Salt n Vinegar Posted January 14, 2023 Share Posted January 14, 2023 What's the story with "Green Freeports" then? Some politicians seem keen, some don't and I dare say some reluctantly say ok as other parts of the country WILL get them, so don't want to be 'left behind'. What are the costs and benefits? Do they genuinely generate more business and jobs, or do they just attract existing or new business and jobs from other areas? Are employees' rights protected? I saw some stuff about less interference from regulation/Customs risking higher instances of smuggling, drugs etc. Anyone got views? I used to live in Glenrothes many years ago, a place with special incentives for businesses. There was a feeling that companies moved there, who might have set up in Fife anyway, and then soaked up all the incentives like free rent and rates or discounted periods, then closed orh moved away when the incentive periods ended. The one for the Highlands is probably ok, but the East of Scotland/Edinburgh area is already pretty affluent by comparison. Maybe it would have been better for that one to be somewhere else? 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
StellarHibee Posted January 14, 2023 Share Posted January 14, 2023 1 hour ago, Salt n Vinegar said: Are employees' rights protected? They were, in the EU. Not for much longer. 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted January 14, 2023 Share Posted January 14, 2023 The latest issue of Private Eye (number 1589) has another page devoted to the corruption and murky dealings surrounding the Teesside Freeport deal. If that's anything to go by, expect a consortium of connected property developers to be handed 90% of the operation, once the taxpayer has footed the bill for clean-up and remedial works on site. 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dundee Hibernian Posted January 14, 2023 Share Posted January 14, 2023 Over and above the risks of criminality, smuggling and companies making a short term gain out of tax breaks, the two areas of Cromarty and Forth environs may be seen, wrongly, as areas where Tory votes can be picked up in a coming election. 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KirkieRR Posted January 14, 2023 Share Posted January 14, 2023 Are these pretty much Thatcher's 'Enterprise Zones' with a non-removable non-compostible plastic GREEN! sticker? 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Salt n Vinegar Posted January 14, 2023 Author Share Posted January 14, 2023 The thought occurred to me... a bit of lateral thinking doesn't hurt... how about if the Governments decreed that the companies got fewer financial incentives for setting up shop... still some, but not as much as planned... but that the staff on less than say, £50k p.a. paid no income tax? Now, that would be a boost for the local economy! Note to self... stop posting after a wee deoch... 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GTee Posted January 15, 2023 Share Posted January 15, 2023 I stay in Aberdeen. The oil capital of Europe . Unionists having a moan about this is amusing. Nae luck. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GTee Posted January 15, 2023 Share Posted January 15, 2023 Seem to remember around the referendum something about carbon storage or something in Peterhead . Never happened. Again. Nae luck Unionists. Exactly what is it we get from this Union. 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dan Steele Posted January 15, 2023 Share Posted January 15, 2023 George Monbiot wrote a fine piece in The Guardian last summer that pointed out some key and very worrying points. Freeport objectives were set out by an advisory panel chaired by ... Truss and Sunak. The panel included five industry lobbyists, a venture capitalist, and two members of dark money think tanks. There was no Trades Union, political rights, environmental or public rights representation. The private companies (who they?) will be able to claim customs "privileges" and of course the Tories favourite - tax cuts. Business rate relief will deprive central government of income and employer's NI relief which will lead to another great Tory wish - a two-time workforce of cheap and even cheaper. So when the media trumpet the tremendous opportunities they'll bring and the 30 000, 50 000, or 70 000 jobs depending on which source you choose, it's interesting but not surprising, that they rarely if ever point out the dangers. 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tarapoa Posted January 15, 2023 Share Posted January 15, 2023 (edited) 7 hours ago, GTee said: Seem to remember around the referendum something about carbon storage or something in Peterhead . Never happened. Again. Nae luck Unionists. Exactly what is it we get from this Union. Acorn CCS will likely still happen - but entirely privately funded, as the UK government money went to projects in the 'red wall' - they probably know most of Peterheid will vote unionist regardless. Edited January 15, 2023 by tarapoa 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dawson Park Boy Posted January 15, 2023 Share Posted January 15, 2023 19 minutes ago, The Skelpit Lug said: George Monbiot wrote a fine piece in The Guardian last summer that pointed out some key and very worrying points. Freeport objectives were set out by an advisory panel chaired by ... Truss and Sunak. The panel included five industry lobbyists, a venture capitalist, and two members of dark money think tanks. There was no Trades Union, political rights, environmental or public rights representation. The private companies (who they?) will be able to claim customs "privileges" and of course the Tories favourite - tax cuts. Business rate relief will deprive central government of income and employer's NI relief which will lead to another great Tory wish - a two-time workforce of cheap and even cheaper. So when the media trumpet the tremendous opportunities they'll bring and the 30 000, 50 000, or 70 000 jobs depending on which source you choose, it's interesting but not surprising, that they rarely if ever point out the dangers. George Monbiot- fine piece- The Guardian Says it all, really. -4 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dan Steele Posted January 15, 2023 Share Posted January 15, 2023 15 minutes ago, Dawson Park Boy said: George Monbiot- fine piece- The Guardian Says it all, really. Yes he does. Glad you agree 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GTG_03 Posted January 15, 2023 Share Posted January 15, 2023 9 hours ago, GTee said: Seem to remember around the referendum something about carbon storage or something in Peterhead . Never happened. Again. Nae luck Unionists. Exactly what is it we get from this Union. Ruth Davidson guaranteed that...whatever happened to her? She went round large employers in Peterhead (score being the main one) in 2014 promising all sorts to folk if they voted no. Of course, when it didn't happen she was never questioned by the Scottish media about it. It's almost as if they were on her side and didn't want to ask her any difficult questions. The silly buggers will still vote Tory tho. 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Melanius Mullarkey Posted January 15, 2023 Share Posted January 15, 2023 (edited) Teeside already being investigated for £ms fraud. Tells you all you need to know what the purpose of these Tory schemes are. Plus they’ve already been tried and failed for the exact same reasons. Edited January 15, 2023 by Melanius Mullarkay 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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