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Scottish Referendum

Reflections: In the 2014 Referendum Campaign I Warned That Rejecting Independence Would Condemn Scotland to Westminster Rule in Perpetuity – Scots Willingly Embraced Armageddon. So be It

 

 

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A Blast from the past

I posted the article that follows, before the 2014 independence referendum giving warning of the real intentions of the Westminster government (regardless of its colour). Sadly my advice fell on deaf ears.

The 1997 referendum and the transfer in 1999, of a limited number of reversible powers to an elected Scottish executive based in Holyrood was a con, deviously constructed by a faceless cross party group of unionist Westminster politicians in response to pressure from the EC whose policy was to decentralize government and the Westminster form of government did not meet the desired profile.

The United Kingdom is scheduled to leave the EC in March 2019 and a return to the old ways since devolved powers is no longer fit for purpose.

The recent prolonged spat between Westminster and Holyrood resulted in the forced return to Westminster of 21 devolved activities, with more to follow in the coming years. The devolved governance experiment is at an end and Scots will soon learn the folly of their decision to reject independence.

 

 

 

2014 Independence Referendum

Prior to the 1997 referendum William Hague stated:

“the official position of the UK government is to retain a “right to reverse” any or all aspects of powers that might be devolved to a Scottish parliament.”

The Scottish nation should heed the warnings of history.

A , “no” vote in the forthcoming referendum will send a clear message to Westminster that Scotland wished to embrace all “National” aspects of UK government policy.

This will lead to a creeping reversal of, “devolution” in respect of many or all devolved powers which might be at odds with and giving difficulty to the Westminster government.

Social, Transport, Agriculture, Fisheries and the Environment are at risk of being taken back to Westminster control.

 

The Scottish National Health Service will be merged together with offshoots  in other devolved executives, reforming a truly “National” health service provision ensuring equality for all.

This will bring about the re-introduction of prescription charges and extortionate car parking charges at hospitals.

Major restructuring, (privatisation) of health services will become the norm so that there is a truly UK national approach to the delivery of health care.

Pensioners will be very badly affected, being obliged to sell off their homes to meet the cost of care in the community since existing policies are not in compliance with Westminster.

University education will take a major financial hit and students will need to finance their own attendance in further education.

There are many other aspects of Scottish life that will be adversely affected by the reversal of devolution and any protests will receive the stock answer, “but this is what you voted for in 2014”.

A “Yes” vote will send the message to Westminster that Scotland is a nation not a colony.

 

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Scottish Referendum

Nepotism in the Labour Party

Nepotism In The Labour party

Hilary Benn MP. Son of the late Tony Benn.

Neil Kinnock’s son, Stephen Kinnock, (married to Danish Prime Minister Helle Thorning-Schmidt) has been selected to represent Aberavon, which the party has continuously held since the 1920s. A safe seat.

Rachel Kinnock, “Personal Adviser”, (next step MP in a safe seat) to Ed Milliband, (Labour Leader). Did the same job for Gordon Brown when he was Prime Minister.

Labour Grandee, Jack Straw’s son, William Straw is to stand for Parliament in Rossendale and Darwen in Lancashire.

Baron John Prescott’s son David Prescott. Short-listed to stand in a safe seat.

Euan Blair, 28 year’s old, company director!!!! Owner of a listed house, (valued around £1,500,000) in a smart area of Central London. Touted by Tony & Cheri for a safe seat in Coventry.

http://www.thefreelibrary.com/BLA…ks+for+agency+amid…-a0309777353

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Scottish Referendum

The Sick are in Trouble

A letter, supported by 95% of Doctors in England, signed off by a leader of the BMA has this week been sent to Mr Cameron warning that the sick, frail and elderly are being failed by Westminster. The rarely used somewhat politically incorrect intervention by the medical profession advises an urgent need for a major change in direction transferring control of Health and Social Welfare away from private healthcare back to the control of the Nation. A summary of the letter;

The crisis in health and welfare support services is directly attributable to Westminster’s, (Health & Social Services Act) embracing and implementing a programme of rapid ill conceived transfers of services to the private sector. It is estimated in excess of £11Billion and 35,000 staff, (from frontline services) has been given over to private healthcare which has not delivered. This systematic break-up of the National Health Service and welfare support, (under-funded by around £30 Billion) is becoming dangerously fragmented. Rationing of and removal of some treatments is being ordered by non-medical managers all to the detriment of patient care. Very soon changes will be, “bedded in” and virtually impossible to reverse effectively providing citizens with very limited healthcare and Welfare support.

Clearly, where applicable the foregoing applies to the Health Service in England, but Welfare Support is only partially devolved to Scotland and, (at the time of writing) our citizens are suffering the brunt of changes in these systems, (controlled by Ian Duncan Smith).

