FESTIVE GREETINGS
We wish all our readers a
Happy New Year, with the hope that a new year will see progress towards
peace throughout the World.
PAX BRITANNICA
It is appropriate to start
with an extract from "The Wisdom of Oliver Brown"
"One writer in "Peace News"
has pointed out that the Union of 1707 put an end to centuries of war
between England and Scotland and used this fact in his plea for a
politically united Europe. It is true that the raids which ruined Scotland
for centuries ceased- apart from Cumberland’s repression of the Highlands.
"We
then enjoyed the Pax Britannica which meant that we fought the French, the
Spaniards, the Dutch, the Germans, the Japanese, the Chinese, the
Americans, the Russians, the Africans, the Maoris, the Indians, the
Italians, the Austrians - and here I must stop because the SI is not an
eight-page paper." (The SI was then, in January 1971, a four page weekly.)
As the British Government
is presently dedicated to reducing the size of its armed forces, it would
seem that perhaps it has at last accepted that it no longer has a Empire,
and will no longer be capable of waging any kind of war on its own;
whether it is then able to carry out its current commitments is still a
matter for discussion. Where it stands in relation to Scotland is explored
in the following article by James Halliday, first published in the Scots
Independent in January 2002.
PAX CALEDONIA
by James Halliday
An independent Scotland
could never dream of equipping itself with nuclear weapons. That fact must
be obvious, because any attempt to do so would be financial idiocy. If the
English would only reach the same conclusion, they would be sparing
themselves, and us, trapped as we are in their State, great and prolonged
and needless disadvantages. So, even before coming to any questions of
principle, we are clearly free from such temptations. Our problem is that
we are in the presence of nuclear weapons whether we like it or not and we
have to pick our way carefully among all the problems which therefore
arise.
A new book offers excellent
assistance, with information and analysis, towards reaching sensible
judgments about nuclear bases in Scotland and the prospects of their
closure. The authors are very much aware of Scottish interests and
attitudes, but most useful for Scots readers is their explanation of how
Scottish behaviour might affect England/Britain. They conclude that no
suitable English base could be found to accommodate Trident, and that a
Scottish Trident could mean a British decision to abandon their nuclear
strategy.
This must come as a very
exciting and encouraging thought to all who yearn for such a decision, but
let’s not get carried away just yet. There are other possibilities and
other problems awaiting us on the road to independence.
One simple fact, still not
widely understood in spite of the best endeavours of many writers, is that
Scotland was brought into the Union with England precisely because English
politicians saw that Scotland might pose a threat to England’s security.
They would not permit that threat to develop and so Scotland was
intimidated and blackmailed into surrender. Do you imagine that things are
all that different to-day? Professors Chalmers and Walker give scholarly
consideration to how England could come to terms with a Scottish demand
for Trident’s removal, but they are taking a wrong turning.
In the first place, every
political trick in the book would be used to ensure that Scottish voters
and their elected representatives would never make any such demand.
Imagine the money, the advertisements, the Press, the Media, the Labour
Party — by the time they were finished with us we’d have become persuaded
that removing Trident was the moral equivalent of slaughtering our own
children. Think of the last Election campaign and multiply it, and then
imagine your chances.
And if, by some remarkable
feat of enduring courage, Scottish defiance was maintained, they could,
and would, fall back on plan B. They don’t have General Wade’s army any
more, but they have its equivalent. A, military occupation, again
"explained" by massive propaganda and supported by many Scots justified by
alarmist notions of the threat to British security and defended by
official Tory and Labour spokespersons, would be imposed.
In other words, if we by
our actions appear to be presenting a threat to England’s security, we
will not be allowed to proceed to independence at all. If you bridle in
angry pride at the thought of being defeated in this way, just ask how
you’d propose to get out of the trap. There is no comparison between
Scotland and any previously liberated part of Empire, because we are
cursed by our geographic position. "What about Ireland"? might once have
been asked. Perhaps during the Second World War there were some thoughts
that Irish bases might be repossessed to deal with U-boats, but such
thoughts didn’t get far because the Irish were sheltered by the American
eagle’s wing — a still relevant fact of life. We have no such friends, and
all too many of our most voluble countrymen have worked hard to invite
American enmity.
The calm and gentlemanly
statesmen who are imagined by Chalmers and Walker negotiating Trident’s
departure, lamenting the while that their strategy is thereby laid in
ruins, will never emerge in reality. There is not the slightest chance and
not the slightest thought in any decision-maker’s mind, that Britain will
change its nuclear policies.
If we want to be
independent we must face these strategic realities. If you want
independence, do not tie your ambition to the humiliation of England. Give
them always a way out, a face-saving option. "Let them up easy", as Abe
Lincoln remarked in other circumstances.
