WGPlus (Archive)
Editorial Commentary; It all comes down to money in the end! |
It’s time for the Government (preferably by means of a properly ‘independent’ evaluation) to make clear by just how much the taxpayers of England subsidise Scotland, Wales & Northern Ireland. A common theme of many press releases since the Brexit referendum issued by ScotGov & WAG has been ‘Promise to keep giving us the same (or more) EU grants, Barnett formula revenue, Support for North Sea Oil industry, etc. after Brexit.’ PC&PE: Scottish Affairs Committee demands a future deal to support oil & gas industry ScotGov: Brexit farm compensation WAG: Devolved administrations call for clarity on future funding post-Brexit Now there is nothing wrong with these ‘demands’ while the UK remains one entity, sharing the ‘wealth of the Union to support the less ‘well off’ areas of the UK. But during the same period we have also seen (from some vociferous sections of those communities) demands for increased ‘independence’. Currently the UK as a whole pays the EU £bns per year to be a full member of the EU, of which we get less than 50% ‘back’ in grants, CAP payment, University research grants, etc. and (in the short/medium at least) the UK government can (following an eventual) clean break continue that funding, until different UK arrangements are made, which better suit the UK (rather than EU) priorities. However, if in the future, Scotland, Wales or Northern Ireland vote to leave the UK, they will ‘lose their entitlement’ to that funding, so one wonders how they will manage their budgets. For example, Scotland has seen the oil price effectively half since their last independence referendum and ScotGov would also do well to remember that Venezuela (which has the world’s largest reserves) is currently producing about 1% of its potential output, but if a proper democratic government is elected it may soon be in a position to resume a much higher production rate. What price North Sea oil then? As for a ‘Border Vote’ in NI, would English voters even consider contemplating an Irish ‘Backstop’ if they realised just how much they were subsiding NI by each year? A December 2018 article in the Irish Times concluded with the following possible ‘side of a bus’ slogan; “We (the UK) send NI £204 million a week. Let’s fund our NHS instead. Vote Leave”? Post-Brexit Britain may not want to pay for Northern Ireland While an item in the Belfast Telegraph raised the question of whether the RoI could afford to absorb NI into a United Ireland and whether the ‘Backstop’ is really just their way of getting the UK to fund a 20-30 year transition period to unity and nothing to do with maintaining the Peace Process. 'Republic can't really afford united Ireland now, but if they could get ... ScotGov and WAG (with no ‘sitting NI Assembly, they have not had a ‘united voice’ for the last 2 years) have proposed an ‘interim’ alternative to independence which is an overall ‘Federal’ governing body which gives them an ‘equal combined say’ over how England’s revenue is disbursed over the UK and what ‘UK-wide’ policies should be implemented. But why should England agree to that even if they can ‘agree’ on how a voting balance could be achieved? Edit. Commentary; By how much should England ‘subsidise’ Wales, Scotland & Northern Ireland? Edit commentary; Some questions to ‘Remoaners’ and the SNP to inform voters before a 2nd Referendum They want all the powers and for England to provide most of the subsidies But do they expect English taxpayers to subsidise their plans? One wonders how the SNP would finance an independent Scotland without Barnett formula One final thought; if we are going to become an ‘Atlantic Singapore’ following a WTO Brexit on 29 March 2019, perhaps England should unilaterally ‘discard’ the ‘independence seeking’ ScotGov and WAG who keep demanding ever increasing English taxpayer subsidies? They would then be free to re-join the EU, which they claim is what they want and England could flourish as a low tax Free Trade area! B4B: Singapore wouldn’t accept EU vassalage, and neither should we |