In the event of a, “no” vote in the Referendum coupled with the, (increasingly likely) return of a Conservative Government in 2015, there is every probability that changes in the National Health Service in England will be transferred, (for early implementation) to Scotland. This will be achieved through a major reduction in the Scottish, “Block Grant” significantly lowering Healthcare finance availability forcing the Scottish Government to adopt the same Healthcare profile as that available in England.

A, “Yes” vote in the Referendum will allow Scotland’s citizens to decide their own future in terms of Healthcare and Social Welfare support. I am confident we will turn away from the disastrous systems envisaged by Westminster.

Categories
Scottish Referendum

Boris the Populist Politician and His Hitmen Will Promise Scots a Land of Milk and Honey – But Rothschild Zionist Only Ever Deliver Pain and Poverty

 

 

The act of Union 1707. Ah!! Scottish Utopia!!! promises, promises, promises betrayal, betrayal, betrayal. 1745 Culloden. and the butchery of German Geordie, his son, and the English army.

 

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But you see we Scots were sold out by a few unelected lords who took English bribes and betrayed Scotland

 

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From that time Scotland has been brutally asset-stripped by an avaricious  Westminster government. All roads lead to London!!!

 

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All revenue accrued in the UK is passed to the English Exchequer. Westminster’s financial needs are then allocated after which the Secretary of State for Scotland is handed a budget, top sliced from the Scottish Grant. The residue, (decreasing annually as areas of responsibility are removed from Holyrood) passes to the Scottish government.

No-one really knows the full extent of revenue gathered by Scotland. eg Whisky manufactured, blended and bottled in Scotland is transported to England for worldwide distribution. The tax collected is credited to England. £3-5billion annually.

But the annual GERS financial report falsely records Scotland to be in receipt of £ billion’s more from Westminster than it contributes.

This is quoted routinely by Unionists in support of their argument that Scotland is too wee and too poor to survive as a nation. The statement is utter nonsense and has been debunked by many independent financial experts.

 

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Then, if minded to do so – throws Scotland a few scraps to keep them quiet.

 

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New untested ideas about tax collection. Probably unworkable. Introduce new measures in Scotland first The jocks are well indoctrinated to Westminster’s authority.  eg Poll Tax Experiment Yup!!

 

 

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Industry!! – Order books a bit light!! – Close Scotland down. Relocate companies to England.

 

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Coal- mining industry!!! – Bloody minded Jocks and their Unions. Shut it down. Leave the coal in the ground. Purchase cheap dirty coal from Poland and South America.

 

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Car production, Shut it down transfer it from Linwood and Bathgate to England.

 

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Steel production – Shut it down in Scotland move production to England then Sell it to India for a pittance

 

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Retain a massively upgraded Trident nuclear weapons and submarine fleet – Yes!!  But voters will not allow nuclear missiles or submarines to be based within 150 miles of population centres in England.  Bugger it – locate them in Glasgow. Scots votes count for nothing at Westminster.

 

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The homing of the nuclear submarine fleet and missile systems in Faslane precludes any major shipping industry on the Clyde. Shut it down.

 

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Construction of a few battleships, kit constructed in England, then shipped to Glasgow for assembly will keep the natives happy.

 

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Fighting Johnny Foreigner!! – troops required – Not a problem – Get them from Scotland. The Jocks must pay their way in the Union. In the absence of finance, blood will do.

 

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Shut down their factories –  get the buggers on the dole or offer job security through service in the forces.

 

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Death and lifetime incapacity for many young Scots incurred through injury on active service in many cavalier military actions entered into by Westminster.

Gordon Brown’s answer to the ever-increasing incidence. The Westminster government cannot afford to meet their needs.

Create “Cash for Heros” a charity for injured servicemen – Appoint half a dozen cronies to manage it. All on six-figure salaries. As public awareness recedes it’ll die a natural death.

 

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Charitable housing for wounded – handicapped soldiers – no way, let the Scottish public find the money.

 

 

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Upgrade the UK infrastructure. A great idea and much needed, but England is allocated the vast bulk of available finance so that a massive programme of works, eg. HS2/3 and numerous other high-cost projects in London and the South East of England can be completed.

Net tax and other revenues to the UK reveals Scotland’s financial contribution to the foregoing works to be many £billions but there are no direct benefits to Scotland. The Westminster government issues assurance that Scotland will be given finance to allow similar works to e completed but not before 2030. Now that’s a kick in the teeth!!!

