certainly what happened with previous changes in bank ownership, so I don't think you'll have any hassle.
Complain about this comment
#215. Ah another woman to help keep this lot in line! (or try--oldnat's a wily one) Welcome!
Complain about this comment
# 28
You are correct about Direct Line`s origins and influence.
You are correct it won`t help income flows and profits.
As for Neelie Kroes, she has been a busy lady indeed, her profile page suggests she has had more positions than, well most of us. A real Jill of all trades.
http://ec.europa.eu/commission_barroso/kroes/profile_en.html
Her team includes two drivers, two Jags Prescott eat your heart out.
Complain about this comment
"But others, such as Tavish Scott, are arguing that a distinct new (or recreated) Scottish bank just might "restore some pride and self-confidence."
Holding a referendum on the issue of independence is a rather better way of restoring some measure of "pride and self-confidence". What is more effective at rallying the Scots people around their nation than asking them to vote on their national future. Surely this may we can restore "pride" and "self-confidence" to anyone lacking?
Mind you...a clean and fair referendum would demand no mud slinging or scaremongering...that is a big ask from both sides.
Complain about this comment
Restoring trust in British banking, let's hope so...Lloyds Banking Group and RBS to be broken up, so time to go back to some good old names perhaps. I think so.
Acronyms like HBOS, TSB and RBS could be on the way out in Scotland at least, so why not go back to happier times? Trustee Savings Bank of Scotland has a trustworthy ring to it. Royal Bank of Scotland sounds classier than than the spivvy RBS - OK, not so much a name change as a dropping of the acronym. And ditch Natwest for the solid National Westminster Bank. Back to august institutions which command respect rather than attract derision.
Complain about this comment
With Mr Scott featuring on two consecutive blethers, you might be interested to know that Scotsman "Site visitors can question Tavish Scott in a one-hour question-and-answer webchat on November 5, starting at 3pm.". Click
here for more info.
Somehow I rather suspect there'll be rather more questions related to the least thread than this one.
Complain about this comment
I think the whole banking affair shows what a nightmare Europe can be for any politician.
A national government decides to do something, then the EU comes along and changes things.
Without considering who was correct and who was not, it raises questions as to the limits of power of any European nation, especially since it appears the Lison Treaty will become effective from 1 Dec.
The EU can be very annoying sometimes. Microsoft is a classic example. OK, they may be restrictive and not all of their software works, but the simple fact is they are a successful company particularly in the business sector.
The EU comes across as jealous and decides to thump Microsoft with huge fines. What if one day Microsoft decides not to sell or support their products in Europe?
Complain about this comment
38. deanthetory
Hello, there Dean. People have been asking about you. :-)
Complain about this comment
I suppose you've seen this: Czech President Vaclav Klaus has signed the EU's Lisbon Treaty, the final step in the charter's ratification.
It's headlining on a certain UK news broadcaster. Sorry to be a bit off-topic.
Complain about this comment
41. Neil_Small147
"The EU comes across as jealous and decides to thump Microsoft with huge fines. What if one day Microsoft decides not to sell or support their products in Europe?"
Ubuntu
Complain about this comment
44. At 6:02pm on 03 Nov 2009, cynicalHighlander wrote:
41. Neil_Small147
"The EU comes across as jealous and decides to thump Microsoft with huge fines. What if one day Microsoft decides not to sell or support their products in Europe?"
Ubuntu
You're up to the oxters in bloody penguins and along comes a Karmic Koala!
Complain about this comment
On the banks.... don't I remember a lot of folk asking how the Lloyds' bail out of HBOS would get past the EU competition commissioners and being told by Darling and Brown it would be exempt as it was of national importance to allow the take over / they had all ready got it agreed by the EU commission?
Then they fed confidential information to Peston with regards the counter HBOS bid by Scottish business interests and the Bank of China to ensure the Chinese did a runner... in the mean time Barclays sold itself off to one of the Gulf States with out a whimper from Gordon or his Darling.
Is the same EU commission asking the Spanish to break up Santander's dominance in the UK by selling off Alliance and Liecester, Abbey or any of the other bits it acquired with UK Government 'pay offs'? Maybe this is the benefit of the Lisbon Treaty Gordon and Darling are so behind?
Complain about this comment
# 43 JRMacClure
Personally I'm all for having a President with very limited powers, unlike the USA. I would be more happier with the EU if it was heading towards a confederal system as opposed to another USA.
Complain about this comment
45. handclapping
"You're up to the oxters in bloody penguins and along comes a Karmic Koala!"
Following their naming Pickled Penguin is more likely.
Complain about this comment
# 38 deanthetory
Welcome back Dean. I hope the students weren't too hard on you. How was the humble pie; was it tasty? :-)
Mind you...a clean and fair referendum would demand no mud slinging or scaremongering...that is a big ask from both sides
Maybe you can point out to us the scare tactics employed by the nationalists. I was under the impression that it was the Unionists employing that tactic.
Complain about this comment
47. gedguy2
"I would be more happier with the EU if it was heading towards a confederal system"
Apart from the foaming of the ulta-sceptics on the UK blogs, I've detected a shift of some to the acceptance that we (Scots or Brits) are in the EU and need to work to reform it, rather than simply oppose. I suspect that, across Europe, many - perhaps most - would agree with your view of the future.
Complain about this comment
Pity we are not getting the auld bank back.
Complain about this comment
Well the treaty is ratified and the lib/lab pack must sense the tories are there for the kill! (ouch)meanwhile handclapping is sucking on the eucalyptus leaves and calling for all penguins to ratify the Norwegians syndrome.
Complain about this comment
#52
Oh derek, you are a giggle. 8-)
Complain about this comment
Things seem to be moving fast on to the liberal democrats ground and the lib/Dem's will surely press the nats on the EU and it's future.
Salmond could be left naked and bare come 2011 (eeeeeeeyuk)as the labour party and the liberals squeeze the nats flat!.
Complain about this comment
44. At 6:02pm on 03 Nov 2009, cynicalHighlander:
Fair point, but how many businesses will go to the time and effort changing their os? Lots of good os software out there, but from a business point of view the support package is crucial.
45. At 6:18pm on 03 Nov 2009, handclapping wrote:
to the oxters in bloody penguins and along comes a Karmic Koala!
I prefer cola cubes!
Complain about this comment
#53
No time for small talk as handclapping conserves his water needs!.
http://www.sedivy.cz/photos/koala/KP%20-%20koala%20bear%202.JPG
Complain about this comment
47. gedguy2
Isn't the low-power presidency the direction it seems to be heading in since someone apparently tipped Mr. Blair that he wasn't going to get the job?
But the EU really is a puzzlement. Hard to figure the thing out and exactly what the heck it is.
Complain about this comment
54. derekbarker
Oh, yes! The LibDems have the SNP scared. Suuuure they do. Haha! Now that's darn funny.
Complain about this comment
# 50 oldnat
I suspect that, across Europe, many - perhaps most - would agree with your view of the future.
This may be the case but confederalism is not conducive to big boy political game playing. Federalism would suit them better as it allows them to retain, and gain, more power to the centre.
I'm stuck in the middle of wanting confederalism but can only see that happening if power is centralised and then handed back to the constituent parts, else we would be stuck in a mire of conflicting national laws which would bring supranational government to a halt; hence the 'Lisbon treaty'. The porblem about giving power to politicians, in the hope that it would reurn back to us, is that politicians never want to give up power once they have it.
Complain about this comment
55. Neil_Small147
And not having to spend a month tinkering to find drivers and apps that actually work (*gasp*) with your OS. But we know that penguins make geeks get all hot and bothered. ;-)
Complain about this comment
Ubuntu's idea of minor usability issues equate to actually getting anything to RUN with the darn thing anytime within the first few weeks of installing it.
