News Flash For The SNP - Scotland Is Not An Independent Country

Despite the somewhat perverse, in my view, outcome of the General Election with regard to Scotland, with the Scottish National Party hoovering up nearly all of the seats there, it needs to be remembered that Scotland is NOT an independent country. The population voted, by a fairly large majority for Scotland to stay in the United Kingdom and to be a part of the Union. The Scottish National Party failed to win that argument!

The second thing I would like the SNP to understand is that the referendum on Scottish independence only went ahead due to the fact that the Parliament in Westminster allowed it to do so.

Scotland's Parliament has powers given to it by that same Parliament in Westminster by means of devolution. Therefore those powers that it does have, have been devolved to it by the United Kingdom government. The old saying "I am the boss in my house because my wife says I can be" comes to mind.

Now I apologise if that is teaching Granny to suck eggs or whichever metaphor the reader may prefer but with the behaviour of the SNP in Westminster I think it requires stating.

Why am I waffling on about this subject? Simple. Because I cannot believe the temerity of the SNP in Westminster banging on about Scotland, in effect having its own referendum on Europe. To state that each of the countries that make up the United Kingdom has the right to veto the outcome of the European Referendum based on the individual countries votes, if the voters in that particular part of the United Kingdom are at odds with the majority is outrageous. The individual countries that make up the United Kingdom are not the members of the European Union, the United Kingdom is. The referendum will be run under the auspices of the Parliament of the United Kingdom and the result should be based on the vote throughout the United Kingdom as a whole. It is a one nation vote.

Simply put: the Scottish National Party are wrong in their demands.

Personal note: I am neither pro nor anti Europe. I have not made my mind up on the subject.

Nationalists Hard Done By?

We are hearing an awful lot from the Nationalist Parties for Scotland and Wales. Both appear to be trying to convince us that they are very hard done by and need a "fairer deal". They would have us believe that they are being seen off by the Westminster government when it come to funding.

The below is taken from a Parliamentary Briefing Paper that gives the latest figure for spending per head of population in the 4 countries of the Union.

In 2013/14, public spending per head in the UK as a whole was £8,936. In England, it was £8,678 (3% below the UK average). This compares with:
 Scotland: £10,275 (15% above the UK average)
 Wales: £9,924 (11% above the UK average)
 Northern Ireland £10,961 (23% above the UK average).

As can be seen the figures show that the English are the ones that are hard done by. The only country to fall below the average as a whole and the lowest funded country altogether.

Don't let the whinging of the Nationalist Parties make you believe that they are some how done down. The very opposite is the truth.