 

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Scotland – Natives restless – give them a “wee talking shop parliament” but retain power in England. William Hague clarified Scotland’s place in the Union:

“Scotland is not a state. Westminster simply decided to delegate the games to be held in Glasgow, a city of the UK”

“http://home.bt.com/news/oddnews/commonwealth-team-gb-gaffe-by-hague-11363912308295”

 

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Will Scots find the confidence to ask for another independence referendum after being so heavily defeated in 2014??

They appear to have swallowed the Westminster message. Scots are too timid and stupid to try again. Their continued acceptance of abuse heaped upon them by Westminster justifies the statement.

 

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The Jocks are Luddites!!! Witness the Labour Party in Scotland. Returned to power at Westminster for nearly 60 years. They really did vote for donkeys wearing a labour badge and paid the price suffering rampant corruption.

 

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Moaning Jocks!!!  Promise them jam tomorrow – They’ll believe anything Yup! that’s it, buy the buggers off with a few sweeteners.

 

The separatists of Scotland

 

30 years of austerity imposed on Scots by an incompetent Westminster government yet 55% choose to remain loyal to the most corrupt Union of sovereign nations ever created. Hell, mend them!!!!

 

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Rabbie Burns got it right when he wrote that  “a parcel of rogues” sold Scotland out 300 years ago

 

 

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The next referendum will provide another chance for Scot’s to get rid of Westminster politicians and their sycophantic useless Peers of the realm.

 

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The fate of Scotland should be in Scottish hands not the grubby paws of a bunch of rich toff’s, lords and even richer barons at Westminster. Feathering their own nest’s, selling the nation into bondage.

 

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In 2014 the Unionists said they loved Scotland and implored Scots to remain in the Union and the European Community. And We did.

The betrayal of the Unionist vow, to devolve to Scotland full fiscal authority and many other areas of governance was not long coming.

Only 3 months on from the referendum the Unionists thumbed their noses at Scotland and devolved little of any significance. Rubbing salt into the wounds they even attempted to con Scotland out of finance that rightfully belonged in Holyrood.

The Unionist paid the price for their devious tactics at the next General Election when they were nearly wiped out in Scotland.

The Scottish politicians who were returned to Westminster in 2015 genuinely tried to function effectively, but in a repeat of the well-rehearsed abuse meted out to Irish politicians by the Unionists at the turn of the twentieth century they failed to land any effective blows, culminating in a short-lived protest when they walked out of the Commons in frustration.

 

Bullingdon 1987

 

 

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Scottish Referendum

Double Agent Daniel Defoe Briefed His English Masters That The Union Would Remove The Threat of War from Scotland forever and gain for Westminster an Inexhaustible Treasury of Fighting Men and a Valuable New Market Greatly Increasing the Power of England.

 

 

 

“Prey tell me why everything in the past is glorious and everything in the future, in an independent Scotland will be fundamentally wrong”. I will confine my brief to the year’s 1701-1745.

 

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1701: The English Parliament, introduced the 1701, Act of Settlement, passing royal succession to the House of Hanover securing only Protestant succession to the throne, and to strengthen the guarantees for ensuring parliamentary system of government.

 

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1702: William III died, (without issue). Mary’s sister, Anne, became queen, (1702-1714). She had 17 children, none of which survived her.

 

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1704: Protracted and at times angry discussions, (between English and Scottish negotiators) broke down. England wishing to transfer royal succession to the, “House of Hanover”. Scotland insisting upon the successor to Queen Anne being of direct Scottish descent as contained in the right of succession, laws of Scotland.

 

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1704: The Scottish Parliament passed the, “Act of Security” threatening, (in the absence of agreement) to withdraw financial and military support to England, (fighting yet another war with Spain.)

 

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1705: The Alien Act was a law passed by the Parliament of England in 1705, as a response to the Parliament of Scotland’s Act of Security of 1704, which in turn was partially a response to the English Act of Settlement 1701.

The Alien Act provided that Scottish nationals in England were to be treated as aliens (foreign nationals), and estates held by Scots would be treated as alien property, making inheritance much less certain.

It also included an embargo on the import of Scottish products into England and English colonies – about half of Scotland’s trade, covering goods such as linen, cattle and coal.

The Act contained a provision that it would be suspended if the Scots entered into negotiations regarding a proposed union of the parliaments of Scotland and England.

Combined with English financial offers to refund Scottish losses on the Darien scheme, the Act achieved its aim, leading to the Acts of Union 1707 uniting the two countries as the Kingdom of Great Britain.

 

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1706: The vast majority of Scots, argued vehemently against the proposals, forcefully rejecting them and working hard to retain their independence opened up new markets reducing dependence on trade with England.

Scottish nobles, landed gentry and traders, who had borne much of the financial losses attributed to the, (Darien Project) were of a different mindset and led by the Duke of Queensberry, (the most senior noble in Scotland) they established a secret dialogue with Westminster politicians providing assurance an, “Act of Union” would be agreed, subject to a suitable financial settlement.