Complain about this comment
# 54 derekbarker
Derek, what are you on about?
Complain about this comment
# 57 JRMacClure
But the EU really is a puzzlement. Hard to figure the thing out and exactly what the heck it is.
I'm sure the Europeans thought exactly the same thing about the founding of the USA. As far as I can make out the EU is a soon to be political entity designed to stop us Europeans from killing each other by the millions (good thing) and to counteract the emerging financial blocs springing up around the world (good thing). The problem comes when the voters in the EU are at odds with the political masters running the EU (not too sure if this is a good or bad thing). Only time will tell how much influence the voters of Europe are going to be allowed to have in this EU without us having to start a revolution.
Complain about this comment
59. gedguy2
"politicians never want to give up power once they have it."
I agree. The difficulty is to create a system where the politicians are actually accountable to the people (in the areas of Scotland, in Scotland itself, and in Europe). That's why I'm increasingly attracted to the Swiss model.
Complain about this comment
# 64 oldnat
That's why I'm increasingly attracted to the Swiss model.
What's her name and do you have any pictures?
Seriously, though, I have heard some good things about the Swiss system, mostly from Browndov, and it appeals to my way of thinking. I really need to find some site (hint to Browndov) that will give me a good insight to their political system. Something like 'Swiss political systems for dummies' would do.
Complain about this comment
#62 gedguy2
The about is redundant.
#64 oldnat
Alternatively having recall provisions with low thresholds would be another way if the cost, to the non-political public, of elections was cheaper.
Complain about this comment
It looks as if the snp website has been hijacked. Do not click on anything if you get "Drupal".
Complain about this comment
65. gedguy2
Just for you
http://www1.pictures.zimbio.com/gi/Fashion+Fiesta+ZPuUCKimlJQl.jpg
Complain about this comment
# 66 handclapping
The about is redundant
Lol. I think you may be right. I suspect that he is in one of those States (take that any way you want) in the USA which is not hounding people who want to smoke the illegal stuff.
Complain about this comment
Despite the fact that gets paid more than RBS has ever invested in Scottish start-ups Stephen Hester doesn't deserve to be happy so I'm glad he's not.
This bank is still not playing the role it should be playing which is to to support and encourage Scottish industry.
Breaking it up won't help either. Increasing competition by creating banks that provide basic services such as mortgages will not work...
Making more mortgages available means greater buying power therefore house prices will go up not down as buyers compete for properties.
This is why the tabloid end of the financial services sector like Tesco and Virgin Money are so interested.
Complain about this comment
# 66 handclapping
if the cost, to the non-political public, of elections was cheaper.
I'm not too sure that we should put financial restraints on democracy. I see democracy as, just about, more important than anything else.
Complain about this comment
22. PickledPete
Pete you will have to come to some understanding here, Greenockboy is the master of unsubstantiated conspiracy theories. It is best to leave him to it, dealing with reality is not one of his strong points.
Your point is well made, if I were a Lloyd's shareholder I would be pretty annoyed just now. The whole thing looks like a pretty bad deal for them. But they are, well, English so must be the source of all the problems.
Complain about this comment
72. northhighlander
"dealing with reality is not one of his strong points."
HA bit rich that isn't!
Complain about this comment
72. northhighlander
Amazingly enough, the only one who ever says anything bad about the English on this site is you, northhighlander. Wonder why that is. =)
Complain about this comment
50. oldnat
I agree with both yourself and Gedguy. The whole future of the European Union will be shaped by the decisions our politicians will make in the next few months. This should be very relevant to folks like us but strangely seems remote and of little importance.
That is the missed opportunity of the Lisbon treaty, a chance to connect the EU to the voters. The future is within the EU, we need mainstream politicians wrestling the political iniative back form the Tories, who basically want to bury their heads in the sand and want the empire back.
The full effects of the current financial crisis have not yet been felt, China is going to become more powerful, so are emerging economies like India and Brazil. We need to have a strong voice in the EU and it needs to be a strong institution.
I fear the lack of democratic accountability is its biggest drawback, we should be arguing for positive reform based on making the whole EU more accountable to those it serves.
I also am wary of the President and High Ambassador roles. The persons filling these roles in the first instance are crucial. I don't want Blair, but equally I don't want the French and Germans deciding between them who gets the roles.
Difficult to pick candidates, Any suggestions?
Complain about this comment
74. JRMacClure
Well, except me. I occasionally point out that it was the English who taught the US to be a world dominating super-power and can list a number of examples of the lessons they gave us. Mostly the nationalists are too polite to bring such things up and, after all, has nothing to do with a desire for independence.
Amusingly enough, it is hard for unionists to grasp that nationalism is based on a desire to run your own affairs rather than a hatred of anyone else.
But you really know that and just like making cheap shots. I do realize that. I'm just pointing it out.
And don't worry. I know you don't like speaking to me because I am(*gasp of horror*) American so you don't need to reply. I've had my say on the matter.
Complain about this comment
Little aside here.
I like buying fireworks at this time of year so the kids can get some enjoyment and I get to play with things that go bang.
However, we have had some fruitcake (not the word of choice) setting off fireworks all evening in a narrow strip of common land full of trees. Now the little git is firing them at houses.
Would it be a reasonable suggestion that fireworks are banned, with only registered individuals allowed to use them for licenced displays?
It would reduce the cost to the emergency services, stop annoying people and stop these shops opening for 2 weeks every year. You know, the firework shops that are more like army surplus depots!
Complain about this comment
Forgot to mention. Ever tried getting through on the standard line to the police these days? Lines are always busy.......
Complain about this comment
Found this link on politicalbetting and it had me in stitches:
What the bleep
I laughed until I cried.
Complain about this comment
#62gedguy
Woes me! once more gedguy. The SNP are a minority executive, a coalition could bring the SNP down at any giving time.
Now! do you understand.
Complain about this comment
76. JRMacClure
Do you normally talk to yourself?
Complain about this comment
This comment was removed because the moderators found it broke the House Rules.
80. derekbarker
You're absolutely right. The only problem with bringing the SNP down is that the other parties don't have the balls to do it.
Now do you understand? =)
Complain about this comment
81. northhighlander
I occasionally reference my own comment if I decide to expand on it.
But be careful. You're talking to the American. Mustn't do that. Might give me delusions of grandeur being spoken to by someone who is British. ;-)
Complain about this comment
81. northhighlander
She probably finds that it's the best way to have an intelligent conversation. Talking to Unionists can become so wearing. :-)
Complain about this comment
The smoking gun is locked and loaded! the CBI have said that the SNP is negligent on their financial budgeting of Scotland.
Time it flexes like a hawk as it sweeps down and smothers the little moose!.
Complain about this comment
Online Ed Here
Newsnight by-election interview with David Kerr Nov 3rd
A 1 minute and 25 second intro, containing a reference to the smear about Kerr’s place of birth together with a picture of a Daily Record headline on the same smear.
There followed a seven minute interview containing six questions in total. There were 16 separate interruptions from Glenn Campbell.
Interview questions were as follows:
1. Define ‘Give Labour a fright’ – a reference to Alex Salmond’s claim that Labour were in for a fright.
Kerr is interrupted once in giving his answer.
2. This question is about the place of birth smear.
Kerr is interrupted no less than 5 times in a period of 1 min 40 secs as he answers. The first interruption comes 9 seconds after he begins his answer. The remaining interruptions occur at the following intervals: 10 secs, 16 secs, 15secs and 21 secs.
Flow of answer is made very difficult as is his attempts at attacking Labour over the smear. [No excuse now for not pursuing Bain over his Hammersmith residency and voter role register suspicion.]
