The “positive case for the UK”
begins with a billboard which states “more job opportunities for us
as part of the UK” and “more powers for Scotland guaranteed”.
Quite the change from Lord Robertson's “cataclysmic”
speech in America just recently.
Yes it seems the former NATO head
believes the unknown “Forces of Darkness” ( a direct quote, he
actually said that. Honestly, we're talking about Scotland not Star
Wars ) will be the loudest to cheer on September 19th 2014
if a YES vote is delivered. And here's me thinking that the loudest
cheer would be from the YES Campaign and all its associated member
groups and individuals who helped persuade and actively voted for
positive change. The truth is, this is no more than a bad attempt to
bully Scotland into voting No. When questioned on Newsnight Scotland,
his responses were, somewhat lacking in substance.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wW-yczNOy_I
(apologies, but was the only YouTube video of the interview there at
present)
For instance, around 1:30 the Lord says
“if you look up the word 'Cataclysm' in the dictionary, you'll see
that it says an event that has major repercussions and change.”
WRONG. The Oxford English Dictionary defines it as : A
large-scale and violent event in the natural world.
http://www.oxforddictionaries.com/definition/english/cataclysm
Sorry
George, you're not even 2 minutes into the interview and you've
already misled viewers. If you're willing to lie about the definition
of a word (something it took me 30 seconds to disprove) what else are
you actually willing to lie about?
Well back to the BT ad.
1st of all lets look at
their claim about employment. So far they have not been able to
clarify what jobs would be created. Something they demand from the
Yes Campaign at every available opportunity. With the CBI behind it
(supposedly represents 24,000 Scottish businesses, when there is only
evidence to support that 80 are members of CBI in Scotland) Better
Together seem to have this point nailed down. Infact they don't.
Since announcing that CBI (Confederation
of British Industry ) are formally
backing a “no” vote in September 3 businesses have left the
organisation. It is also worth noting that – along with Standard
Life – CBI opposed devolution in Scotland and the creation of the
Scottish Parliament. Opposed the Calman
Commission . Now opposes
Independence without consulting its own members. So lets get this
straight. I'm gonna grant CBI the benefit of the doubt here. Just
because I can't find any evidence of more than 80 members of Scottish
businesses doesn't mean that CBI doesn't have 24,000. Fine. CBI has a
total number of 240,000 members meaning by it's own figures only 10%
of its members are Scottish businesses and it couldn't even be
bothered to ask them what they believed would be right to do. Should
they take a side in the debate, or should they remain neutral (just
like most of its members business' are).
Every now and again BT drag out some
show pony on side with the Westminster Government to tell us that
Independence will be bad for business. BP's Bob Dudley made a
personal statement saying he thinks the Scotland should vote no, all
the while BP continue to invest in the North Sea and are currently
involved in Shetland
http://www.shetlandtimes.co.uk/2014/04/17/boom-time-again-at-sullom-voe/
The company officially has no plans to move out of the North Sea and
sees it as a headquarters for the next 40 years or so.
Shell also said Scotland should vote no
citing business stability reasons. Well Shell operates in many areas
of the world full of different tax regimes and regulations so the
highly skilled, welcoming North Sea would not be a problem. Infact
there have been something in the region of 16 changes to the fiscal
and tax regime in the oil sector by the UK government in the last 10
years. Yip that sounds stable. Given that the Scottish government has
pledged to give the stability to the oil sector to allow it to grow
and achieve it's potential. Shell's position is baffling to say the
least. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hPqGHerXmAg
Its also worth noting that Shell cited
the same “business stability” reasons when it supported Apartheid
in South Africa. The morals of this company are questionable at best.
Though the UK government gave millionaires tax cuts so obviously
those same millionaires are going to support it.
2nd point : More Powers –
This can only refer to the Scotland Act of 2012 which is still to
take effect and won't until April 2016. Funny how Westminster can
immediately impose a bedroom tax for the poor but takes 4 years to
hand over some reigns to Holyrood. Perhaps they're hoping for a more
favourable Unionist party to be in charge in Edinburgh? I know the
Scottish elections aren't until May, but really the amount of good
things the current Scottish Government, the only 1 with a democratic
majority in the entire UK, can do with this increase in powers is
severely limited given that they'll be rather busy fighting an
election campaign as there will only be a month to go till the day.
As I say, the more powers bit can ONLY
refer to these minute increases from the Scotland Act (2012) as
Johann Lamont (one of the key figures of Better Together) is reported
in the Northern Echo to have said : Instead,
Ms Lamont urged people in the North-East not to believe "propaganda"
about extra powers and riches heading to Edinburgh, saying: "We
shouldn't let people divide us."
http://www.thenorthernecho.co.uk/news/11145721.Region_has_nothing_to_fear_economically_from_independent_Scotland___but_there_ll_no_review_of_Barnett_Formula/?ref=var_0
Are we to believe her or Better
Together? I thought they were on the same team? If BT can't get its
own story straight then why should we believe anything they say??
“But
Better Together warned that its new campaign will be part of a series
of adverts that point out the risks involved in leaving the UK in
terms of Scottish jobs, pensions and losing the UK pound.
“ (lifted from the Scotsman article.)
Leaving the UK – is actually
dissolving a treaty. UK doesn't exist after the treaty is dissolved.
Losing the pound -
http://blogs.wsj.com/economics/2014/02/14/how-scotland-can-keep-the-pound/
The constant repetition of this “losing
the pound” nonsense is frankly getting tiring.
If you have a positive case for the UK
then make it, and make it truthful. I know that's difficult for most
politicians. Especially the failed Chancellor who flipped his house
on numerous occasions all at the tax payers expense of course, was
forced to pay back over claimed expenses and he was also in charge of
looking after the UK economy when he allowed the casino type banking
of London to crash and destroy the very thing his job was to protect.
He now tells us that Scotland couldn't survive economically on her
own. Sorry Darling, but given your track record I'm sure you'll
forgive me if I don't trust your maths.
Martin Sinclair
Low Level Employee at 'Cybernats are us'
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