A  “sweetener”,  £400,000 was passed in secret to the Duke of Queensberry for distribution to the appropriate Scottish gentry.

 

 

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1706: Despite the assurances of the Duke of Queensberry that Scotland would be delivered as promised the majority of Scots were still opposed to any agreement with England and a hastily convened meeting of senior politicians in London decided that urgent measures would need to be taken, persuading the leader of factions opposed to the Union, (Duke of Hamilton) to switch sides. The ploy was successful, The Duke, together with enough of his close friends transferred their allegiance.

 

4thhamilton(c) National Galleries of Scotland; Supplied by The Public Catalogue Foundation

 

1706: The English public voiced doubt that the proposed Union would bring benefits and their concerns were raised in Westminster.

To reassure  England,  Robert Harley, Spymaster in the Westminster Government, contracted William Defoe to write a thrice weekly review, (for the widest possible distribution in England) aimed at persuading English opinion to support the proposed Union.

The thrust of Defoe’s assertions claimed that it would end the threat from Scotland forever and gain for Westminster an “inexhaustible treasury of fighting men” and a valuable new market further increasing the power of England.

 

 

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1706 In the autumn, “Spymaster Harley” ordered Defoe to Edinburgh with the mission (as a secret agent) to do everything possible to help secure acquiescence in the Treaty of Union.

His first reports included vivid descriptions of violent demonstrations against the Union. Some time after, John Clerk of Penicuik, a leading Unionist, wrote, “He was a spy among us, but not known as such, otherwise the Mob of Edinburgh would have  pulled him to pieces.”

Defoe, a Presbyterian, had been accepted as an adviser to the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland and committees of the Parliament of Scotland.

Harley wrote that he was, “privy to all their folly”  but,  “perfectly unsuspected as with corresponding with anybody in England”. He was then able to heavily influence proposals that were put to the Scottish Parliament.

In manipulating Scottish opinion he used opposite arguments, to those he used in England,  for example,  unusually ignoring the English doctrine of the Sovereignty of Parliament, telling Scot’s that they could have complete confidence in the guarantees in the Treaty. 

He secretly wrote a many pamphlets praising the Union. These were then circulated throughout Scotland all purported to have been written by Scots,  misleading even reputable historians into quoting them as evidence of Scottish opinion of the time.

 

 

RobertHarley1710Robert Harley Spymaster

 

 

1707: The “Act of Union” was signed off.  Defoe,  (ignored by Westminster) was financially rewarded by,  “Spymaster Harley”.

Robert Burns scathingly wrote, “We’re bought and sold for English Gold, Such a Parcel of Rogues in a Nation”.

 

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1707:  The Scottish public infuriated by the betrayal by the Nobles and,  “hi heid yins” in Parliament,  generated a hotbed of unrest against the Union.

The Presbyterian minister of the Trongate church in Glasgow urged his congregation, “to up and anent for the City of God”.

The “Dear Green Place” that was Glasgow required government troops to put down the rioters tearing up copies of the Treaty,  an act that was repeated at almost every Mercat cross in Scotland.

Martial Law was imposed, (coupled with a dawn to dusk curfew) and maintained for some months after the signing of the, “Act of Union”.

 

Jacobite Retreat

 

 

1723: Defoe returning to Scotland many year’s later and (on viewing the abject poverty of the people) admitted that the increase of trade and population in Scotland which he had predicted as a consequence of the Union,  was  “not the case,  but rather the contrary”. 

He assessed hostility towards his party was,  “because they were English and because of the Union, which they were almost universally exclaimed against”.

 

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1745: In supporting the claims of the Jacobites,  Scots did so believing they had a much stronger right to the throne of Scotland than the recently crowned German king from the  “House of Hanover”.

The brutality at Culloden and the 30 year rape of Scotland, beyond Perth was a display of abject hatred of Scot’s, the effects of which are evident 270 years after.

Lessons learned, Scots heeded that it was the upper and middle classes of England,  who controlled Westminster and by result the UK and having staged a coup d’etat with a foreigner,  (William of Orange) in a pre-emptive strike getting rid of a potentially troublesome monarch, they would fight to retain their power.

 

The_Battle_of_Culloden(c) Brian North Lee; Supplied by The Public Catalogue Foundation

 

Summary

At the start of the Eighteenth century Scotland a once prosperous nation, (had fallen on hard times due to the greed of bankers). But instead of being provided with support, it was sold out to England by a bunch of self interested rogues. 

300 year’s later Scotland is well placed, to return to the,  world’s “family of nations”, independent and free.