3. Expenses.
Kerr is interrupted only once.
4. Troops in Afghanistan.
Kerr is interrupted no fewer than seven times in giving his answer.
First interruption is TWO seconds in, followed by: 8secs, 6secs, 2 secs, 16secs, 8secs and 13secs.
5. Postal dispute
Only two interruptions, one after 15 secs then another 10 secs.
6. Religion
No interruptions
Campbell gave Kerr a hard time, as he should. Kerr’s performance has marked him out as a star of the future – no doubt.
By the way:
Good Morning Scotland’s interview with Bain lasted just over 4 minutes, Baxendale’s interview the previous day lasted just under 5 mins 30 secs.
Lastly:
There will be very many Labour MP’s who have their place of birth as where they grew up as opposed to the location of the maternity Unit. Many people from Gourock will have been born in the old Rankin maternity hospital in Greenock, but will always have described themselves as having been born in Gourock – or from Gourock.
Yes, I did see the personal attack from the Uionist at #72 - I ignored it.
Complain about this comment
86. derekbarker
So does that mean that someone has decided to donate a twosome to Labour and the Tories to bring the SNP down?
Nope. Thought not. =)
Complain about this comment
#83JR
O' the brown haired maiden is all acosta!.
Tick/Tock Tick/Tock Now! you may well be disconnected but I'm still aware, that time will be the judge and the timer is about to stop!.
Complain about this comment
I am not at all suprised that the banks may be forced to shed some weight. I remember someone claiming the idea to be nonesense as the European Union would never stick their noses in, or the British Government would ignore such European requests - well if your reading this, I was right and you were wrong!
However I also remember Alex Salmond claiming HBOS is better served as an independent instituation... if Lloyds is selling bits and bobs as a result of taking over HBOS, then should HBOS have been nationalised to save Lloyds the bother of a high risk asset?
Afterall the fuss, Scotland may see a return of multiple 'Scottish' instituations... the people of England must be quite annoyed that Scotlands attempt to takeover the world through the financail services, which failed, has resulted in the possibility of a brand new bank for the country.
Complain about this comment
#88JR
Tut! Tut! JR, more like a lib/lab pack at holyrood and westminster.
Come on girl seconda to the reality of British politics.
Complain about this comment
#65 gedguy2
"Something like 'Swiss political systems for dummies' would do."
I usually recommend starting with Switzerland's Direct Democracy, which is not a particularly complex site.
If that doesn't appeal or goes into too much detail, try downloading the 10-page (including pictures) SWISS DEMOCRACY brochure here.
Complain about this comment
89. derekbarker
Ah but will the other parties find that oh-so-essential equippage?
;-) Clock can't start running until that happens.
Complain about this comment
87. U14094468
Ah how reassuring. BBC "news coverage" is still all glencampbelly as shown by the original.
Complain about this comment
# 86. At 9:23pm on 03 Nov 2009, derekbarker wrote:
"...Time it flexes like a hawk as it sweeps down and smothers the little moose!."
Still not sure what you're on Derek, but it must be a pretty big hawk, the last moose I saw was about 6 foot tall with antlers to match.
Did you mean a wee moosie? :-)
Complain about this comment
95. Caledonian54
It was a typo. He meant a wee mousie. Now everyone knows that you'd not describe Alex Salmond wee (hehe I like AS but he is definitely NOT wee) and mousies are gray... So that must mean that a big bad eagle is coming for (drum roll):
The Gray mousie-man.
Complain about this comment
A new Hootsmon for your reading pleasure:
http://mypseudepigrapha.blogspot.com/
My next favorite newspaper. I'm now off to read The Onion.
Complain about this comment
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/africa/8337735.stm
If Scotland is to be the "Dubai" or whatever of renewable energy, we'd better get a move on.
Bet the Saudis aren't tied down with complex planning laws.......
Complain about this comment
Online Ed Here
Labour are apparently to circulate leafets based around the smear on David Kerr, a fish or something similar to denote two faced.
Surely it's time for one of our political commentatots to pick up on Labour's shamefull campaign.
Complain about this comment
£4,350 per family to bail out Britain's banks
No cheques accepted only hard cash, preferably gold or other precious stones.
Complain about this comment
77. Neil_Small147
"Would it be a reasonable suggestion that fireworks are banned, with only registered individuals allowed to use them for licenced displays?"
Yes. Obvious and sensible.
Complain about this comment
78. Neil_Small147
You should have a hotline.
Complain about this comment
100. cynicalHighlander
"only hard cash"
Quantative Easing means that the cash is actually soft and fuzzy.
Complain about this comment
49. At 6:46pm on 03 Nov 2009, gedguy2 wrote:
# 38 deanthetory
"Welcome back Dean. I hope the students weren't too hard on you. How was the humble pie; was it tasty? :-)"
Lol, tasty yes- with a distinctly overdone taste mixed in the broth ;)
"Maybe you can point out to us the scare tactics employed by the nationalists. I was under the impression that it was the Unionists employing that tactic."
I was mainly refering to Wilsons Inverness talk about "broken Britain" campaigns etc. Its all rather negative, whether true or not [and its slightly untrue, the UK isnt broke, or bankrupt].
The SNP strength is in the positivity of their message- something to vget passionate and excitied about if your an elector [and not a partisan politically obsessed blogger]. I just fear that having heard Wilsons proposals in Inverness the SNP could be learning a very poor lesson from Labour.
Plus most Unionists would be rather horrenous about it all too- bet the Sun front pages during such a referendum would make horrible reading.
Complain about this comment
100. At 10:49pm on 03 Nov 2009, cynicalHighlander wrote:
£4,350 per family to bail out Britain's banks
No cheques accepted only hard cash, preferably gold or other precious stones.
Sorry, only live bodies fit to work accepted.........I'm not that far wrong tbh
Complain about this comment
104. deanthetory
"Its all rather negative, whether true or not [and its slightly untrue, the UK isnt broke, or bankrupt]."
It's not broke? Ummmm You realize there are a lot of people who'd dispute that analysis.
But I suppose when you print money like mad... ;-)
When the situation is negative, is it really wise for political parties to pretend otherwise? Or is telling the truth a good idea? Hard to say. Lies have won a lot of elections, I'll give you that.
Complain about this comment
103. oldnat
"Quantative Easing"
Wish I still had this give me something to do in the wet.
Complain about this comment
107. cynicalHighlander
I had one of those!
Complain about this comment
104. deanthetory
"I was mainly refering to Wilsons Inverness talk about "broken Britain" campaigns etc. Its all rather negative, whether true or not [and its slightly untrue, the UK isnt broke, or bankrupt]."
I thought DC penned "broken Britain" months back, bankrupt is when one's expenditure is greater than its income month after month and ever widening with no light at the end of the tunnel and its assets (what are left) are decreasing in value. The UK like the banks need split up into there constituent parts to become viable in there own diverse ways.
Complain about this comment
99. U14094468
Since that is, you can absolutely guarantee, not going to happen, the SNP will have depend on boots on the street. This hasn't been a pretty election but no one expected it would be. All the worst of Scottish politics showing.
That said, David Kerr has shown himself very well and I suspect he has a good future either as an MP from Glasgow NE or elsewhere.
Complain about this comment
Still no sign of Bain being interviewed on Newsnicht. They must be keeping him for best, or maybe he is in his London constituency receiving tutorials.
