Zern

Sounds a bit nitpicky to me. It is easy to understand why a tax on income, levied at a time where we shutdown large sectors of the economy may not have raised as much as predicted. This would be further exacerbated by a Brexit that shrinks trade. It did not lose money though. So whilst you can criticise it for not being as effective as it could be, that would tend to support the idea that further power over tax and redistribution be granted to the Scottish Parliament.

They would not go out of business though.

Okay, but would a business that was project to make £300 million in profit and declared £120 million instead be regarded as a failure? A failure would be a policy that posted a net loss or generated zero returns.

Gay marriage and increased equality rights too.

Yeah, but apart from the free prescriptions, enhanced NHS, free further education, increase in family benefits, the increase of the voting franchise, the national investments, the stolen baby boxes, the redistribution of incomes... WHAT HAS THE SNP EVER DONE FOR US!

Didn't you say it raised £120 million?

That's the part that is far from settled though. A referendum vote isn't a reserved matter as proved with the existence of The Referendums Act 2020. A section 30 is desireable, but not necessary.

And? You alternative is missing. So do nothing and gain nothing. How utterly asinine. Btw i not a spokesperson for the SNP, Kenneth asked me to name some policies under Nicola and another poster arrives with laundry list of stuff, so i picked one to discuss what it was that was so objectionable. It appears that even trying to do something is what is to be decried. God damn the SNP/Greens for trying?

Not raised the expected amounts is long way from disaster, sounds like a partial win. Or they could follow Labour/Libdem policy and do nothing, or Tory policy and do less than nothing. Are you criticising them for attempting to do something or are you saying they should go even further and get more control over fiscal policy and how it is managed and distributed?

To be more precise, it takes from high earners and gives it to low earners. Is capital gains tax devolved?

It also brings new media focus for every paper being announced, sustaining the conversation over the referendum and independence in general.

They've even made sure to budget for what is coming.

I guess it would help if you had something to say other than a list of things that happen to be in Scotland. Let's start with the highest income tax. That is something they've used to fund increases to child benefits for the lowest earners in our society, it literally takes from the wealthiest and gives to the poorest. Is that a bad thing?

I'm not sure that calling for a referendum can be described as burying heads in the sand. SNP right-wing? If anything they're been pulled left in their coalition with the most left-wing party represented in Scottish politics. Scottish Greens act as a moderator. The right-leaning parts of SNP support split and became Alba. The further right have their pick of Labour &Conservative if pro Brexit and Libdem if not. SNP may be shite, but there are degrees of shitiness, and they don't stink as bad as all the others. If anything they come up smelling rather nice.

The evidence is, when it comes to white male sex offenders the Conservative and Unionist Party is thoroughly representing. If anything they go too far.

Stolen? If you call implementing a policy that proved successful elsewhere and recognising it could work here. Aye. Stolen. The is also the child poverty payment, the free feminine hygiene products, the national investment bank, increasing the voter franchise. She has also shone a light on misogyny within our society. That last one was probably unintentional, but i think we know who to credit. Of course any assessment of her political record would be a wee bit longer than 8 years, and include her being deputy leader when securing the first of our independence referendums.

Starmer might get an FPN if that's what you mean.

Referendum is just one part of the process of course but non-participation doesn't work if the the legality has been upheld. It only enhances the result for Yes, which isn't a bad thing imo. It makes the political pressure from a majority result more acute, visible and a difficult to dismiss as it is now a matter of public record.

Well if its just a parade that would be fine. Does the OO seek consent from the residents of the communities every year about where they march? Do they respect objections? Do they allow other groups to join in their festivities; like the LGBTQ+ and Catholic groups? Because from what i've seen it appears to be more exclusionary. More akin to a KKK parade through black neighbourhoods in the US.

Language is an issue too, a lot come to the UK as they have English as a second language. Or think they do, until they end up in Glasgow.

I'm all for the gammon unionists to boycott it.... Me too. When Douglas Ross mentioned boycotting i was delighted. It's a very ill-thought out form of political protest. Every voter who boycotts the poll doesn't get counted at all. This only assists the Yes side in winning by a greater percentage. At least if they participate their objections count for something and the No side would increase their chance of winning.

That's not every year is it? They were promising one for 2020. That got derailed by COVID. They said they would shelve it until we were through. Which we are. Question is, for those who disagree with even having a referendum, unless UK tells you it is ok, is what happens if it is ruled legal by the courts but is still opposed by the UK government. Boycott or participate?

From France's perspective every asylum seeker that crosses the channel is one that is leaving the EU and lowering their own intake. Which means there is not much incentive in policing that particular border. It is very much the UK's problem now.

Except that she hasn't. Nor has Patrick Harvie. October 2023

They're not bluffing. This is first announcement that they have made explicitly setting out their intention to hold a referendum with or without a section 30