 

 

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Categories
Scottish Referendum

On Topic Links

Kirsty-A Free Scotland
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NclkfOjQle0#t=56 free scotland kirsty

Bigger Isn’t Always Better
Bigger is not better https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F541CSoc4cM#t=210

Oil and Lots of It
http://en.inforapid.org/index.php?search=North%20Sea%20oil

Scare Stories From Bitter Together
http://www.heraldscotland.com/comment/columnists/forget-the-latest-scare-story-the-real-threat-to-our-health-service-is-a-no-vote.24735142

NHS England and Privatisation
http://www.mirror.co.uk/news/uk-news/fury-tory-party-donors-handed-3123469 nhs rip off
http://www.mirror.co.uk/news/uk-news/child-depression-scandal-ill-kids-3129996 nhs rip off
http://www.mirror.co.uk/lifestyle/health/nhs-debt-hospitals-facing-combined-3099734 black hole
http://www.mirror.co.uk/news/uk-news/tories-want-privatise-nhs-cuts-3102993 privatisation

Rise and Rise of Foodbanks
http://policy-practice.oxfam.org.uk/publications/below-the-breadline-the-relentless-rise-of-food-poverty-in-britain-317730

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Scottish Referendum

Debunking the Westminster Promoted Negative Myths of a Currency Union

 

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A Currency Union

The Scottish National Party recently committed to retaining £ sterling as the currency of an independent Scotland until such time as it is deemed prudent to adopt a replacement, (mirroring the successful policy of the Irish Free State).

Already the vultures are circling with their portents of a doom claiming the lack of a “Bank of last Resort” will prove to be a weakness which will be seized on by desperate Unionists and used to discredit the policy.

But it is opportune to know the views of independent thinkers armed with a depth of financial acumen.

 

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Currency Union. Experts in Finance Offer a View

Deutsche Bank.

In 2014 the UK government dismissed a currency union with an independent Scotland, but,  in practice it would be impossible for the Treasury to unilaterally sever the Scottish banking system from the rest of the UK without major risks to the financial stability of the rUK banking sector.

 

Citigroup.

The head of the “European Group-of-10 currency strategists” at Citigroup said:

“Given the close economic ties between the two and assuming that these ties need not weaken going forward, the potential introduction of a currency union need not adversely affect trade and other flows.”

 

University Dean. Professor Angus Robertson.

The rUK’s debt to GDP ratio will rise significantly, with possible consequences for its credit rating. At the same time, Scotland’s debt burden will be much lower than rUK’s in all cases.

 

 University Dean. Professor Andrew Hughes-Hallett

an expert in economics and public policy at George Mason University in the US:

“There’s nothing which the Bank of England or the rUK could do to stop Scotland using the pound”.

 

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Effects of Currency Unions on Trade and Output

Independent evidence provided through academics and economists all point to a currency union being the only logical choice in particular where neighbouring countries also share a language it is the common sense approach that they can profit by sharing a currency.

 

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Who Needs a Bank of Last Resort

Myths govern modern central banking. Like many myths, they contain an element of truth that has been distorted by exaggeration and misapplication.

Myth One:

Central banks are intrinsically necessary for market economies. But history and theory belie this. Example:

The Bank of Canada was not founded until 1935 but the Canadian banking system survived the Great Depression with no major bank failures.

In contrast, thousands of U.S banks failed, despite the existence of the Federal Reserve.

These large-scale failures were only ended by President Roosevelt’s imposition of a bank holiday, not by any Federal Reserve contribution to banking stability.

 

Myth Two:

Central banks are needed as a lender of last resort—that is, to supply liquidity in times of financial stress when short-term lending freezes up.

The US Federal Reserve’s lending in the aftermath of Lehman’s collapse in 2008 is the new textbook example of this function.

But this argument has the causality exactly backwards.

Walter Bagehot, the eminent 19th-century British economic journalist, coined the phrase “lender of last resort” in his classic book, “Lombard Street.”

He recognized this was an essential function for the Bank of England. However, the context is often dropped.

Bagehot knew that a central bank inevitably resulted in a concentration of reserves within that institution, making it the lender of last resort.

But he did not believe that a central bank was inevitable or desirable.

 

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Time for some radical rethinking

For Bagehot, “the natural system” was the one “which would have sprung up if Government had let banking alone.”

There would have been “many banks of equal or not altogether unequal size.”

He described this as “the many reserve system,” in which each bank held reserves for itself, which he believed would have meant a stronger banking system.

In modern parlance, Bagehot’s celebrated “lender of last resort” is a second-best solution—second to a world of competitive banks and no central bank.

From 2011 the function of the Bank of England to act as a “lender of last resort” has been subsumed in favour of the better solution. Banks are now required by law to maintain sufficient financial reserves to cover all eventualities.