Complain about this comment
#104
Britain is most certainly broke and the OECD current table shows Ireland with nearly the worst national deficit, Iceland behind Ireland and, as absolute worstin thr whole world, the UK behind them both. Ireland and Iceland have both chosen to bite the bullet now and have taken draconian measures right now to sort out their economies in double quick time. What has UK done? Gordon brown has just borrowed more money and we are printing worthless paper money and flooding it into circulation so that we are deceived about the real state we are in. The UK national debt is rising at the rate of £500,00,000 (that's right £500 million) per day and this is absolutely unsustainable. He hopes this potentially disastrous profligacy, which can do nothing other than devalue our currency if we don't collapse first, will carry him through to the next election which he hopes he might win. Some hope! I'm surprised that as a Tory you don't find it sensible and useful to point out the actual facts. After all the Tories will certainly inherit this mess in the late Spring (if we get that far) so any notion that the economy is even a teensy bit OK is not a productive position for you to adopt at this point.
We used to be told we had to remain in the Union because the strong UK economy subsidised us. Now we are told we have to stay in the Union to take our share of the vast national debt. No way.
Complain about this comment
@55
"44. At 6:02pm on 03 Nov 2009, cynicalHighlander:
Fair point, but how many businesses will go to the time and effort changing their os? Lots of good os software out there, but from a business point of view the support package is crucial."
What support does the normal business or user get from MicroSoft. None. Zero.
My wife started off with a ZX Spectrum, handled the Amigas OK, Windows 95 on and yes still has handled three flavours of Linux with no hassle. Most users only use a small set of features.
For them support comes from forums etc, a lot of which is true for my day to day job as a support bloke.
You can, of course, buy support contracts for Linux as well as open source Software packages, a guy I recommended OpenOffice too aqlso bought a support package for it.
The argument against "Oh you can't change because it looks different" does wash in the Windows world anyway, because Windows changed between 3.1 and 95/NT, and Office 2007 is a big shift in interface design from 2003.
@61. At 7:56pm on 03 Nov 2009, JRMacClure wrote:
"Ubuntu's idea of minor usability issues equate to actually getting anything to RUN with the darn thing anytime within the first few weeks of installing it."
Really? Jings I must be lucky then. The Dell machine I was once given witH Vista installed by a MicroSoft guy in Edinburgh, oh dear the wireless didn't work.
Threw in Ubuntu (7.04) and spun up the Live disk, everything worked including the wireless, so I knoew the Window's drivers were fault.
My networked printer, works straight away with Ubuntu on my main machine and Remix on my netbook.
OpenOffice does all my office type things, firefox my browser, evince for pdf, etc etc etc
Ubuntu supports a variety of devices, do you remember the hassles folk had with Vista when it came out, none of their devices worked?
So what do you have trouble running?
Complain about this comment
112. sneckedagain
"Now we are told we have to stay in the Union to take our share of the vast national debt. No way"
Actually, the precedent of other states dissolving (c/f Czechs and Slovaks) suggests that we will need to take our share of the UK debt, since a majority of our citizens voted for Unionist parties. Independence, however, means that we no longer have to buy in to future increases of that debt.
Complain about this comment
113. RandomScot
I have no trouble running anything because I run a Windows box.
What did I have trouble running with Linux? Pretty much everything since it had drivers for not a single device I had and I had no intention of going to a box that worked and spending days or weeks looking for the drivers I needed.
Their newer version -- the 100 Paper Cuts verions which PRETENDS insultingly that the concerns of people who used it were unimportant (paper cuts) and has ALWAYS pissed me off about the snooty Linux geeks who say that if it doesn't run for you it's just because you're too stupid -- may have solved those problems. But is that a hint that they talk on their own site about coming up with a version so people can "run it the day its installed"?
It doesn't run for you but it's just "a paper cut". *snort*
Many of us who are experienced Linux users have become so accustomed to ignoring minor glitches that such problems practically become invisible. The result is that there are a lot of really subtle deficiencies that have long been overlooked by developers but are immensely frustrating to new users. The One Hundred Paper Cuts project looks like an effective way to overcome this challenge and smooth out some of Ubuntu's rough edges.
http://arstechnica.com/open-source/news/2009/06/canonical-to-boost-ubuntu-usability-by-tackling-papercuts.ars
In other words they really don't give a **** that it's been full of glitches for years while they whined about Windows. I can live without it.
*ends rant*
Complain about this comment
113. At 00:28am on 04 Nov 2009, RandomScot:
Without getting into a techy argument, my point was that Microsoft are a successful commercial company, and the EU has decided it wants to screw them because other companies do not have the marketing skills to sell their products. Yes, they are overpriced and bugged, and Office 2007 possesses some of the best updates for Excel ever seen - and the idiots changed the interface. But the bottom line is they sold worldwide because Bill Gates understands sales as well as tech. You cannot have politicians stifling commercial success or favouring one company (as certain supermarket chains seem to get).
112. At 00:08am on 04 Nov 2009, sneckedagain:
We will still have to share the debt. And before you ask why - who pays for the benefits given to thousands of people for starters? PFI was used for projects. Much as we want to, we simply cannot ignore the debt. That must be taken into consideration. As oldnat points out, independence would at least stop any further additions.
But what would be the level of debt in an independent Scotland, and what would be the burder on the taxpayer? A bit of honesty is required from the SNP:
This is the level of debt share by Scotland.
This is what the average burden is per individual.
This is what we are going to do to reduce/remove the debt, and what it will cost the average taxpayer and for how long.
That would command a helluva lot more respect than politicial waffle.
The recession is still biting. I've just seen yearly report for a company that runs bingo halls. Profits are down 46% from last year on a 5% drop of turnover. A neighbour of mine has just been made redundant. Another is expecting bad news and one friend has been given the 90 days consultation notice. So things are not rosy up here either. South Lanarkshire Council is making cutbacks. Aberdeen Council charges for just about any service you can think of, and ones which they are required to provide by law are only given is asked for.
Energy prices are about to rise. I think the recession is about to do the double dip.
Complain about this comment
113. RandomScot
Didn't mean to yell at you for asking. You obviously hit a pet peeve. :-)
Complain about this comment
@115 As someone who has been a developer and also a support person I can tell you there are a lot of things that get left behind while more "important" stuff gets fixed.
That means people live a long time with niggles which they usually work around.
You normally come across as a reasonable person. If you wish to insist to me that Windows is a top-notch product with no faults then pardon me while I shake my head in disbelief.
Have you heard of "Microsoft time" the time sstimate to copy files that bears no relation to reality? THat if you press the Windows button and E you can open an Explorer Window, but that if you keep it pressed too long you spawn so many windows you crash the machine?
The list goes on. The advantage Linux has is that faults are out in the open. Microsoft doesn't tell people about stuff, faults and more worryingly vulnerabilities go unfixed for years.
Here is an example of a paper cut. My Xubuntu machine is set up with 4 worskpaces. That is 4 seperate desktops that I can flip through by kepresses or using the scrollwheel on a mouse. A laptop touchpad can have problems with this, so they fixed it. That is one of the Paper Cuts, It wouldn't bother a Windows user$ because you Windows doesn't have that facility in any case.
Another one, the floppy disk drive icon is mislabelled when the floppy disk is ejected. Another one, one of the permissions rights that could be granted to a folder (directory) might be slightly confusingly worded.
This is also not a one off. This will be a rolling exercise to concentrate efforts to improving the user experience. This is something to be lauded, that Canonical are spending money, remembering that most end users pay $0 for the Operating system, to wipe out low level bugs and annoyances and you criticise them for it? That strikes me as an odd point of view.
Complain about this comment
118. RandomScot
I really don't care whether or not you consider Windows a "top notch" product since it works for me and does exactly what I want and need it to. How do YOU define a "top-notch product" except by that? Whether some geek rants that it isn't good enough? And you are complaining again about Windows glitches that went "unfixed" for years while defending Ubuntu glitches that went "unfixed" for years. But you are one of those Linux geeks who will insist that anyone who use Windows is stupid and ignorant rather than using the product they say you should.
