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Glasgow East: Labour gift SNP a propaganda advantage



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Published Date: 24 July 2008
CAMPAIGNERS have pounced on revelations that Gordon Brown gave Baroness Thatcher a costly gift of silverware when the pair met last year.
The news, which was slipped out in a government written statement on the day that Parliament went into recess, reveals that the Prime Minister gifted the item to Lady Thatcher during the controversial photo opportunity in Downing Street in September 2007.

SNP activists, who have drawn parallels between Mr Brown and Lady Thatcher's regimes, yesterday tried to capitalise on the disclosure.

Angus Robertson, the party's Westminster leader, said: "Folk in Glasgow East would dearly love the chance to give Margaret Thatcher a piece of their mind – yet Gordon Brown gives her a piece of expensive silverware."

He added: "Labour pretend they are an anti-Tory party, when in reality they agree on so much – the illegal Iraq war, Trident nuclear weapons, the hated council tax – but the facts speak for themselves."

Meanwhile, Labour has also tried to imply that the SNP is close to the Tory party, suggesting that its candidate, John Mason, may vote with the Conservatives if he is elected to Westminster.



The full article contains 194 words and appears in The Scotsman newspaper.
Page 1 of 1

 
1

AM2,

Scotland,UK 24/07/2008 00:17:35
It was courteous to invite her. It would have been discourteous not to say something complimentary (the “conviction politician” comment) and not to give her a small memento.

But what would Angus Robertson know about courtesy? This is gutter politics.
2

Vivas,

Edinburgh 24/07/2008 00:23:47
Gordon Brown should have kicked her bony carcass all over No.10 and then thrown it on the street for collection.

Result ? A labour landslide at the next election. Another opportunity missed by Brown.
3

Kent2,

24/07/2008 00:32:20
AM2

If Brown was being so courteous to Margaret Thatcher why was he so discourteous to other ex PM’s by not inviting them along to Downing Street for photo opportunities and pieces of expensive silverware.

But what would you know about truthfulness, honesty and integrity?

4

Rev. S. Campbell,

Bath 24/07/2008 00:41:43
How many ex-Labour PMs did Mrs Thatcher invite to Downing Street for a cosy fireside chat and presents? How many did Major bring round? What about Blair?

Come on, AM2 - as we've found out on the welfare thread, you're the man with the stats at his fingertips. Tell us!

ROFLMAO.
5

a proud doonhamer,

Dumfries 24/07/2008 00:49:27
Aye, Gordon has all the time in the world for Maggie Thatcher but not a jot for the people of Glasgow East.

Perhaps she was briefing him on how to deal with all Weegies collecting benefits.
6

Wisnaeme,

24/07/2008 00:54:48
My that's a big story, isn't it just.

A £140 gift.


So David Marshal's "gifts", courtesy of Westmidden's "within the rules" and known to be hundreds of £1000s doesn't really compare with this shocking exposure of an O la la, £140 gift in the "tell us a story" Hootsmon" rag.

Some folk really have their perceptions of public interest priorities somewhat @rse end foremost.

Mustn't criticize the way the London establishment conducts it's self or how it "manages" our affairs too much, must we?

Ah mean to say, that could reflect very badly on the benefits of a union dividend.

Yup, better stick to the £140 "gift" story. Much safer.
.

7

Senga Jean,

24/07/2008 01:00:09
Labour and AM2 in melt down
8

Wisnaeme,

24/07/2008 01:03:25
post 5.
A proud doorhamer wrote:

"perhaps she was briefing him on how to deal with all Weegies collecting benefits."

... or in particular, how to deal with three very closely related Weegies collecting "benefits".
.
9

,

24/07/2008 01:10:28
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10

subrosa,

24/07/2008 01:29:26
#1 AM2, Scotland,UK 24/07/2008 00:17:35
It was courteous to invite her. It would have been discourteous not to say something complimentary (the “conviction politician” comment) and not to give her a small memento.

But what would Angus Robertson know about courtesy? This is gutter politics.'