This is a good read:

(http://www.cato.org/publications/commentary/debunking-myths-about-central-banks)

 

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An Englishman for Independence

This is a must view/listen for all those who have a vote in an Independence Referendum.

(https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LOm5U1Rsvu8&feature=player_detailpage)

 

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For the serious reader to study.

Click to access w7857.pdf

Click to access w9435.pdf

 

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Categories
Scottish Referendum

The Weir Group – The Only Thing Scottish is the Badge on the Door – But Scots Still Dance to Their Tune

 

 

 

 

 

 

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 Weir Group expands into Malaysia – David Cameron, Malaysian Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak and Weir Group chief executive Keith Cochrane.

 

 

The Weir Group

The company is a global leader in the design, supply and ongoing service of engineering equipment for the mining, oil and gas, power and industrial sectors and is listed on the London Stock Exchange. With annual sales in excess of 2 billion, it employs around 14,000 people and operates in more than 42 countries.

It maintains manufacturing facilities in North and South America, the UK, mainland Europe, Australia, South Africa, India and China. Annual profits vary between 300-600 million. Lord Smith of Kelvin was chairman of the Group 2002 – 2013.

The companies main operational thrust in the UK over the next few years (2016-2020)  is directed at the development and expansion of Nuclear Power and Fracking

The Group has consistently and actively solicited support to its campaigns against any form of Scottish devolution or independence. It is firmly Unionist and its political position is centre right. Although founded and registered in Scotland less than 5% of the Groups total workforce is Scottish based.

The Group is an active member of the shadowy organisation, “Common Purpose” (because it spots interesting opportunities and because its unique connections and professional approach makes the relationship highly productive._

In 2013, a team of their “selected” leaders undertook specialist leadership development programmes and attended a global leadership conference run by “Common Purpose” which assembled exceptional senior people from across the Commonwealth to tackle challenges that businesses, governments and society face today with the aim of building global relationships for them to use in the future. The Weir Groups tentacles of influence spread far and wide.

 

 

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Lord Andrew Dunlop ( old friend of Cameron’s) visiting the Weir Group

 

 
17 December 2010: Weir Group prosecuted for providing kickbacks to the Iraqi regime

In agreeing to overcharge the Oil For Food Programme (OFFP) (set up to ensure United Nations’ sanctions didn’t hurt ordinary Iraqis) for contracts agreed between 2001 and 2003, the Weir Group was able to divert 3.1m of humanitarian aid to Saddam Hussein’s coffers.

Fining the company 3m at the High Court in Edinburgh, the judge said he was taking into account Weir Group’s guilty plea and its willingness to pay back the 9.4m profits it made from the deals, the 3.1m it diverted from the OFFP and the 1.4m it paid to its Iraqi agent for acting as a conduit for the illegal payments.

Yet some believe justice has not yet been done. Like many other firms which traded with Iraq in the early Noughties, Weir Group PLC put profits before ethics; when told it had to pay a 10 per cent kickback or it wouldn’t win contracts, any scruples about UN sanctions disappeared.

According to a director of the company the decision had been taken at board level. A senior manager and the principal salesman together with directors and the manager of the principal subsidiary company involved in the deals were all present at a meeting when the illegality of the kickbacks was spelt out.

Not one, of more than 50 employees of the Weir Group involved was identified or pursued through the courts. This despite the fact that a number of individuals from other UK companies charged with similar offences of corruption and violation of sanctions, were charged, tried and punished. Moreover, though most of those at the helm at the time had moved on, many secured prestigious posts elsewhere.

In a statement explaining its decision on keeping individuals out of the frame, the Crown Office said: “In the course of this investigation it became clear that the decision to pay kickbacks to the Iraqi government, and to pay fees to the Iraqi agent, was taken at Weir Group level. It was, therefore, deemed that the most appropriate course of action was to prosecute The Weir Group plc rather than any individual who may have been involved in these events.”

Critics of the Crown Office said “the fines levied against The Weir Group is a pittance when set against the groups overall turnover. They will simply be incorporated into the annual profit and loss account reducing the corporation tax bill. The fines should have been made the personal responsibility of the directors which would have added bite to the punishment.”

Lord Smith of Kelvin, Weir Group’s chairman, said the judgement “finally draws a line” under the prosecution investigation. “What happened back in 2001 was wrong and we accept full responsibility”.

