The Scottish Government

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67. Begging bowl examples - Fife

The SNP are buying votes by reducing business rates, eliminating bridge tolls, freezing council tax?

The SNP were elected to make Scotland better and are you complaining that you are saving more of your own money because of their policies?

And "Every day seems to bring another point of dispute pointing out the 'failure' of the Westminster government to meet the needs of the Scottish electorate" According to you.

But yet have you heard West Minister deny what the SNP have accused West Minister of?

I have not because perhaps there is nothing to deny.

You are just taking cheap shots at the SNP because you clearly do not support them.

Instead of being unconstruction perhaps you should start being constructive.

Moaning gets you no where.

#66 Dave Eastabrook

Jack McConnell said that the SNP were only interested in breaking up the union and pushing for Scottish independence. Alex Salmond claimed this was rubbish and that they would govern on behalf of the Scottish people.

Two thirds of the Scottish people chose NOT to believe Alex Salmond!!

So far they have been shown to be right. Every day seems to bring another point of dispute pointing out the 'failure' of the Westminster government to meet the needs of the Scottish electorate.

At the same time our money is being used by the SNP to 'buy' votes for themselves in marginal constituencies reducing business rates, eliminating bridge tolls, freezing council tax, while at the same time refusing to implement the powers they have by modifying the base rate of income tax.

Let's not thank the Westminster exchequer for the £ billions that will come our way in developing the super carriers, Rosyth and other projects. Instead let's complain that the support vessels are being put out to tender when they could be classified as 'naval' and given to the Clyde ship builders against EU rules. Let's also complain that the means tested benefit for Council Tax will be lost if the SNP / Lib Dems remove that imposition. Let us also complain that a 59p tax hike on a bottle of malt whiskey will hit exports? when exported spirits is tax - free, at the same time ignoring that Scotland distils and sells more gin and vodka than Scotch whiskey.

Increase in malt whiskey price is about 2% over the counter; the increase in vodka price is about 10%, hardly a major disaster for Scotch! The first increase in 19 years, again hardly an assault on the Scotch whiskey industry. 2p / litre on fuel or 59p on a bottle of spirits, which would you prefer?

64. I'm not running to Westminster the First Minister is. - Fife

I don't have a great interest in party politics, I think all parties spend far more time listening to themselves, arguing with each other on trivia and self-justification, and trying to score points off each other, than they do on the issues they should be addressing, and the people they should be representing who pay their wages (and scandalous expenses).

But as for "running to Westminster", if we're to have our own parliament in Scotland then it shouldn't have to do that at all. And that's the same for me whether it's the SNP, Labour, Tories, Lib-Dems, SSP, Greens, the Screaming Lord Such or the Fanny Hill adulation party - if they're put in charge of Scotland by us, the people, then they should have the powers and the finances to do their job.

My impression is that people want you to sort out hospitals, parking charges and stop scrapping plans for new health centres. Instead Sturgeon spends too much time bleating on about independence. Get you priorities straight and get back to work, Sturgeon!

#61

Fool's gold, mirrors, rose coloured glasses.

Instead of reading my postings perhaps you should listen to your First Minister, his Finance Secretary and the leader of the Lib - Dems, they are the people who are running to the Chancellor of the Exchequer to get the additional rate support grant, paid to persons who cannot afford pay the Council Tax, to be continued AFTER the three people mentioned above, and their parties have CANCELLED it!!!

An invitation to Labour to commit electoral suicide? No doubt a policy supported by all those SNP entrepreneurs who get their yearly stipend from dividends and bank interest.

Personally I am no more violently disposed to to Council Tax than I am to VAT, Fuel duty, bank interest etc. I accept that we need to fund our social commitments to our fellow citizens and no matter how we pay it, either through direct or indirect taxation, the final bill will be the same! So saving me £37.40 on Council Tax will cost me £37.40 some other way.

Now lets look at the law society of Scotland, the cartel that requires all Solicitors in Scotland to pay them every year for the licence to operate within the Scottish Courts, but try and get a Solicitor to sue another Solicitor is like looking for a needle in a haystack, try asking for your case to be recorded in a court in Scotland and your motion will be denied? why we ask?are we not supposed to be open and accountable, obviously not, so when will the Scottish Parliament make new legislation that would bring us up with the European Convention on Human Rights, lets have a referendum on this most radical right to have audi recordings in the civil process.

I would like to ask the Deputy First Minister,(a) what she intends to do with the present day running of the methadone,or deathadone, or method one programme as the name sugests,(b)what other alternatives are there, (c)if it was for the short term use why have people been on it for up to 15 years,, (d)now that we know there are serious health risks associated with Methadone what does the Deputy First Minster for Health and wellbeing intend to do, also would the Deputy First Minister look at what Switzerland has achieved with pharmaceutical presribed Heroin which is less damaging to the individual, it would safe a lot of lives and reduce crime and ultimately Copurt time and expense, the misuse of drugs act needs to be looked at as most of the legal drugs sold today are Government approved and we know the serious health issues that come with approved Drugs such as alcohol and cigarettes, and not to mention Aspartame the additive in all major soft drink brand names,and what about white refined sugar that is the main cause for diabetes in the Country, I could go on and on but we know the Government has complied with all major food and drink companies by allowing them the licence to produce such toxic and cancer producing man made chemicals that kill people

60. Fool's Gold 2 "I guess I've found the fool!"
Sorry, I shouldn't have lent you that mirror.

But the truth is you, albeit accidentally, hit the nail on the head with your posting (58): "... why do we have to run cap in hand to Westminster ...".

Says it all really. I thought maybe you'd come over from the dark side?

#59

I guess I've found the fool! Note that the Brent oil, in oil terms 'Texas Tea', ideal as mixer for blendinding with thicker oils prior to processing, is $2 - $3 cheaper than other oils. So not only is the dollar at an all time low, it costs us $2 - $3 a barrel more to import oil for our own use.

With the funding of this and making up the £400 million shortfall in applying a local income tax we will really be up the creek without a paddle. Keep it up Alex, you are doing a great job for the other parties.

Still £25 billion short of the target.