I haven't had a Windows crash in probably 5 years or more. I really don't remember the last one. So... I guess pressing the Windows button and E long enough to "crash" Windows is a paper cut. Since it's one that doesn't affect me I sure as heck won't switch to a product I don't like because of it.
Incidentally, I'm a writer and frequently edit documents using Change Tracker and Comments with either a co-writer or an editor. OO Change Tracker sucks.
Actually, it's one of the better Open Source products and works well for people who have low level word processing needs but for professional use, I'll take Word.
I didn't criticise Canonical for finally improving Ubuntu. I criticised them for pretending that it had no problems and that it was all right that for inexperienced users their product has always been pretty much unusable. And I criticise snooty geeks who think they're so superior to every one else in the world who doesn't want to use a product that is totally user UNfriendly.
Complain about this comment
@JR
At the moment I actually make a living out of fixing problems people have with Windows. The big advantage Windows has over any other OS is familiarity, it got leveraged into the home through familiarity in the office. One of the big reasons I don't use Windows where possible in my personal life is that I disagree with actions taken by MicroSoft to stifle competition and other actions which have damaged the International Standards body.
People find other OSs don't do things the same way that their familiar system does and it is the fault of the unfamiliar thing. Such is life.
For MOST people Windows is "good enough". People will live happily "Good enough". Good for them.
I am not disagreeing with your decision to use Windows, it works for you great! Glad you can be productive. As a bona-fide IT professional I'll even advise people NOT to use a computer for a task where something low tech and simple will work.
What I am not recognising is this image that Mark Shuttleworth and Canonical are going around slagging off Windows and saying they are perfect. IN Fact Mr Shuttleworth was recently in the press being asked about Windows 7 and saying nice things about it.
If you can provide links to them doing so I would be interested. I'm not talking raving fanboy nonsense of the sort we see on this blog, but actual abuse uttered by people within Canonical.
Have a decent night JR, see your responses in the morning
Complain about this comment
120. RandomScot
I didn't say anything about about Mark Shuttleworth so I don't know what you're talking about. I did criticize Canonical for minimizing the problem of the inability of the typical (non-geek) user to use Ubuntu out of the box.
As far as not using a computer for tasks that could be done otherwise, I'm sorry but that makes no sense. I could write with a quill and parchment. Why should I?
Using Windows has nothing to do with being too lazy or stupid to learn something I'm not already familiar with. I doubt it does for most users. If there were the slightest advantage I both could and would learn another product. I've learned plenty of them. I simply won't learn a deliberately obtuse product for no good reason.
Complain about this comment
"£4,350 per family needed to bail out Britain's banks" Telegraph headline.
Now can someone remind me just how much we Scots were told we would be in debt prior to the 2007 election ,if we dared vote SNP?
Complain about this comment
@121 JR
Mark Shuttleworth is the man who funds Canonical. You say Canonical are minimising the problem of the non geek to install/use Ubuntu.
I am saying that I have never seen Canonical nor their boss man do so, so I was asking you for a link to that.
In fact Mr Shuttleworth is putting his money into trying to make Ubuntu easier/more pleasant to use. Which is an acknowledgement of a desire to make things easier.
Here is a fact for you, most people do not install Windows. It comes preinstalled on their machine by the manufacturer, hopefully with all the required drivers for that machine. Windows is familar, so people accept its quirks as "the way things are done". Something doing something else differently is not being obtuse, though I'll accept that obtuseness does exist in software on any platform, why click START when you want to shut down, why is the page/margin formatting of a document in the FILE menu of Word rather than the same menu that the rest of the formatting is in?
An example of "You don't need a computer application for a job". This is from a while back but a team of three people working in the same office needed to share information on where they planned to be, they wanted something written as they could log that for the few months before the new office software was rolled out that included visible calendars. They were thinking an application on their computers, my suggestion of a family type calendar was met with a "ooh, you're right" and that got used straight away.
Complain about this comment
On the GMS Interview this morning with David Kerr
(Brownedov, about the same time as yesterday, a few minutes later)
Gary Robertson certainly didn't give Kerr an easy ride this morning, and for a Media Professional, Kerr came across as very stutterred and hurried and "errr...." in places. In similar vein to yesterday, GR was keen to hit in about the distinction between the campaign issues which are mostly devolved and the role of the GNE MP.
Kerr has IMHO left himself open. He blamed a lot of the ills of GNE on Glasgow City Council and their (perceived) Active Political Decision not to cooperate with the Scottish Government, particularly in the area of class sizes.
This is not why the people of GNE are voting for an MP. If the problems are on Glasgow City, then stand for election to that and try and make a difference there.
Gary did drag him down the road to Independence, which, let's be fair, is the raison d'etre of the SNP. But Kerr did come across a little bit as "everything will be better come the glorious day". Which lets face it, most of us ranting cyber-nats, sorry northhighlander, Ultra-Nats have been guilty of at one point or another.
All in all, another very fair interview from Gary Robertson. Kerr did not perform as well as I have seen and heard him but made Willie Bain's effort yesterday look like something from the Beano.
Other weel-kent DC Thompson comics are available)
Complain about this comment
# 122 Diabloandco
Personally I would pay the £4,350 to be rid of the Union. Now all I need is a bank willing to lend me the money so that I can pay the bank the money the government gave them, which we are going to have to pay, to pay for the loan to pay the bank. My head hurts here. In any other life this would be called a 'rip off'.
Complain about this comment
# 116 Neil_Small147
This is the level of debt share by Scotland.
This is what the average burden is per individual.
This is what we are going to do to reduce/remove the debt, and what it will cost the average taxpayer and for how long.
I would agree with you that this is what the SNP should do. However, until the SNP know what the figures are it is virtually impossible to answer those questions. I am sure that you know this and are just trying to make a political point against the SNP. I am more than happy to wait until the SNP have acheived their aim of independence and then we will know what our share of the UK national debt is.
Complain about this comment
Online Ed Here
David Kerr interviewed on Good Morning Scotland – his performance was simply awesome as he launched a full scale atack on Glasgow Council.
Look out for Gary Robertson trying the old BBC ploy of the trick question, dismissed immediately by Kerr who has probably been warned of such questions. The question was designed to cause problems for Kerr, who was deflecting Robertsons ‘bullets’ straight onto Labour with ease.
These ‘trick’ questions are now very noticeable.
Interview was at 07:42 this morning.
Bain has again been kept away from the TV, there was a non appearance on last night’s Newsnight. Are Labour waiting for the European football results in order to deflect from Bain?
Complain about this comment
Online Ed Here
As we near the final week of the campaign I wonder if Brian will deign to comment on it, or will he employ the old 'blog whoosh' trick when comments highlight the duplicity of the BBC too much?
Complain about this comment
# 104 deanthetory
I tend to agree with # 112 sneckedagain who wrote:
'I'm surprised that as a Tory you don't find it sensible and useful to point out the actual facts. After all the Tories will certainly inherit this mess in the late Spring
What the Labour party are doing to you (I'm sure that Brown already knows that he has lost) is to leave you with a mountain of debt so that the Tories get the blame for all the drastic cuts that Brown and Darling should have been implementing. It was a bit like what Major did to the incoming Blair Labour government over the contract for the millenium dome. Only this time, we are talking trillions of debt as opposed to hundreds of millions.