 

 

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HM being shown a pump

 

 

 
The “Kickback” scheme explained

The offences committed by Weir Group PLC came against a background of trade sanctions against Iraq. Introduced after Saddam invaded Kuwait in 1990. It soon became clear the measures were leading to suffering and starvation among the Iraqi population and the UN set up the Oil for Food Programme (OFFP). From 1996 onwards, Saddam was allowed to sell oil, but all the receipts were placed in a UN account in Paris. Iraq was then able to use the funds to buy goods approved by the UN for the benefit of its population. Using its French subsidiary Wemco to administer the deals (because of Iraq’s “Buy British Last” policy), the Weir Group tendered for and won several contracts which involved supplying spare parts for water and oil pumps to Baghdad mayoralty, Iraq’s North Oil Company and South Oil Company.

 

 

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Lord Smith apologises to the public for the criminal acts of the group

 

 

 
However, in 2000, Saddam’s Revolutionary Command Council decreed that, in order to secure contracts, foreign companies would have to pay a kickback or “after-sales tax” of 10 per cent. The companies were told they would have to bring their goods through the port of Um Qasr, and would be prevented from unloading until they proved the kickback had been paid.  Weir Pumps, the subsidiary most heavily involved in the contracts, were informed that if the company didn’t pay, there would be no more orders.

Knowing the money could not be paid into an Iraqi bank, it was agreed an Iraqi agent would pay it from his own pocket. When it received the money from the OFFP, the company would pay the 10 per cent kickback plus a further 4 per cent for the agent’s services to a fake Geneva-based company, Corsin Finance Ltd. These payments would be unlikely to arouse suspicion as paying an agent to act on overseas deals is in itself entirely legitimate.

Two meetings were held on 13 and 14 September 2001 at the behest of a group director who was not involved in the OFFP contracts, but had become aware of what was going on. At the second meeting, the director gave the go-ahead for the kickbacks despite being told they were illegal. The first payment was made that same day. In total, Weir Group plc secured 16 contracts worth 35 million paying kickbacks of 3 million.

 

 

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Things began to unravel after the invasion of Iraq in 2003. It quickly became clear the OFFP had been abused by the Iraqi regime and several UN officials. In the two years that followed a report by the US Defence Contract Audit Agency, a hearing before the US Senate and an independent inquiry committee headed by US banker Paul Volcker all implicated Weir Group as one of dozens of companies which might have capitulated to Saddam Hussein’s demands.

At first the chief executive Mark Selway denied the company had been involved in any wrongdoing, but, following an internal investigation, Weir Group admitted irregular payments had been made.

Sir Ron Garrick, (executive chairman) became a non-executive director and then deputy chairman of HBOS before retiring.

Mark Selway, (chief executive) became chief executive of Australian building firm Boral.

Sir Robert Smith (Lord Smith of Kelvin) (Chairman) who took up his role in 2002, is still in his post.

https://www.theguardian.com/business/2010/dec/15/weir-group-fined-3-million-bribes-saddam-hussein-iraq

 

 

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Chief executive Keith Cochrane Anti – devolution or independence

 

 
3 April 2014: Weir Group report and Chief Executive, Keith Cochrane – Nicola Sturgeon exposes the agenda

The Weir Group is an important company in Scotland. I welcome its contribution to the debate and I am looking forward early next month to meeting senior management and staff at the Group to discuss those very issues. I hope to reassure them on some of the points that have been made this morning.

It is worth pointing out—this is not a criticism of the Weir Group; rather it is to provide some context—that the Group was against devolution before the 1979 and 1997 referendums.

It warned then of consequences that simply did not materialise. It is also worth noting that the Group, a successful Scottish company, operates in 70 countries around the world; an independent Scotland would form the 71st country in which it operates.

The Group’s report on independence states clearly that Scotland “could succeed” as an independent country. “Independence would bring” control over policy making “closer to the people”. It would allow an expanded range of economic policy levers to be tailored to the needs and circumstances of our economy and to the distinctive views and values of our people, and the flexibility to tailor business tax rates would be a significant attraction of Scottish independence in principle.

Nicola Sturgeon – https://www.theyworkforyou.com/sp/?id=2014-04-03.12.0

 

 

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Keith Cochrane

 
27 August 2014: Weir Group chief executive canvasses support of business leaders to his cause

A letter supporting “Better Together”, (signed by bosses from a variety of industries) has been published in the press and reported on by the broadcasting media. Its architect is, Keith Cochrane, chief executive of engineering company Weir Group which has never supported any form of Scottish devolution let alone independence.

http://www.londonlovesbusiness.com/business-news/scottish-independence/economic-case-for-independence-not-made-say-scottish-business-leaders/8735.article

 

 

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RIVALS: Weir Group chief Keith Cochrane (left) “Better Together” and Clyde Blowers Jim McColl (right)  “Yes”

 

 
12 September 2014: Weir Group to move Glasgow HQ if Scotland votes ‘yes’

Chief Executive Keith Cochrane has said that the group could not guarantee that it would keep its Glasgow headquarters if Scotland became independent after the referendum, although the group’s three service centres would remain in the country.

