http://www.thenorthernecho.co.uk/news/11145721.Region_has_nothing_to_fear_economically_from_independent_Scotland___but_there_ll_no_review/
In brackets is an extract copied
word for word
(Interviewed by The Northern
Echo, Johann Lamont rejected suggestions that Scotland is poised to
gain a huge economic advantage over its neighbouring region, in
return for voting 'no' to independence.
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."
However,
she risked controversy by rejecting a review of the much-criticised
Barnett Formula, which delivers much higher public spending to
Scotland than to the North of England.
Ms
Lamont said: "I believe it has served us well. There is no
desire to get rid of the Barnett Formula.")
Scotland is a nation, a country.
Not a region. You would think the leader of "Scottish Labour"
would know that. If we were just a region, why do we have a different
legal system in Scotland? Why do we have our own parliament, of which
she is a part of? Why do we have a different electoral system from
the rest of the UK? The only thing that keeps Scotland in the UK was
greedy men selling Scotland out for gold in 1707.
The myth that Scotland was in
debt in 1707 is exactly that, a myth. Darian was privately funded by
Scot's nobles, not loans from others. When their investment didn't
work out for them they cashed in by selling their country to the
neighbours from the south. No vote for the common people of the land
was given. How very democratic. The Treaty of Union was signed behind
closed doors, under fear that heads would roll in the streets if the
public ever truly found out what was going on. No-one was told until
it was done.
Regardless of how ever much is
raised in Scotland through taxation, which has been higher than the
rest of the UK in every 1 of the 33 GERS reports that have been
released, we will always be a slave to Westminster in London. Let's
all forget that child poverty and food banks are on the rise here.
Your gracious Labour leader has decided that although these pesky
facts that affect the lives of the people, the Barnett formula will
stay. So every cut in England's public spending (NHS selloff)
corresponds with a cut in Scotland's block grant. Effectively FORCING
PRIVATISATION of
Scotland's vital public services.
The
leader of UK wide New Labour, Ed Milliband, has previously stated he
will “Rule Like Thatcher”, anyone remember how well she looked
after the working class and poorest in society? He also continually
drones on about the squeeze the recession has caused the Middle
Class. This is it. The working class, on which Labour was founded on
to protect, have been sold out for ski holidays and a new car every 3
years.
This is why Scotland needs to
vote #Yes.
This is why Nicola Sturgeon said
at the SNP conference : “don't vote no to stop the SNP, vote YES to
reclaim the Labour party.”
(Holyrood
has already won permission to issue "Braveheart bonds" for
capital investment in roads, hospitals, schools and flood defences,
with borrowing powers up from 500m to 2.2bn.)
I love the word “permission”
here. It shows the derogatory view in which we are held.
(Meanwhile,
the 30-year-old Barnett Formula gives Scotland 733 more per person
than the much poorer North-East - a figure that has more than doubled
from 361, in 2010-11.
)
Actually it hasn't. Scotland's
dwindling population due to emigration down south to find jobs has
actually freed up those funds
("Scotland
will not be getting more money, it will simply be accountable for
raising more of its money. I hope that dispels some myths."
)
It does Johann, it dispels the
myth that Labour are the party of devolution that you like to brag
about – even though she actually opposed it before it happened,
cough cough.
(Asked
for a referendum prediction, she said: "We are fighting for
every single vote, but I'm optimistic that hope will triumph over
grievance."
)
As are we Johann. Hope that
Scotland can get rid of neo-liberal politicians. Hope that Scotland
can undo the tireless work of successive New Labour and Tory
Governments that have been slowly but surely dismantling the Welfare
state. Hope that Scotland can finally be free to make her own
choices. As Tommy Sheridan says #HopeOverFear
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