Wednesday 17 October 2012

Wonderland Two: the benefits of the union

A couple of days ago I came across the image below on the Better Together website, showing that Scotland gets more back from the UK than it contributes in taxation.

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Scotland gets a full £10 billion a year more from Westminster than we delivere in taxation.

The SNP has just published what it apparently thinks is a refutation:


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So: Scotland gets 20% more in spending than we pay in tax..... and that's a reason to break up the union which delivers this result?  

As the immortal philosopher Homer Simpson is wont to cry in moments of vexation: Duh!!

I mean...

What would they prefer? 10% more? 20% less?What can it mean when the No To the Union Campaign advertises this great benefit that befalls us by our membership of the very union they despise?

Is there a mole in their rapid rebuttal department?

We used to hear a lot about "Alex in Wonderland Economics". 

Is this the return? 

"Wonderland Two: the benefits of the union"
See the great 20% gift. ...Luxuiriate in the spectacular generosity of the benificient Union! 
Learn to love your fellow islanders!

4 comments:

  1. I think they've flip flopped so much that they've forgotten what side they're on.

    It really is ludicrous that they want to break up the union despite Scotland getting 20% more than we are taxed.

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  2. Agree its like Mike Romney they've spun around so much they must be starting to approach the earth's core...

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  3. Stephanie Flanders analysis here is good:
    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q-5R5lYv9yY

    The bottom line - Scotland gets more than it puts it BUT not as much as some parts of the UK and more than others.

    It's all about give and take - this narrative that Scotland for some reason is worse off financially as part of the UK is a nonsense.

    It's interesting how desperate the SNP are getting - one by one their policies for governing scotland are falling apart, as their single-issue policies on referendum or bust start to unravel.


    Their lastest tactics on painting Labour as the New Tory party is rich coming from a centre right party who only so-called social democratic carrot has been free prescriptions.

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  4. Being in a position to receive 20%, or 30%, or 50%, or even 100% more in in spending than you pay in tax results from having a fiat monetary system. It's not some unique feature of the union.

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