I am fed up of this two party system that we have in the UK where the outgoing party stuffs it to the incoming party (which means that we taxpayers have to foot the bill) and then they can 'yah boo' the new government when they get into power. These pathetic people (political parties) are there to look after our interests instead of their party's interests. It is time that we got out of this mire of political prostitution and paved a way for a decent political system, which cares for the needs of the whole of the people.
Complain about this comment
126. At 08:15am on 04 Nov 2009, gedguy2 wrote:
# 116 Neil_Small147
This is the level of debt share by Scotland.
This is what the average burden is per individual.
This is what we are going to do to reduce/remove the debt, and what it will cost the average taxpayer and for how long.
I would agree with you that this is what the SNP should do. However, until the SNP know what the figures are it is virtually impossible to answer those questions. I am sure that you know this and are just trying to make a political point against the SNP. I am more than happy to wait until the SNP have acheived their aim of independence and then we will know what our share of the UK national debt is.
I'm well aware that we have yet to be given the true cost of PFI. One hopes that when Cameron gets into Number 10 he will be honest.
And it is not a political point at the SNP, but rather those who wish for independence at any cost and dismiss such questions as "scaremongering" without providing any evidence that things will be ok, similar to those who decry independence as unaffordable withouht provding evidence either.
Complain about this comment
123. RandomScot
I build my own boxes except for my laptops and install my own OS, thanks. I don't like Linux. It is a pain in the a$$ to install, to actually get running with your peripherals and to get applications to run with it. I resent being told by geeks that I am stupid for not liking Linux. Beyond that, I am tired of discussing technical issues on a political blog so I'm going back to the topic at hand.
Complain about this comment
# 130 Neil_Small147
and dismiss such questions as "scaremongering" without providing any evidence that things will be ok,
I am sure that the SNP would love to be able to get their hands on the figures and bring them to the light of the public, but that is not going to happen because the UK would then have to admit that rather than Scotland needing the 'subsidies' from England, as some Unionists take delight in pointing out, it is, in reality, the other way around. We have been subsidising the rest of the UK.
So it is not just the hidden costs od PPP/PFI that have been withheld from us but all the other inputs into the treasury that Scotland has donated that needs to be taken into account. I would agree with you that we need to see the books before we can make a judgement but the UK government has decided not to show the books to us. Until that day comes, and I don't expect DC to be any different, we will have to just wait until we know. Therefore you asking the nationalists to produce figures that they cannot get their hands on, which you already know, is just you making cheap political points. Let's be grown up about this. I am sure that there are large areas that we can agree on and, probably, the main difference between us is the subject of independence. So, I would suggest, that to attack the SNP for a lack of information on subjects that they have no control over is just a little unfair. If you want the SNP to give out those fair points that you bring forward then at least have the decency to add that you understand that the SNP have no access to those figures. After all, you aren't Derek.
Complain about this comment
Neil, it would be naive of anyone to suggest that being an independent country , emerging from the shadow of a larger neighbour , would be anything but challenging.
However , it is pretty challenging staying with Westminster ,its illegal wars which cost us dear in so many ways, its idea of using Scotland as a nuclear dumping ground for leaky subs and radio active rubbish from other sites south of the border and the plain fact that Westminster only EVER pays attention to Scottish wishes when the SNP is in ascendancy.
I want my country free to make its own mistakes and successes.
And more than that , I want elected politicians running my country , not some creepy guy(s) with dodgy reputations.
The Child Catcher is not my idea of a Prime Minister in waiting.
Gedguy, I happened on this site when the conversation veered to the intricacies of computing, your post on borrowing to pay etc.etc. has added to a headache of some perplexity!
Complain about this comment
130. Neil_Small147
"And it is not a political point at the SNP, but rather those who wish for independence at any cost and dismiss such questions as "scaremongering" without providing any evidence that things will be ok, similar to those who decry independence as unaffordable withouht provding evidence either."
On the contrary, it IS indeed making a political point demanding that the SNP provide a cost when you know such figures are being hidden so you can go on about how people are demanding "independence at any cost".
The chances of Cameron's government being forthcoming on the REAL figures of Scotland's financial input from oil and gas and figures that would allow people to know how Scotland would actually stand financially--it won't happen and you KNOW it won't happen. It would facilitate an honest and open debate on independence which is the last thing he wants to allow.
Complain about this comment
Anyone checked the current odds on the bye?
Complain about this comment
I take it everyone is aware of the most recent OECD figures?
Apart from the press in Scotland of course!
Arc of insolvency ,hmmmm!
Complain about this comment
132. At 09:17am on 04 Nov 2009, gedguy2 wrote:
133. At 09:18am on 04 Nov 2009, Diabloandco wrote:
A lot of the PFI figures can be obtained, just a pain to do so, and you are correct that not all of the figures are available. But with regards to Scotland, a lot of PFI has gone into infrastructure like schools and hospitals, and the Scottish Government does have those.
I don't expect independence to be anything less than challenging, but a few die-hard nationalists paint of picture of utopia, and most people can see through that as much as they see through the die-hard unionist arguments.
A bit of honesty might help. Swinney showed the way with his budget cuts. Some unpopular, but at least he wss homest enough to be up front about them. One would hope that if full fiscal authority is given to the Scottish Government then this honesty continues.
On the computing subject, I'm glad to see someone else has similar views about Linux!
Complain about this comment
#130 Neil_Small147:
#126 gedguy2:
Subrosa has an interesting graph on her blog.
It shows the financial deficits of most of the countries in the West for 2009.
It obviously has a mistake because there's a small country in the far north of europe which has a population of under 5 Million, is mostly composed of mountains and moorland, is warmed by the Gulf Stream, controls its own resources and is independent but on the graph it has a financial surplus not a financial deficit.
Labour keep telling us that the arc of prosperity is insolvent so somebody should phone up the OECD and tell them they've made a mistake.
Complain about this comment
#127 Online Ed
Re David Kerr interviewed on Good Morning Scotland; just listened to it. Kerr was pretty good but what an interview! Gary Robertson came prepared to give the guy a hard time; it was almost bordering on venom. I haven't listened to every interview out there, but what has been the experience of the other candidates?
Does anyone have a view on the Lisbon Treaty and it's relevance to the campaign in Glasgow?
Complain about this comment
#139 blind captain
Is the Lisbon treaty relevant to the campaign in Glasgow north east?
Well eventually it would, but there is so much that needs to be tackled locally ,that hasn't been tackled fully and sensibly in the past.
If it means going to Europe to get funding I don't see a problem in that.
The problem comes when we get the money.
Ensuring the money is spent wisely and not squandered is where things have fallen apart in the past.
Sid
Complain about this comment
I've just listened to Kerr being interviewed. Looking at it from a listener's perspective it was reasonable. If you had to compare it with Bain's interview then Kerr beat him by miles. If Kerr wins the seat he will need extra tuition on how to deal with questions by the media. On the whole 7 out of 10.
Complain about this comment
BBC article on the Kelly Report.
Complain about this comment
I stand by my "No way".
As Scotland has been in fiscal surplus almost every year since 1954 while the reverse has been the case for the UK economy as a whole I would like to see some very hard bargaining done about how much of this national debt is actually applicable to Scotland.
Of course all those who are unaware of or wilfully ignore the accuracy of the above statement will have swallowed all the usual nonsense.
An independent Scotland,however, will without a doubt be in a much better position to service its share of this debt, whatever that share is, than the UK as a whole which now has a totally unbalanced and seriously unproductive economy. "Bust" is the word I use to describe it.
I'm sure with our strategic command of the North Atlantic and oil revenues Russia would offer to advance Scotland the money anyway. That would wonderfully concentrate some minds. Tee hee
Complain about this comment
#124 Chiefy1724
"On the GMS Interview this morning with David Kerr
(Brownedov, about the same time as yesterday, a few minutes later)"
Many thanks for the pointer. The Kerr interview starts at 1h 41m 30s in for about 7 mins (nearly twice that of Bain yesterday) and is now available on the iPlayer here.