Gordon Brown wouldn't invite the Dali Lama would he but he invited the woman responsible for using Scotland as a testing ground for her policies. Don't forget she also used men and women from Scotland for her Falklands war - just as Brown is doing today as his part in propping up the US.

Angus Robertson is a very polite and well mannered person by the way. Courteous and respectful of others too. If you don't know him it's rather unworthy of you to pass such comment.
11

democracy,

Scottish Borders 24/07/2008 01:31:40
Blair and Brown will NEVER congratulate Mr Alex Salmond
because they hate his guts for winning the latest Scottish elections and made Scotland (and much of England) realise that NEW Labour are a bunch of self serving wealth seeking, lying torags the like of which this country has EVER laid eyes or ears on!!

But, actually, they should be blaming the EU for their gradual downfall, as it was they who forced Blair and Brown to change the political landscape as the UK government had for many decades ruled Scotland illegally, in a quasi-colonial fashion and was hindering the development of the EU with potential new countries wishing to join!!
12

,

24/07/2008 02:31:39
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13

,

24/07/2008 04:36:03
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14

Traquir , Alba,

24/07/2008 05:27:48
Looks like the SNP has timed to perfection the final
image they want the Glasgow East Voter to have in their
head prior to going to polls - a postcard
from Broon and his best Pal Maggie

see - http://tinyurl.com/62qgox

I can just picture it now the welling up
of hatred and absolute betrayal in even
the most staunch Labour supporters.

Never mind the little £140 silverware gift given
to Thatcher, Brown has done something much
more treacherous in sanctioning a State Funeral
for Thatcher rather than vetoing it.

see - tinyurl.com/5rljdt

So how much is Brown's other gift to his
soul mate - well likely at least £4 million
of which Scotland's share is ~£340,000 !!!
This is absolutely nauseating and will
make many Scots sick to the stomach.

see - tinyurl.com/6gtwmy

So Scotland has a reign of Thatcher imposed on
her and she savages the country resulting in
a depth of hatred where her party ends up with 0 MPs.
Now we have to pay to bury her - does not get
much sicker than that.
15

Traquir , Alba,

24/07/2008 06:13:31
Speaking of Thatcher of course we should remember
where her loyalties lay :

"we English who are marvellous people are really
very generous to Scotland"

see - tinyurl.com/4lowk7
16

Mercutio,

FALKIRK 24/07/2008 06:48:06
#15 ‘Where there is discord, may we bring harmony. Where there is error, may we bring truth. Where there is doubt, may we bring faith. And where there is despair, may we bring hope’
17

donald,

glasgow 24/07/2008 07:19:53
No wonder Bush gave Bomber Broon a leather Bomber jaikit.

Was Broon courteous n congratulating Alex Salmond on becoming First Minister in his forsaken homeland?
18

MacGillicuddy,

24/07/2008 07:27:54
#1
You state: "This is gutter politics"
We are well used to your statements belonging exclusively in the gutter!
19

MacGillicuddy,

24/07/2008 07:31:07
This is a WIN-WIN today for the SNP.
At best the SNP will take the seat. At worst Liebour will retain it but with the mother and father of majority reductions.

Regardless of the outcome, the people of Glasgow East and of Scotland now have further irrefutable evidence of the absolute corruption endemic in the Liebour Party. That sleaze coupled with the realisation that Liebour has zilch to offer decent ordinary people will be enough to persuade the Scots to break up the UK.
20

Richard Taylor,

Aberdeen 24/07/2008 07:48:09
Liebore won't win the next General election...not a cat in hell's chance.

Screaming banshee Curran's going to be as much use as a £950 donation.
21

Joe,

Memory Lane 24/07/2008 07:57:25
Folk in Glasgow East should bear in mind that the SNP Tartan Tories kept Thatcher in power in a crucial Westminster vote. The greatest gift of all?
22

eric,

Lothian 24/07/2008 07:58:37
No matter what the result The SNP will come out winners.
23

Mr. Lachie Todd,

Edinburgh 24/07/2008 08:02:36
No doubt old Lady Thatcher is used to receiving freebies to add to her collection but if I were her I would beware Geeks bearing gifts!
24

Mr. Lachie Todd,

Edinburgh 24/07/2008 08:03:56
No doubt old Lady Thatcher is used to receiving freebies to add to her collection but if I were her I would still have kept in mind the old adage: beware Greeks, or is it Geeks, bearing gifts!
25

Scotland to prosper...,

24/07/2008 08:04:08
Brown gave Thacther a gift for coming to tea, what did he give Salmond for becoming First Minister? Not alot.

