Duggy Dug on Borders and Identity

The dog you can trust, on Borders and identity.

Watch on www.duggydug.com or youtube.

For whatever reason Blogger is not recognising the youtube link today!

IFS Report of 18.11.2013 shows Scotland cannot afford a NO vote.

New Report Illustrates Why We Can’t Afford a No Vote

A report published 18.11.2013 by the Institute for Fiscal Studies (IFS) highlights the dangers of continuing to have policies for Scotland decided at Westminster. 

BBC Bias

This directly contradicts BBC News’ and BBC Scotland’s interpretation of the same report which used it as yet another reason to vote No to Scottish independence showing the BBC incapable again of being unbiased and to inform the public only without prejudicing the outcome.

The new study acknowledges that Scotland’s public finances are currently stronger than the UK’s, but then looks at what might happen over the next 50 years under current trends.

Scotland's public finances are stronger than the UK's

In common with almost all developed countries, the UK and an independent Scotland will face pressures caused by increasing longevity and declining fertility rates.  The IFS paints a challenging picture of what our public finances would look like in 50 years “with our current set of tax and spending policies”. 

We need full powers to counteract this fiscal pressure 

That, of course, is precisely why we need a Yes vote – so we have the full powers to build a healthy economy and robust public finances.

The IFS report illustrates exactly why we just cannot afford Westminster “business as usual” with a No vote.

Its starkest warning relates to population changes. 

We cannot afford a NO vote

The report highlights Office for National Statistics projections of population growth for the UK of 22.8% in the period to 2062 – yet for Scotland the figure is just 4.4%.  Even more remarkably, it predicts a decline in population for Scotland in every age group under 65.

Thus the challenge we face is not that the number of older people in Scotland is growing faster than elsewhere in the UK – in fact the opposite is true.  And indeed, according to the IFS report, even in 2062-63 Scotland’s spending on health, long-term care, pensions and non-pension benefits as a percentage of national income would be smaller than for the UK as a whole.

The challenge we face is the loss of working-age people.

The falling number of working-age people has a doubly negative effect.  It means fewer people contributing to the public finances through taxation and national insurance.  And it means slower growth in the economy. 

 

Nothing inevitable about this and Yes vote means we could decide our own future

There is absolutely nothing inevitable about this.  With a Yes vote we will have full powers to encourage our young people to remain or return and work here.  Our immigration policies and policies to support and encourage families could and must also address this trend.

Page 8 of IFS report says projections are: “…inherently uncertain and could evolve differently if Scotland were independent"

But with Westminster in charge, nothing will be done – Scotland’s priorities aren’t Westminster’s priorities.  We simply cannot afford a No vote.

REMEMBRANCE DAY 2013

Is Scotland a Country? Can you be Scottish? Will we British if we vote YES? Why can Scots ex-pats not vote in the referendum?

Is Scotland a Country?

The Collins English Dictionary gives two slightly different definitions.

1.  A country is a territory distinguished by its people, culture, geography, etc.
2. A country is an area of land distinguished by its political autonomy.

By the first definition Scotland is currently a country. It is also definitely historically a country.

By the second definition, under current devolution it could possibly be described as a country, but definitely not between the abolition of the Scottish Parliament in 1707 and the advent of the second in 1999.

And officially Scotland is not a country as we are not currently a sovereign nation, and are not members or even represented in the United Nations as Scotland.

Only by voting YES in the impending Scottish Independence Referendum in 2014 can we be assured that all definitions apply.

Can you be Scottish?

Most Scots consider themselves more Scottish than British. Currently this does not officially make sense and is not based on fact.

On the passport of a person coming from Scotland presently there is no mention of Scotland as it is not officially a country, and therefore being a Scot is not officially a nationality.

Officially all Scots are British as are their English, Welsh and Northern Irish brothers and sisters. 

Officially Scots are also considered European as if they have a passport all are European Union passports.

But you cannot officially be a Scot or a Scottish person as no such sovereign nation exists. Only by voting YES in the 2014 Scottish Independence Referendum is it possible to change this.

If enough of Scots vote YES then we can truly be official Scots once again.

If we vote YES will we still be British?

The simple answer is Yes!

England, Wales, Scotland, Ireland, Isle of Man, Channel Islands plus other islands are all part of the British Isles. 

England, Wales and Scotland are all on an island called Britain. Becoming an independent country will not mean there is suddenly a watery gap at the border, so we shall still be on the island of Britain or Great Britain meaning we will still be British.

For more information see this video which is very good at an explanation...

 or through using this link The Difference between the UK, Great Britain and England.

Why are ex-pat Scots not permitted to vote in the 2014 Scottish Independence Referendum?

Many people who consider themselves Scots are resident in other countries. Is it not unfair they cannot vote in the Scottish Independence Referendum?

There are several reason why this is not possible.

There is currently no such official nationality as Scottish. If Scotland was currently a nation state like all the other nation states within the world then Scots would have their own passports and therefore could be considered ex-pats of Scotland. Scots currently resident in countries outside the borders of the UK could only be considered as ex-pat Brits and as stated above it is not the Westminster Government who has called this referendum but the Scottish one who has only powers within the boundaries of Scotland. 

The Scottish Government called the Referendum on Scottish Independence. It only has jurisdiction or powers within the borders of Scotland operating within the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland. It does not have powers to hold the referendum out-with these boundaries. If Scots in England, Wales and Northern Ireland are also to be allowed to vote then this would require to be decided by either the Westminster Parliament (or their devolved Assemblies if this power is presently devolved to them).

Not being able to vote in the impending Scottish Independence Referendum for those who consider themselves Scottish ex-pats must be irritating whether they are potential YES or NO voters. However I would have thought it is particularly galling for those who want to vote NO. It is a paradox that in order for them to vote NO Scotland would have to be sovereign nation all ready, which is the thing they want to stop happening. Life is strange!

Being independent means putting Scotland's future into Scotland's hands. It doesn't change how you describe yourself.