#139 Blind_Captain
"Kerr was pretty good but what an interview! Gary Robertson came prepared to give the guy a hard time; it was almost bordering on venom."
Robertson certainly started off with that intention, as he did yesterday with Bain, but IMO because Kerr gave as good as he got, the inquisitorial approach slackened a little over time. I suspect the "constituency office" bit was at least in part to pre-empt "birthgate" issues arising, as a warning that if Robertson wanted to play hardball then so could he.
#141 gedguy2
"Looking at it from a listener's perspective it was reasonable. If you had to compare it with Bain's interview then Kerr beat him by miles. If Kerr wins the seat he will need extra tuition on how to deal with questions by the media. On the whole 7 out of 10."
Fair comment. vs about 3 out of 10 for Bain, I'd say.
Surprised that Moridura or someone hasn't put the Kerr newsnight interview on YouTube.
Out this afternoon, but back tonight, I hope.
Complain about this comment
#135
SNP now 6/4 to win with Ladbrokes, my favoured financial drain( should perhaps be named "Ladsbroke).
Started at around 9/2 so quite a lot of people have bet on us winning.
Labour still hot favourite at 8/15 however
Past performance is quite revealing however.
When Winnie Ewing won Hamilton SNP started at 12/1 and ended at 11/2 -very much second favourites.
When Jim Sillars won Govan SNP was also werevery much second favourite but many of us had a bundle on SNP from 10/1 all prices down to 11/4.
I recognise the above figures will mean very little to the body of studied academics who populate this site so a litle explanation is in order.
6/4 means that if you stake 4 you win 6 - ie you get 10 back for your 4 (which in totaliser parlance is 1 to 2.5)
11/2 means that if you stake 2 you win 11 - ie you get 13 back for your 2
11/4 means that if you stake 4 you win 11 - ie you get 15 back for your 4
12/1 means that if you stake 1 you win 12 - ie you get 13 back for your 1
Get the general drift?
Complain about this comment
# 137 Neil_Small147
First of all I would like to thank you for being reasonable. This is something that a fair few Unionists don't seem to understand, that we can disagree on the fundamentals but that doesn't mean that we cannot respect the other's point of view.
a few die-hard nationalists paint of picture of utopia
This is true and I am against the idea that everyting is the fault of England, it isn't. Utopia is an idea that only exists in the mind of the feeble; be they Unionists or nationalists. Of course, an independent Scotland is going to find it hard at the start. We would have to pay off our fair share of the UK national debt first, but after that it is then up to the Scottish people, as opposed to Westminster, what direction that we wish to take. I am sure that there will be lots of ideas and lots of arguments which path Scotland should follow, even amongst the nationalists, but that is what democracy is all about. Surely, even you must see that democracy is not something that the UK government is famous for. I don't wish to get into a discussion of those matters but I will if I have to. I am also confident that you, yourself, don't believe the Unionist argument that Scotland is too wee, too poor and too stupid to look after its own affairs. I am sure that you want to remain in the Union because that is your point of view. You think that Scotland would be better served within the Union while I disagree with that point of view. I remain convinced that both of us want the best for Scotland and its people but we just have a different perspective on how to acheive that.
The problem that we, the nationalists have, is that the UK government do not want to let us go, for whatever reason. To that effect they are efusing to allow the Scottish people to see the real input that Scotland has given to the UK as a whole. On top of that we have to put up with a glenncampbelly pro-Union media biting at the ankles of every policy of the SNP, whether that policy is good for Scotland or not. It is then hard for the people of Scotland to give a fair appraisal of the pros and cons of either argument. Personally, I would have been happy to stay within the Union if the Union had been fair to my people, but it evidently hasn't been even-handed. I'd be willing to discuss this point further with you as I have a list of all the things that the Westminster government has been unfair about, from the past to the present. Has the Union been of benefit to the Scots; yes, of course it has. Is the Union of benefit to the Scots now, no I don't believe it is. That is the only difference between your point of view and mine. We are both Scots and we both want the best for the Scottish people. Whereas I am more than willing to listen to your point of view of why we should stay in the Union, I feel that you are turning yourself away from my point of view.
Complain about this comment
# 143 sneckedagain
Russia would offer to advance Scotland the money anyway. That would wonderfully concentrate some minds.
I have mentioned Russia before in a similar vein, mostly with tongue in cheek. However, Scotland has had many contacts with Russia, before the revolution, such as Samuel Greig, or AKA Samuil Karlovich Greig here and Charles Baird here. There are many more and us keeping those contacts going would not do us any harm. I would expect the EU, and the USA would not exactly stand in our way but would not like the idea of being seen to openly stop democracy from taking place. I suspect that both the EU and the USA would be more than happy to welcome and invest in Scotland once the deed was done.
Complain about this comment
Guy's the time has come and past let's either put what little money we have left and declare our independance politically, comercially and whatever else! We'll either flourish or be bailed out by the World Bank and have our third world status confirmed!
Complain about this comment
146. At 11:36am on 04 Nov 2009, gedguy2:
I don't think Scotland is better off in the union; I really do sit on the fence.
To give you an idea where my thoughts are:
Pro-independence
Economy
Health
Pro-Union
Defence
Foreign Affairs
Bottom line is I do not trust Labour on the economy and health. Nor do I trust the SNP on defence and I feel their approach to foreign affairs is primarily to gain support at home, rather than looking at the big picture.
Areas where I don't see any strong reasons to support either camp are Europe, Energy and Pensions. OK, with a strong economy pensions might take care of themselves, but on a personal level I get a pension when I am 60. There are no written guarantees from anyone that if Scotland is independent who will pay for it and if it keeps the same terms.
Europe is a bag of nails, whatever way you look at it.
Energy policy is a strange one. Westminster is going nuclear. Scotland does not have anywhere near enough renewables in place yet. Ignoring personal choices, if England provides enough energy for itself with nuclear power, who do we sell renewables to? Bearing in mind the new Saudi project.
Also, will energy prices drop to affordable levels in an independent Scotland? Will they start their own public energy company to remove the Spanish owned "Scottish" power?
With regards to the media, I know they are biased. The BBC of all companies must be totally unbiased since they are a public service broadcaster. Hopefully things will change following the general election.
I've never submitted to the idea that Scotland cannot operate on its own. But I do not accept it is something that can simply change as easy as flicking a switch. Some people are impatient, but for the good of the country what is wrong with a little caution?
Complain about this comment
@131 JR
I could argue the case that there is a LOT of politics in the open source/libré vs proprietary software/OS debate but fair enough, we'll have to agree to disagree then. If you ever want to pick it up again then please supply sources where Canonical actually said those nasty things about people so that we can discuss them.
In the meantime take care and hope everything "just works" for you
Complain about this comment
#149 Neil_Small147
Pro-Union on defence? Iraq, Afghanistan, Trident, Nimrod, not enough body armour, the snazzy new jets that are only good for fighting the Soviets in Europe? Surely Scotland couldn't do as badly as that?
Don't worry about the bases in Moray, as someone above pointed out, the Russians would be happy to lease any we didn't need for fishery protection
Complain about this comment
# 149 Neil_Small147
Ok, I accept that you are a fence sitter. This is not meant as an insult but is probably a prudent position to take. You have not made up your mind and that is to be respected and for us, who have already made up our minds, to help you change to our point of view in a friendly and amicable way.