Good to see Brown working towards strengthening relationshsips that really count! Tw*t

People of the east-end must vote SNP today, their area has been forgotten about for so long, enough is enough
26

waldenman,

east lothian 24/07/2008 08:19:21
Dunno about Thatcher but I'd like to give Tony Blair a state funeral. Now!!
27

Tommy Trout,

Alicante, Spain 24/07/2008 08:59:47
Maybe it's just because I'm old fashioned, but in my day when you were invited to someones house it was the visitor who took the gift.
28

Jung,

24/07/2008 09:13:29
#28
Absolutely!

Anent the state funeral for Maggie Thatcher, I will be selling garlands of garlic, crucifixes and wooden stakes for the better protection of the public.
29

Alan B,

24/07/2008 10:19:27
#AM2 I think you are losing the plot. "It was courteous to invite her." He did it becuase he thought it would play well electrally in England. She is ill and lonely and he used this as a way to try to improve his electral standing. It had nothing to do with being courteous.

The present is irrelevent as off course he would give her a present when she attended their meeting. But it was the meeting that was the important factor. The present is just a way of dragging up the issue again.

The underlying point to this was the fact labour in scotland where brown was one of its most important figures ridiculed the tories under thatcher for the destruction done to scotland. You can agree or not with that point of view but that was the one espouced by labour. You also have to understand the real bitterness that labour had for the thatcher regime in scotland.

It is the 2 facedness of brown that is important.
30

Scottish 'N British,

24/07/2008 10:54:27
The Scottish public should thanks Angus Robertson for his expose.

I wonder what else he does in the House of Commons.
31

,

24/07/2008 11:00:59
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32

MacGillicuddy,

24/07/2008 11:07:09
#34
The odious, lying, corrupt and sleaze ridden Liebour Party must REALLY be worried today judging by the HYSTERIA in post #34!
33

Richard,

west lothian 24/07/2008 11:10:16

Dane Bramage SNP Insider

Complete and utter unionist revisionism with your post above @ #34, well done you've excelled yourself!

HAHAHAHA!

Labour in Scotland,happy to see a TORY Westminster government as long as it saves the union!

There's a word for people like them.
34

Scottish 'N British,

24/07/2008 11:17:47
Salmond believes his only chance of getting a separate Scottish state is if Cameron wins the next election.

He, aided and abetted by Hitman Robertson will then play up on the Thatcher-Scotland angle.

Which is also why he's scared to bring on a referendum before 2010/2011.

Bring It on.

It's Time.
35

,

24/07/2008 11:17:57
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36

Rev. S. Campbell,

Bath 24/07/2008 11:22:31
Labour betrayed the people of Scotland in 1979 by refusing them the devolution that a democratic majority of them had voted for. No decent Scottish politician with any respect for democracy could continue to support them in that situation. If the vote of no confidence had failed, Labour would have been crushed in the next election anyway.
37

Scottish 'N British,

24/07/2008 11:24:58
hehe "Labour betrayal"

Surely
It's Time
to change the record.

Talking of records, what HAS Salmond been doing since May 07?

Aside from Broken Promises.
38

,

24/07/2008 11:26:11
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39

Rev. S. Campbell,

Bath 24/07/2008 11:26:52
#41 Betrayal, yes. Do you need me to explain words over two syllables to you?
40

Rev. S. Campbell,

Bath 24/07/2008 11:28:57
#42 Got news for you, love. Labour are at 24% in the polls. *Whoever* you vote for in Scotland you're going to get the Tories in Westminster by 2010 at the latest, in a landslide. The question is whether you want to be defended from them by an independent Scottish government that isn't dictated to by SE England, or by a shattered wreckage of a Labour party that believes in most of the same things as the Tories anyway.
41

,

24/07/2008 11:30:20
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42

Scottish 'N British,

24/07/2008 11:30:58
42
Good call, that man.

