JOHN SWINNEY'S SPEECH.

John Swinney paints a picture of prosperity with Scottish independence

An independent Scotland would be the sixth wealthiest country in the world, Finance Secretary John Swinney has claimed.

John Swinney addressing the conference in Inverness.

In his closing speech to the SNP conference in Inverness on Sunday, the Perthshire North MSP insisted Scotland was ''subsidising the rest of the UK.''

He also launched an attack on successive Westminster Governments, saying the previous Labour administration had presided over ''chaos and crisis'' while the current coalition is using ''financial blackmail'' over public sector pensions.

He added: ''Independence will give the Scottish Parliament the normal powers enjoyed in nations across the world to deliver jobs and growth — responsibility for our own affairs, rather than the dead hand of Westminster control.

''And, of course, the forces of negativity will tell us that Scotland can't stand on her own two feet. Well, let me give them a taste of what we are going to say about all this.

''As the global economy recovers from recession, all countries run a deficit, but the UK deficit is higher than that in Scotland.

''In four out of the last five years Scotland has run a budget surplus. The UK was in deficit in each of these years.

''Scotland is subsidising the rest of the UK. Our country pays her way.''

He accused the UK of ''squandering'' North Sea oil revenues and said it would not have happened under independence.

''The figures show that, with a geographical share of our offshore resources, Scotland would be the sixth wealthiest country in the world, 10 places ahead of the UK at 16th,'' he said.

''This is the time to put the wealth of Scotland to work for the people of Scotland.''

Mr Swinney repeated calls for a ''Plan MacB'' — the SNP's approach to the economy.

And, reflecting the four-day conference's large focus on independence, his final remarks were devoted to the coming referendum.

''This is it my friends,'' he said. ''This is our moment. This is our chance to fulfil the promise we made to our people, the promise that every person who chooses to live in this country should have the chance to shape the future of the country.

''Our task is now quite simple. We must go out and persuade and inspire the people of our country that independence will be right for them.

''That is our task. Today let us commit to fulfil our promise to the people of Scotland.''

SCOTLAND MORE THAN PAYS ITS WAY!

Scotland in stronger budget position than the UK as a whole, new figures find

Figures show that Scotland generates 9.4% of UK tax but only has 8.4% of the UK population.

22 June 2011 10:03 GMT

Oil revenue: Forecast to rise Pic: © STV

Scotland is in a stronger budget position than the UK as a whole for the fifth consecutive year, according to new figures.

Government and Expenditure Revenue Scotland 2009-10 figures show that, including a geographical share of UK North Sea oil and gas revenues, Scotland contributed 9.4% of UK public sector revenue and received 9.3% of total UK public sector expenditure, including a per capita share of UK debt interest payments.

Including a geographical share of North Sea revenues, Scotland's estimated current budget balance in 2009-10 was a deficit of £9bn, or 6.8% of GDP - stronger than the UK-wide deficit of £107.3bn, or 7.6% of GDP for the same year, including 100% of North Sea revenues.

In terms of the net fiscal balance - which includes infrastructure investment for long-term benefit - Scotland was again in a stronger position than the UK:, with a deficit of 10.6% of GDP, compared to 11.1% for the UK as a whole.

Commenting on the figures, Finance Secretary John Swinney said: "Scotland has now been in a stronger financial position that the UK as a whole for each of the last five years. Once again, the official GERS figures show that Scotland contributes more to the UK exchequer than we receive in public spending.

"Despite the fall in North Sea revenues to £6.5bn in 2009-10 - less than half the level for this year - Scotland still contributed far more to the UK exchequer than our share of population, which underlines the breadth and strength of Scotland's finances, and the opportunities of financial responsibility and independence.

"Scotland generated 9.4% of UK tax with 8.4% of the population - the equivalent of £1,000 extra for every man, woman and child in Scotland.

"The figures also show that in 2009-10, at the height of the UK recession, half of the £2.8bn increase in public spending in Scotland was for social protection measures such as unemployment benefits, while increased spending by the Scottish Government on the health service also accounted for a significant share of the rise.

"We know that Scotland's oil and gas resources represent a trillion pound asset base - worth more than ten times Scotland's share of a UK debt built up by successive Westminster governments. And we also know that North Sea revenues are on a sharply rising curve - in 2010-11 they were £8.8bn, and this year the North Sea is forecast to generate an all-time record £13.4bn in tax revenue. Indeed, over the next five years North Sea oil and gas is forecast to raise £61bn in tax revenue, 35% more than during the previous five years.

"Unlike successive UK governments, the Scottish Government has run a balanced budget every year since 2007, and we now urgently need new levers to promote economic recovery in Scotland, such as access to enhanced borrowing powers, corporation tax, excise duties and the Crown Estate."  

DEEP DIVISIONS IN SCOTTISH LABOUR ABOUT GRAY'S LEADERSHIP.