As far as I can make out from your post you seem to have made up your mind that economically and health wise you are leaning towards our point of view. That is half the battle. We won't have to waste precious time on who has what and how much. So let's look at the pros for the Union:
Defence and Foreign affairs:
In a way it is the same thing. We have to have a defence budget because of the foreign polices that we, the UK, have. I am sure that you would agree with that statement. The problem that we have with the UK is that it is still, even after 50 years of decline, thinking that it is a world power. I am sure that the UK knows that its power in the world has been substantially reduced for one reason or another. We, the UK, cannot even afford to compete with the USA when it comes to basic military equipment, never mind the huge technological military communications that the US has. We, the UK are small fish in a big pond trying desperately to punch above our weight. Fair enough, there are many second world countries that would be wary of the UK's ability to project war around the world but that gap is closing rapidly. Where will that leave us? Where it will leave us is more and more dependence upon the goodwill of the USA. Even during the Falklands war we were dependent on the Pentagon supplying us with inteligence for us to continue our campaign. We lost the Atlantic Conveyor to French exocet missiles and lost our ability to transport our troops to the forward front lines. We had to yomp instead. If that was the Russians, Chinese or the Americans those lost helicopters would have been replaced in days. We couldn't do it. It was only the determination and professionalism of our troops that saved the day for us. If we had been up against a more determined army, not only would we have drastically lost the campaign but we would never have started it in the first place. This is the same reason that we are in Afghanistan is because the USA is there. If it wasn't for the USA we would never have had the ability to even start a campaign against the Aghanis never mind stay there for this long. So, we have a situation where the UK pretends that it still has the ability to function as a world power when the truth is that we are the lapdogs of the USA. Everybody knows this including the Westminster government.
So, how would Scotland's defence policy work? Simple, we look after ourselves. We know that we are not a world power or even pretend to be. Our defence policy would be to protect our geographical and financial interests; full stop. With being part of the EU we are guaranteed security from the rest of the EU. Which is probably why the EU is now holding back on the Georgian dreams of becoming part of the EU. The last thing the EU wants is for a small country like Georgia to get us involved in an argument with our biggest neighbour and potentially our biggest customer, Russia. As far as Scottish foreign policy is, that will be up to future Scottish governments. Personally, I would like to be friends with everyone that respects human rights.
Complain about this comment
@149 NS147
Re: Energy. In Scotlands case Energy and the Economy are closely wound up so it is difficult to understand how your position differs on the Econmy as a whole compared to Energy.
The consumer price for Energy will not go down much or at all in Scotland with independence but our control of it is the key thing.
Nuclear: England building New Nuclear is not going to offset its Energy deficit. Compare and contrast -
Scotland: Overproduces oil (declining), 6 times our needs in Gas and we export Electricty to our neighbours (interconnectors being UPGRADED to carry even more).
UK: Imports oil and relies on declining Scottish production, Not much Gas left in England (declining) , Now gets 40% gas from Norway and much of the rest from Scotland. Needs Imports of electicity from all its neighbours.
This is not going to change and England has a real issue with population increase in parallel to ever reduced resources.
So Scotland has a very hard time in both exploiting its resources in a way that suits us AND cannot diversify away from our reliance on the oil sector in a UK focused on the SE and and Energy policy set in London.
Having said all that and in order to come off the fence you only really need to consider one question.
Scotland is Governed and considered as a region and a pretty insignificant one in UK terms, pure and simple, and in the union that is how it will stay. We are even not even 'allowed' to know our actual finances even at this 'region' level or have fiscal autonomy in order to easily clarify this central question in order to ease negociation at UK level. There is on Dev Max in the pipeline.
Is this how you want Scotland governed or not?
Complain about this comment
Military bases in Scotland?
I've said it before. If an independent Scotland couldn't get England to cooperate with Scotland over military matters, I am sure the Russians would be glad to. We would have to find alternative friends from somewhere. However, I think any suggestion of that happenening would concentrate minds in London and in Brussels and England wouldn't get away with playing silly B*****s any longer, as they have done to Scotland since time immemorial.
Complain about this comment
#153
All countries need a balance of energy sources (carbon based, predictable renewables, unpredictable renewables, storage and nuclear).
I would also add that Scotland is one of the most renewable energy rich countries in europe. We do not need nuclear, but could choose to have it as a backup if we wanted. The problem with Scotland exploiting its full renewable potential is currently getting the grid connections to renewable resources. Our grid infrastructure has unfortunately been placed under the control of a UK wide company that views the grid infrastructure in Scotland as good enough at the moment and a low priority. I personally would have kept Dounreay going as it was new technology, and could have lead to world leading technologies that we could have sold.
Other parts of the UK (England in particular), have similar renewable potential, but are too overcrowded to effectively use their resources. They also have much larger energy needs, and therefor need a compact carbon free solution (nuclear). The technologies for this will have to be bought from france. The problem with nuclear is where do you store the waste? If you want a clue to the probable answer to that conundrum, just look at where the old nuclear subs are stored.
John
Complain about this comment
A reasonably argued article from Ian Bell in the Herald:
Who will benefit from selling banks the taxpayers saved?
The 3,700 Royal Bank of Scotland staff who are the latest to make the necessary sacrifice for the idiocy of others have been treated to bankspeak at its effortless worst.
Something like this: “Good news! We’ve saved your industry! Now please leave quietly.” [my emphasis]
Complain about this comment
Banks Have Taken Over The Government And Made Taxpayers Slaves To Bank-Run Gambling Casinos
Complain about this comment
FYI, R4 Today programme had short piece this am with Tom Gallagher pushing his 'SNP are blood and soil wolves in civic sheep's clothing' line, countered by an SNP strategist (approx. 8.45am or so). Perhaps more interestingly James Naughtie said that they would be looking at Scotland's current political situation over the coming month leading up to St Andrew's Day and Alex Salmond's referendum bill. Possibly a more balanced hearing from home counties' Aunty?
Complain about this comment
#152
Interesting piece. I would however take issue with one strand of it.
The question of whether we should be independent or not should not be determined by whether UK is "fair" to us or not. That implies a supplicant status and also means very different things to different people.
We should be independent because we identify ourselves as a nation,we are identified as a nation and normal nations govern themselves.
We are just as able to do so as anybody else and a lot more able than a lot of them.
The unionists are now trying to bog us down with arcane and complicated arguments about the minutiae of an economy over which we have no control (and presumably wouldn't run this way anyway). But these are only the sort of problems that are all dealt with day and daily by all the countries in the world, big medium and small,and we are no less able than any of them. Don't fall into the trap of allowing our enemies to over-complicate every issue.
Complain about this comment
154. hamish42
Exactly! The idea that an independent Scotland could ONLY negotiate with England is absurd.
Complain about this comment
#158 dukess2008
"R4 Today programme had short piece this am with Tom Gallagher pushing his 'SNP are blood and soil wolves in civic sheep's clothing' line, countered by an SNP strategist (approx. 8.45am or so)."
Thanks for the tip. Anyone else interested in listening should note that rather than trying to find it on the iPlayer, you can get that specific interview from Today: Wednesday 4th November just by scrolling down to 08:47.
What's more, the Today "running order" pages don't expire like the iPlayer recordings.
Complain about this comment
150. RandomScot
"hope everything "just works" for you"
Since rather than "just works", it "works well" I have no need for Linux discussions.
And I have no need to have discussions with someone who chooses to put words in my mouth. Good day to you.
Complain about this comment
#108 oldnat
So has Jimmy Brown.
Complain about this comment
162 @JR
I am gob-smacked!!
What words did I put in your mouth?
If you are referring to the comment "Just works" that is a reference to the hoped for stated of an OS that simply functions, usually used by Apple Fans.
I wished you well, I now regret it
Complain about this comment
View these comments in RSS