Small Drama at Holyrood; Not Many Bothered

Wednesday, 3rd February 2010

A reader asks for a comment on the Scottish Budget "debate" at Holyrood. Well, I'm ~~always~~ sometimes happy to oblige:

It passed.

OK: the Tories and the Greens supported the SNP in return for promises to publish details of government expenditure online and set up an independent budgetary review commission (Tory demands) and bung more money to people wanting to insulate thier lofts (the Greens' sweetie).

But this was a phoney budget and not just because so much depends upon what happens to the block grant handed down from Westminster. Longer-term questions weren't even addressed, let alone answered. And, ultimately, a budget that dispenses spending but doesn't raise money isn't a real budget.

Which is one reason why Holyrood needs fiscal autonomy. (Or, if you prefer, as most do not, independence.)

Filed under: Holyrood (31 more articles) , Scotland (499 more articles) , SNP (218 more articles)

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Jason West

February 4th, 2010 1:38am Report this comment

Yes Alex, so long as it's FULL fiscal autonomy and not some half baked scheme like the Calman Commission.

And I wouldn't be so sure to say that most don't support independence. Since when did you have a crystal ball that would predict the outcome of any vote? If you do, please be sure to let Dave and the Tories know.

Stella Stroud

February 4th, 2010 7:07am Report this comment

Why is it that it is only the Scots who get to vote on this? A vote in England would be interesting. Lower taxes in England and no more Scottish MPs at Westminster? Lovely. Personally, I can't wait to vote yes.

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