Cameron has finally woken up and is now, as they say, smelling the coffee.

A link-up with the UUP scuppers hopes of the Salmond/Robertson Grand Plan to be king makers.

Wouldn't have liked to have been the lackey who had been given the task of passing the good news to Eck.
43

,

24/07/2008 11:35:23
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44

,

24/07/2008 11:39:24
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45

Scottish 'N British,

24/07/2008 11:42:55
48

There'll be a political earthquake when it dawns, no doubt.

I predict something akin to the "ground was shaking and shuddering".
46

,

24/07/2008 11:45:07
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47

Scottish 'N British,

24/07/2008 11:56:02
50

From what I've seen on TV, there's plenty of blubber, sorry blubbering...
48

Arrow,

edinburgh 24/07/2008 12:07:13
i hit that tiny url link to Thatcher's speech about how generous "We" English are to Scots et al. she obviously was in her regal mode when she stated in the course of her speech:

"It has been dubbed by our people in Scotland who are very good at these things, "roof tax" and I said in the House of Commons, as a "Thatcher" I object to a roof tax!

our people? i thought it was the monarch in times past that used the royal "We". still i liked the last bit as a throw away line. it is true that a spontaneous remark always takes that bit longer to write!
49

jacquesmac,

Lectoure 24/07/2008 12:28:05
46 Scottish 'N British,24/07/2008 11:30:58


"42
Good call, that man.

Cameron has finally woken up and is now, as they say, smelling the coffee.

A link-up with the UUP scuppers hopes of the Salmond/Robertson Grand Plan to be king makers.

Wouldn't have liked to have been the lackey who had been given the task of passing the good news to Eck. "


Once the deal is finalised, this autumn, the Tories would gain an extra MP at Westminster – the UUP's sole representative, Lady Sylvia Hermon.

Ya twerp, it is the UUP he is tying up, maybe, for 30 pieces of silver, not the DUP which Gordy thinks he bought.

and here's me thinking you were a bluenose?

Go back to bed
50

,

24/07/2008 12:48:14
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51

chicmac,

Angus 24/07/2008 14:06:24
#15 and #16

"we English who are marvellous people are really very generous to Scotland"

‘Where there is discord, may we bring harmony. Where there is error, may we bring truth. Where there is doubt, may we bring faith. And where there is despair, may we bring hope’

To which I would add

"Where there is oil, may we bring buckets."
52

Clydesdale,

Lanarkshire 24/07/2008 14:24:48
34 Dane - you are living up to the old adage that if you tell a lie enough times people might just believe it. How about a little truth -

Labour deliberately scuppered the Devolution vote in 1979 by putting in the 40% clause (which had never been used before and has been used since in any referendum). This meant that 40% of the ENTIRE Scottish electorate had to vote yes for a Scottish Assembly. The national turnout on the day was actually high at 60% and a majority of the people who turned out actually voted yes but because of Labour's despicable tactics the 40% national threshold was not reached.

The SNP had propped up a terminal Labour govt in return for the referendum vote. UK Labour had no desire in the assembly, hence the 40% clause, and the SNP had no alternative but to withdraw support.
53

Clydesdale,

Lanarkshire 24/07/2008 14:34:05
Labour? Tory? What is the difference?

They both support Trident (billions wasted), they supported the Iraq war (billions wasted and countless lives lost). The gap between rich and poor continues to increase.

Come to think of it the Tories would not have dared to put forward proposals like the scrapping of the 10p Tax and the 42 day 'internment' rule. It was the Ulster Unionists who helped Labour get that one through - so maybe Cameron has got a fight on his hands to win their support?
54

connaughtboy,

stonehaven 24/07/2008 14:36:48
#1 AM2

Dress it up any way you like. It was and still is a complete gaffe by Brown.

Also, gutter politics is lying about where you live and work. Stand up Margaret Curran!
55

AM2,

Scotland,UK 24/07/2008 14:50:23
It has for some time astonished me that some on the Left (including the Nationalist Left) regard the de-industrialisation of the Thatcher years as an act of vindictiveness.