 

DEEP DIVISIONS & RANK HYPOCRISY EXPOSED IN WAKE OF ‘IMMATURE’ BUDGET VOTE
 
NO CREDIBLE POLICIES AS IT IS REVEALED LABOUR’S DRAFT MANIFESTO UNCOSTED
 
An article in today’s Times newspaper and an online article by the New Statesman reveal ‘startling’ splits and problems within the Scottish Labour party only weeks before the Scottish Parliamentary election says the SNP’s Campaign Director Angus Robertson.
 
In today’s Times newspaper a queue of anonymous party sources criticise Iain Gray for deciding the Labour group should vote against the SNP Government’s budget, saying he was led by an ‘immature minority’ within the party and that they should have accepted what John Swinney offered them since it met their demands and would let them look like they were acting in the ‘national interest’.
 
And in an online article in the New Statesman it is revealed by Dan Hodges that Labour’s draft manifesto for the Scottish Parliament elections is ‘uncosted’  - confirming SNP criticisms of Labour’s burgeoning policy announcements – and that the UK party will put all additional capacity into the Welsh Assembly elections  with only one additional party staff member seconded to the Scottish campaign.
 
Commenting Mr Robertson said:
 
"These reports just show that in May, voters will have a choice between a responsible, experienced SNP government aiming to protect Scotland’s progress by creating jobs, investing in essential public services and helping family budgets – or a divided and hypocritical Labour party putting immature political opposition before the people of Scotland.
 
“The revelations show Iain Gray was led on the Budget vote and that he isn’t even capable of leading his own group of MSPs, never mind Scotland.
 
“It just proves that they were offered all they wanted – and more – and put puerile political opposition before the national interest.
 
“It is obvious many of his MSPs are unhappy and have startlingly resorted to making known their unhappiness with Iain Gray’s leadership.
 
“The New Statesman is equally revealing in showing a lack of confidence in Iain Gray’s leadership by his London bosses who don’t believe the Scottish campaign is worthy of significant additional resources.
 
“Their revelation that their draft manifesto is uncosted only confirms what the SNP have been saying – that they have an uncosted wish-list of fantasy policies. They don't have a credible alternative for Scotland and their budget vote shows they are hypocritical, inexperienced and inconsistent.”

SALMOND WOULD RATHER LEAD ANOTHER MINORITY GOVERNMENT

Alex Salmond would prefer to lead another minority government rather than enter into a coalition deal if this May's Holyrood elections result in a hung parliament.

Speaking on Newsnight Scotland, the first minister said he would not rule out joining a coalition but that would not be his first choice.

He said he felt his minority government had "proved itself".

A minority Government to some extent has been good for Scotland, much better than a coalition.  If only, the fucking numpties in the the Labour party, could actually enter into the Government of Scotland, by contributing to the budget as do the Tories and the Libdums, instead of acting like a bunch of overexcited  schoolboys on their first date, the Governance of Scotland could be more of an adult affair.  The thought of that prick, Gray, being first minister is enough to make a good proportion of Scots,  move to England.

ALEX SALMOND TO BE PRIME MINISTER IN NEW ALLIANCE!

In a shock move today, First Minister of Scotland, ALEX SALMOND, is to become PRIME MINISTER in a new left of centre alliance of the SNP/Plaid/Labour/LibDems/DUP/Greens/Sein Fein and the SDLP.

Following the resignation yesterday, of the now EX-PRIME MINISTER, GORDON BROWN, it is felt that Mr Salmond or Lord Salmond of Peterhead as he will now be known, is the only one with the necessary experience of running a country to fulfill the job adequately.

Lord Salmond will be taking some of his current SCOTTISH GOVERNMENT colleagues with him to Downing Street.  JOHN SWINNEY will be the new CHANCELLOR OF THE EXCHEQUER,  KENNY MacASKILL will be the new HOME SECRETARY and NICOLA STURGEON will become the new MINISTER OF DEFENCE.  Amongst some of the other posts announced are PETER ROBINSON of the DUP who will become the MINISTER FOR CHILDREN AND FAMILIES.

Former Scottish Secretary, JIM MURPHY is to be offered the post of Cultural Attache to the Embassy in OUTER MONGOLIA.

LABOUR'S IAIN GRAY WINS NUMEROUS AWARDS AT HERALD'S POLITICIAN OF THE YEAR AWARD

Labour Leader in Holyrood, IAIN GRAY won numerous awards last night at the HERALD'S POLITICIAN OF THE YEAR AWARD.  The categories which he won were as follows:

SCOTTISH POLITICIAN OF THE YEAR
POLITICAL DEBATER OF THE YEAR
PARTY LEADER OF THE YEAR
WITTIEST DEBATER OF THE YEAR
INTELLECTUAL OF THE YEAR
HUMANIST OF THE YEAR

For those of you who are by now shaking your heads and saying, you've got to be joking he's fucking hopeless, well I am joking and he is fucking hopeless!  Mind you if it had been the Scotsman awards instead............

Some other categories he might have won:
LEADER OF THE PARTY WITH THE UGLIEST BASTARDS
LEADER OF THE PARTY WITH THE THICKEST FUCKERS
LEADER LEAST LIKELY TO SURVIVE

Who did win the awards?  Well it was a clean sweep for the SNP with JOHN SWINNEY getting the top award.
Not bad from a Unionist paper, eh!