open Democracy News Analysis - Wales - Comments

Not logged in on "Fiscal federalism"

Not logged in — Fri, 28 Nov 2008 12:14:50 +0000

If you want to be a pedantic arse, please learn how to use an apostrophe. Sorry to keep what was a challenging and learned debate back down at the level of nitpicking, but I wasn't first to bring it down...

Stonemason on "What is the real case for more powers? "

Stonemason — Thu, 27 Nov 2008 20:05:34 +0000

Any benefits of devolution is lost because one of the players has a noxious aim, the destruction of the Union.

"Who would vote for their own destruction", certainly not the majority of voters in Wales.

Not logged in on "Fiscal federalism"

Not logged in — Tue, 25 Nov 2008 23:18:48 +0000

It's correct spelling is Edinburgh.

Looks to ceiling, rolls eyes and sighs.............

revinkevin on "Fiscal federalism"

revinkevin — Tue, 25 Nov 2008 14:23:32 +0000

Notice how the British government gives England less to spend than the ofther nations hardly fair is it?

The Blog of Kev

Mike Small on "Fiscal federalism"

Mike Small — Tue, 25 Nov 2008 10:40:14 +0000

Doug is right, not the first time. Despite New Labour mythology, devolution was not a gift from the Labour Party, Smith's 'settled will' delivered by Donald Dewar. It was the result of decades of campaigning, growing cultural awareness & revival and a civil society mass movement. It was - and is - therefore rare in British Constitutional experience, something taken rather or demanded than something given or ceded.

The Calman Commission, and its fundamental assumption that constitutional change is in the hands of the Prime Minister or appointees goes against this understanding, and is entirely without legitimacy or popular support.

John Osmond's idea that: "Possibilities explored by the expert group of economists that this week reported to the Calman Commission include letting Scottish Ministers set income tax" needs to be set in this wider historical context .

Dougthedug on "Fiscal federalism"

Dougthedug — Mon, 24 Nov 2008 19:56:00 +0000

Talk of "financial accountability" for the Scottish Parliament is just using another empty buzz-phrase like, "fiscal autonomy".

You can't make the Scottish Parliament "financially accountable", for the economy of Scotland if the Scottish Parliament doesn't have the levers of power to alter that economy and there's no way these levers, such as VAT rates, corporation tax or tax thresholds are ever going to be given to the Scottish Parliament.

The third option here, "A hybrid approach combining greater fiscal autonomy with the equity of a needs-based grant.", is a dog's breakfast.

If the needs-based grant doesn't make up a shortfall of taxes raised in Scotland then the complaint will be that the Scottish Parliament can't raise enough taxes because it has been hamstrung by Westminster retaining all the economic levers.

If the needs-based grant is going to makeup any shortfall automatically then there is no requirement to make Scotland's economy work as Westminster will make up the deficit anyway.

The problem with all this Calman Commission stuff and the can of worms of fiscal autonomy, partial of otherwise, is that they are trying to shoehorn a federal financial and tax solution into a provincial government system.

Devolution was never based on national identity or nations, it was based on devolving governmental powers to provinces of Anglo-Britain. Scotland, Wales and NI got devolved first as they had secessionist tendencies and the next step was to break England into provinces. Devolution was never based on the idea of a, "Union of Equals", a union of nations or on a federal system of equal parliaments.

Devolution in the UK is a provincial system of local government which comprises a unitary central government in Westminster and a trio of provincial local governments in the geographically remoter provinces. Scotland's seperate legal, education and government departments all predate devolution and were not created by devolution which as a system relies on a retaining a strong unitary central government. Where these separate systems didn't exist as in Wales they were not created.

The basic problem is that the Calman Commission is trying to create a new federal system of tax and finance on top of a system of weak provincial government. It's no wonder that they basically have thrown their hands in the air and said it's all a political problem.

Not logged in on "Fiscal federalism"

Not logged in — Mon, 24 Nov 2008 19:23:33 +0000

I'm sure Cardiff gets more than Wrexham and Edinborough more than Inverness. Why treat Wales and Scotland as a whole?
There are no regions in England and it is very importamt to treat England as a whole.

Wyrdtimes on "Fiscal federalism"

Wyrdtimes — Mon, 24 Nov 2008 16:01:27 +0000

English regions? I didn't vote for them. Hmmm funny that - neither did anyone else.

Some democracy.

Anthony Barnett on "Politics in 21st Century Wales"

Anthony Barnett — Tue, 18 Nov 2008 02:12:33 +0000

And I wrote the introduction, sob!

Stonemason on "One Wales coalition in jeopardy"

Stonemason — Sat, 15 Nov 2008 15:42:34 +0000

The coalition is still stable .......

In your dreams; Adam Price, Plaid MP, is spitting feathers, as are his acolytes, his separatist band of brothers roaming the northern valleys are incensed, they are calling for a change of leadership that at the moment is a low pitched growl akin to the African jackals hunting on the savana.

The realisation that the Plaid philosophy almost gained a foothold through back door activity onto the statute books, not once but twice, has been recognised by Westminster. Fortunately little damage has been caused to date.

It is not MPs that have anti devolutionist tendencies, it is the majority of the Welsh electorate, Plaid drags its limited support from a disillusioned youth culture that left the education system ill equipped for the modern world, and an older population embittered by imagined wrongs inflicted hundreds of years ago.

We need strong leadership in Wales, when it is forthcoming the present storm in a teacup will become an insignificant part of history.

ian ap harri on "One Wales coalition in jeopardy"

ian ap harri — Thu, 13 Nov 2008 23:03:05 +0000

The coalition is still stable, but the Welsh Labour MPs are testing the water to see how much Plaid will put up with. However, perhaps their time would be better spent clarifying how much their AMs will put up with.
These MPs are trying to create a coalition split, but may well end up widening an existing split in their own party.

Hendre on "One Wales coalition in jeopardy"

Hendre — Thu, 13 Nov 2008 12:44:13 +0000

If only Gordon had created the fabled Department of the Celtic Realms as was much mooted last month …. perhaps we should ask Jim Murphy how he would have dealt with the matter had he been appointed Secretary of State for Celts.

Ian ap harri on "Mobilising the young: The lesson for Wales"

Ian ap harri — Sat, 08 Nov 2008 17:37:44 +0000

Mobilising the youth vote is the lesson for everyone, not just the Parliament 'yes' campaign. On its own, it has no chance I'm afraid.

Toque on "Call for evidence on Welsh finance"

Toque — Thu, 09 Oct 2008 13:12:34 +0000

Over the last few weeks Hansard has a couple of Welsh MPs pointing out that the Big Lottery Fund (which apparently opperates a semi-official needs-based formula) gives Wales 6.5% of the national pot.

This compares favourably to the 5.38% that they get in 07/08 under the Barnett Formula, and their 4.9% of the UK population.

Not logged in on "Welsh democracy without ITV "

Not logged in — Wed, 01 Oct 2008 19:33:54 +0000

It's your fault you idiot. Join Plaid Cymru and fight for Welsh freedom.