Can anyone give me a glimpse of how Scotland would now be had Thatcher not rolled back the years of unsustainable socialist malaise?

Would we still be digging expensive coal, building subsidised ships, pressing unprofitable steel, working a three-day week and rationing electricity? How could heavy industry in Scotland, uniquely among Western countries, have competed with the Far East? Would we want their wages and working conditions?

The Thatcher years were undeniably tough and the “recovery” slow but the only alternative would have been to delay the inevitable and extend our pain.

But now look at us. Scotland has record low unemployment. Our 25-year average low growth, much cited by the nationalists as “evidence” of the “failure” of the Union, is a matter of history. Scottish GDP (PPP$ per capita) overtook Germany in 2004. It’s now within spitting distance of Sweden, France and Finland, and growing considerably faster than any of those three.

Scottish growth is now outperforming the UK average. Scottish per capita GDP (even without oil) is now surpassed in the UK only by London and SE England.

[continued…]
56

AM2,

Scotland,UK 24/07/2008 14:50:33
[…continued]

Home ownership has doubled since 1981. About two-thirds of people in Scotland now own their own home, with the resultant increase in civic pride.

Earnings and disposable incomes have for several years been rising significantly faster in Scotland than in other parts of the UK. The post-Thatcher “McJobs” phenomenon is now very definitely on the wane.

We have become world leaders in electronics, biotechnology, GM crops and nanotechnology.

Educational performance in Scotland is above both the UK and European average. Relative poverty is lower in Scotland than the UK average, with achievable targets to lower it further.

Yes, there’s still a long way still to go. The benefits haven’t been spread geographically, and our public health record is still dismal in a number of key respects. Our business startup rate is still lamentable.

But without the paradigm shift and self-sufficiency forced on us by the Thatcher government, we wouldn’t be in anywhere near as strong a position to address such ongoing issues.
57

Jock Politicaljunkie,

Glasgow 24/07/2008 14:59:41

Question for AM2, Scottish & Brittish & Dane Bramage: -

If Maggie Thatcher's State Funeral was to be paid for by voluntary public subscription - would any of you put your hands in your pockets to pay for it??


58

Traquir , Alba,

24/07/2008 15:14:25
62 AM2,Scotland

"Can anyone give me a glimpse of how Scotland would now be had Thatcher not rolled back the years of unsustainable socialist malaise?"

Unfortunately Scotland was never given the opportunity
to apply her own solutions and of course I am sure
that you like most Unionists have such a low
view of Scotland that your opinion is that had
Scotland governed herself then it would be have been
an absolute disaster.

I am sure that Scotland would have used her
Oil resources (had we know about the scale of
them - see McCrone treachery tinyurl.com/3sdrdg)
much differently from Margaret Thatcher

"But of course Scottish oil was not used to benefit the working classes in the 80s, but to finance the destruction of organised labour and fund tax cuts for the wealthy. There is no doubt that the Thatcher governments depended on oil revenues to pay the cost of mass unemployment. Without the £250 billion that was pumped out between 1975 and 2005, the UK would have been an economic basket case."

see - tinyurl.com/63onqx

You AM2 epitomize the Unionist cringe and the
absolute condescending attitude towards Scotland.
In your view you can't even imagine Scotland
having the capability to govern herself at least
as well or horror of horror even better than
England could do the job. No instead an imposed
deeply unpopular government was just what
Scotland needed - indeed as Thatcher said

"we English who are marvellous people are really
very generous to Scotland"

see - tinyurl.com/4lowk7

Clearly we Scots should be first in line at
her State Funeral giving our heartfelt thanks
that England was so generous in governing
Scotland through the Thatcher era when we were
obviously so incapable of doing anything
better ourselves. Absolutely pathetic.

P.S. AM2 since you live in Glasgow why are
you not regaling us with stories of your
personal canvassing on the streets of
Glasgow East ?