 

 

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Lord Smith of Kelvin

 

 

 
27 November 2014: The Lord Smith of Kelvin Commission Report on devolved powers for Scotland

The Smith Commission issued its report on the shape and form of the devolved powers promised to Scotland by the political parties at Westminster in the days before and after the Scottish Independence referendum. This is a good read.

http://www.theedinburghreporter.co.uk/2014/11/the-lowdown-and-the-views-on-the-smith-commission-report/

 

 

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Categories
Scottish Referendum

Caledonian Universitygate Inquiry

The Guardian, (Friday 7 February 2014) Flipper Darling Accused SNP government of Intimidating Universities in Scotland

Darling said, “You’ll find it very difficult to find any Scottish university principals to speak out and when you ask them, they say, “We’ve been told not to say anything.” They [the SNP government] are very clear. If you can’t support us, you shut up.”

http://www.theguardian.com/politics/2014/feb/07/alistair-darling-accuses-alex-salmond-head-of-state-scottish-independence

(8 February, London). Professor Pamela Gillies, Vice Chancellor of Glasgow Caledonian University wades into controversy by declaring her university’s support for the Union. The Prime Minister David Cameron was accompanied by, (on his Olympic Village sortie, broadcast UK wide on prime-time Television and widespread press coverage when he appealed to the rest of Britain to save the Union), Professor Pamela Gillies, the Vice Chancellor of Glasgow Caledonian University.

The overt campaigning by the vice chancellor will raise alarm bells in the Scottish government as so far academics have expressed views on individual policies and expressed concerns about uncertainties over research funding and fee charging for English students. But no senior university leader has until now declared that they are joining the campaign on either side. The university is funded by the Scottish government so relations may cool. It is also a charity so there may also be concern at the, “Charity Regulator” about political campaigning.

Campus Trade Unions expressed their extreme concern at the University’s decision to co-host an event in the London Velodrome together with the British government, where David Cameron used his office as Prime minister to set out his case against independence. Widely trailed on the BBC and other broadcasters the day before as a major intervention by the Prime Minister into the independence debate, Court members were only informed the night before the event, that the speech – promoted as a ‘business development’ opportunity – would even take place. A full inquiry has been asked for by students attending the University.

http://derekbateman.co.uk/2014/02/08/scottish-university-joins-no-campaign/
Co-hosting a divisive speech by the Prime Minister – a misreading of our role in society say GCU Unions
http://www.caledonianblogs.net/gcusa/2014/02/08/i-heard-the-news-today-oh-boy/ Read the responses.

Pamela Gillies is a member of, “Common Purpose” (a sinister, “leadership” infiltration of society organisation). These people are an unelected cancer on society, who select leaders for the future and are a huge threat to democracy. Professor Pamela Gillies met delegates from across the Commonwealth to advise them on building networks around the world.

Common Purpose’s Scotland Director Connie Young said, “In a globalised world, migration is commonplace and ever increasing. People move between countries and communities taking their skills, knowledge and networks with them. They are a source of huge potential, able to add great value to the countries they go to and also the countries they’ve left through building bridges and connections between the two communities.

http://www.gcu.ac.uk/newsevents/news/article.php?id=56328
http://www.commonpurpose.org.uk/

Categories
Scottish Referendum

Welfare to Work – Use of External Contractors

Welfare to Work – Use of External Contractors

In order to deliver our commissioning future welfare to work policy objectives as efficiently and effectively as possible we need to broaden our thinking and look to develop new ways of commissioning. Large scale prime contracting enables us to meet the challenge of delivering efficient services at large scale and still has a place within the DWP commissioning landscape.

However, to get full value from our specialist providers and realise the potential of social investment, we recognise the need to commission using a range of different approaches, in particular when delivering support to those furthest from the labour market. We will embrace the range of approaches available to us including the continued testing of innovative approaches, using the findings to inform future commissioning.

Seems to me we are addressing the demise of the Job Centres. I expect amy thousands of civil service jobs will be shed throughout the UK and Scotland. The, “new Way” will be commissioning of private companies to taking over the task of assessing, training and managing the unemployed back to work. The bulk of the work will be completed on-line with little face to face contact, perhaps other than an initial interview. Payment and suspension of benefits will be the responsibility of the contractor, (within rules provided by the DWP). Interesting time ahead. Bit of a rollercoaster this one. I am just glad I’m well out of it. But I do worry about the fate of the unemployed. These new providers are not in it to do good. They will make a profit off the backs of the unemployed. I expect if it will be a case of 3 strikes and out.

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/dwp-commissioning-strategy-2014