59

Sanny,

Upwey 24/07/2008 15:16:14
Forget a small gift to Maggie however nauseating that might be to Scots. Not even the cost of her state funeral is worthy of mention when considered against the Great theft of the Scottish natural resources: -

Any one who watched last nights programme on North Sea Oil can be in no doubt of the enormous reserves still under the North Sea, far greater than the oil already pumped out. They must also be aware of how Scotland was sidelined in order to keep England from becoming bankrupt! The only one with the right approach, albeit still in England’s favour, was Tony Benn but Maggie scuppered his idea and sold off BNOC to the Tory friends.

Any self respecting Glasgow East voter who saw and understood that programme would have to be sick in their head to vote any Party other than SNP.
There is still more than enough wealth in the North sea to to fund the reconstruction of our country's infrastructure and to provide a way out of poverty for all of our people and still leave a tidy sum to save for the future.
60

Jock Politicaljunkie,

Glasgow 24/07/2008 15:17:39


State in terms of the pomp and ceremony!

I'm trying to find out if these 3 actually think she is worthy of one. I do not, whether paid for by the state or by public subscription.

I agree with your view on the unique position/honour of a state funeral and also that as one of the most devisive PM's of the moder era Thatcher does not merit one.



61

Jock Politicaljunkie,

Glasgow 24/07/2008 15:19:29


My #68 in response to #65.

God! some of you guys don't half type fast!!!

62

,

24/07/2008 15:38:12
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,

24/07/2008 16:08:53
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,

24/07/2008 16:20:40
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24/07/2008 16:25:24
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Rev. S. Campbell,

Bath 24/07/2008 16:51:33
#70, #72, #73

How many more comments will AM2 delete?
67

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24/07/2008 17:03:37
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Rev. S. Campbell,

Bath 24/07/2008 17:29:24
You're right. Isn't it about time we forgave that poor old man Radovan Karadzic too?
69

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24/07/2008 17:36:41
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Traquir , Alba,

24/07/2008 17:43:26
77 Dane Bramage SNP Insider

Out of interest, have you ever been to Scotland ?
71

European Scot,

24/07/2008 17:50:56
72 Dane Bramage.........

"Someone above said the SNPs action was revenge for Labour supporting the 40% rule proposed by George Cunningham MP (a Scot) for a central London constituency. Well that little act of treachery by the SNP is probably the biggest own goal in UK political history "

It pales into insignificance, compared with the level of treachery of the Labour Government over the people of Scotland in the seventies, with its cover up of the McCrone report.

If you want to talk treachery, at least start with the biggest example of it.
72

,

24/07/2008 18:17:16
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24/07/2008 18:22:44
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Traquir , Alba,

24/07/2008 18:34:18
80 Dane Bramage SNP Insider,

"Traquir Alba # 78

Where is Scotland, can you post a URL for its location?"

I'll assume that means no :)
75

,

24/07/2008 18:38:16
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Rev. S. Campbell,

Bath 24/07/2008 18:43:31
"I was born in a nursing home in Govan and spent the following 24 years running around and working in Glasgow."

People chased you even then, eh?
77

European Scot,

24/07/2008 18:45:18
81 Dane Bramage .......

"Is it not the duty of the UK government to look after the greater interests of all the UK people? Has Scotland not benefited over the centuries from the activities of UK PLC?"

One thing that the decision to hide the McCrone report illustrated very clearly, was that what was in the UK's interests, most certainly wasn't in Scotland's interests.
Scotland was robbed of the opportunity, of the choice, to be like Norway.
It was lied to, and deceived, by a so called partner,
Having your identity totally smothered by a Union, which reduces your status in the World to that of a voiceless region, with absolutely no international recognition as a Nation or a Country, is hardly a benefit.
To be told by Westminster what you can, or cannot do.
Scotland isn't even allowed to have its own broadcaster, it's a 'reserved' matter.
Even Pays Basque can do better than that.
If you consider the above 'benefits', then we have to agree to differ.
78

Traquir , Alba,

24/07/2008 18:56:38
83 Dane Bramage SNP Insider,

"Traquir Alba # 82

I was born in a nursing home in Govan and spent the following 24 years running around and working in Glasgow.
Maybe that doesn't count if I don't support Salmond and the SNP...?"

Not at all, of course that fully counts even if
you don't support the SNP yet.

May I ask you one more question - are you a left
winger or a right winger politically ?
79

,

24/07/2008 19:06:47
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Traquir , Alba,

24/07/2008 19:15:01
87 Dane Bramage SNP Insider,

European Scot # 85

"A lot of what you say is with the benefit of hindsight."

It is absolutely nothing to do with hindsight - the facts were deliberately hidden from
the Scottish people via secrete documents
like McCrone - tinyurl.com/3sdrdg

"The fact is oil was seen as a strategic UK asset in 1975, the fact that it would have transformed the fortunes of the region in whose territory it was discovered was a lesser issue."

Oops a bit of a slip of the tongue I assume -
Scotland is nation not a region with her own
legal system and as the McCrone report made very
clear it is a fact the vast majority of the Oil
would belong to Scotland when she becomes independent.

"If all UK oil reserves had all been discovered off the Morecambe coast would the SNP have said, that is their good luck and we want no part of it?"

Yep that it is their good luck and we want no part
of it - in exactly the same the Norway has had good luck, and Saudi etc.
81

,

24/07/2008 19:25:10
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24/07/2008 19:26:43
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European Scot,

24/07/2008 19:46:15
87 Dane Bramage

"A lot of what you say is with the benefit of hindsight. The fact is oil was seen as a strategic UK asset in 1975, the fact that it would have transformed the fortunes of the region in whose territory it was discovered was a lesser issue."

Well thank you for referring to Scotland, and its territorial waters as a 'region', says it all really.
There is no wisdom with hindsight about it. At the time the SNP were openly declaring that this was Scotland's oil.
If the figures in that report had been available for the Scottish people to see, and evaluate, there is little doubt that Scotland would have become an independent country all those years ago.
You talk of oil off the Morecambe coast in a hypothetical situation.
Unionists are very fond of what ifs, and imagined scenarios, let's just try and stick with reality.
Scotland was deceived by a Westminster government, who seeing the rise in the SNP's popularity at the time, kept secret all of the facts about the true value of North Sea oil reserves.
A secret that was revealed 30 years later, but not by a Westminster government.
The truth is Scotland had been told for years that it was in a Union, that it was in a partnership, and yet it was deceived in such a way, and from such a height.
If you were in a close partnership and were betrayed in such a way, you would be seeking a divorce.
Well it will be all about terms of settlement soon enough, but done in a civilised manner, as befits 'partners' in a 'Union' !
84

Pink Sombrero,

24/07/2008 20:31:37
1. AM2

oh dear, the stench of panic and desperation in every post now....
85

,

24/07/2008 20:41:54
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86

,

24/07/2008 20:55:24
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87

European Scot,

24/07/2008 21:30:21
93 Dane Bramage .....

Well we know that the oil is there, and is likely to be so, for around the hundred years mark.
We know it is in Scottish territorial waters.
So it's not much of a what if.
It's just that unfortunately, for the moment, Westminster continues to help itself to all the revenues from it.
The only if, is if you have a belief in your own country's ability to stand on its own two feet.
It's having a belief that an Independent Scottish economy would be properly managed, and so benefit from that nice healthy annual budget surplus, which those oil revenues would produce.
Like him or loathe him, Alex is better qualified than most, to develop Scotland's economy.
Personally I quite like the man. He's got humour, and charisma, but can go for the jugular when necessary, which is what you need in a leader.
The man is getting on with it, and both he, and the SNP, have transformed the political scene in Scotland.
Credit where credit is due, they do at least put Scotland first.
88

Rev. S. Campbell,

Bath 24/07/2008 21:33:11
#94 Fling bong nergle gronk wiggit.
89

,

24/07/2008 22:37:58
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90

Scottish 'N British,

28/07/2008 14:33:31
53

Didn't put much thought into that one, did you. Typical one-dimension Separatist.

Let's look at the bigger picture, son.

As Sinn Fein looks south, the 400,000 (10-11 seats, remember) who voted Unionist last time round are poo-ing their pants and looking to the mainland.

Astute move by Cameron. One that's way over your head.

 

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