Chalmers and Walker are
greatly to be applauded for their work and we must all benefit from it,
but we have a particular objective and a particularly difficult problem to
negotiate on our way to that objective.
Unchanged Waters: The UK,
Nuclear Weapons and the Scottish Question — Malcolm Chalmers and William
Walker. Tuckwell Press, 2001: 196pp £14.99.
The co-relation between
this article and the Policy Postcard was not planned; it is just yet again
a simple case of serendipity, a word difficult to spell, never mind
iterate on Hogmanay.
POLICY POSTCARDS
We continue our publication
of the SNP Policy Postcards; we will publish a new one every week, each
one dealing with a different aspect of SNP policy. The full list can be
seen on the SNP website under "Vision" and "Policy".
Defence
Scotland, as part of the
Union, receives a poor deal on defence. In return for storing all the UK’s
nuclear weapons Scotland has been rewarded with less than her fair share
of defence expenditure, privatisation and job losses. In the past decade
the defence debate has centred around these issues but an increasingly
unstable international situation requires a closer scrutiny of our ability
to defend Scotland against unconventional attack.
The SNP believes that our defence
needs would best be met without nuclear weapons, within the framework of
the EU and in conjunction with an international policy which addresses the
causes of conflict, as well as the symptoms. In order to put in place a
sensible defence strategy Scotland must have the full powers of
Independence.
Labour has cut forces
personnel to 15,000. The SNP would raise this to 20,000 – 5000 new
jobs for Scotland. At Independence all MoD civilians in Scotland are
guaranteed work in the Scottish MoD or civil service. All bases
currently in use will remain in use.
Labour has wasted
billions on useless nuclear weapons and PPP. The SNP would ensure that
our armed forces have the best equipment for the job and would invest
properly in research and development.
We did not receive the
under-noted in time for St Andrew’s Day, but Hogmanay will do just as
well!
An ode to Malt Whisky for St Andrews Day 2003
To the tune of ‘Bobby Bingo’, with a chorus for all to join in.
There were some men who made some
Malt
The best of it was ‘Single’
But one of them ran short of stock
And brought some more to mingle
Chorus
D - I - AGEO
D - I - AGEO
D - I - AGEO
He bought some more to mingle
The best he had was called Cardhu
The Spaniards loved its tingle
He planned to dupe them with a change
of name, and brand new jingle
D - I - AGEO
D - I - AGEO
D - I - AGEO
A change of name and jingle
He tried to say the name was PURE
As Speyside sand and shingle
But all he really wanted was
|To make his coffers jingle
D - I - AGEO
D - I - AGEO
D - I - AGEO
To make his coffers jingle
The other men who loved their Malt
Were not prepared to wrangle
They got a rope and made a noose
And came to watch him dangle
D - I - AGEO
D - I - AGEO
D - I - AGEO
They came to watch him dangle
Copyright: David D Wood, Old
Lathrisk, Freuchie, Cupar, Fife. KY15 7HX. Tel 01337 857339
AMERICAN PRESIDENTIAL
NOMINATION
We have received this
email, and we assume that it is a reaction to some of the critical
comments on the American President George W Bush which have appeared in
the Flag; General Wes Clark, is seeking the Democratic nomination.
My Fellow Americans,
My name is Wes Clark. I'm running for President because I love this
country and want to see us fulfill our great promise as a nation. I'm
running to restore leadership to the White House, to revitalize our
economy, and to reclaim our role as a respected leader of the free world.
In the past three years, I've watched in dismay as everything we fought
for has unraveled before our eyes - 3 million lost private sector jobs,
rising health care costs, failing schools, and a loss of security at home
and around the world. These difficult times call for bold and visionary
leadership, but instead, we've been given short-sighted policies that have
alienated our allies, and tax cuts that only benefit the richest
Americans, those earning more than $200,000 a year.
As a military officer, a West Point economics professor, and a
businessperson, I always stood up for my troops, students, employees, and
their families. I fought to make sure they had access to top notch health
care; that their children had first-class schools; and that they had safe
and affordable housing. And I always stood up for our American values -
democracy, equality, and shared sacrifice.
That is exactly the kind of leadership I will bring to the White House.
But I can't get there alone. I ask you to .
Please to learn about my career, my vision for America, and my detailed
plans to address the challenges our nation faces. Read more about my
Success Strategy to get us out of the mess in Iraq. And take a look at my
Turnaround Plan for America to get our economy, health care system,
environment, and schools back on track here at home.
If you can contribute, please do so today. If you can volunteer, please
get involved today. But above all, please recognize the importance of the
coming weeks and months. Your participation in the democratic process
counts! Together we can turn America around.
Your country needs you.
Sincerely,
Wes Clark
About Wes Clark
Wes Clark is a retired four-star General who served his country with
distinction for 34 years in the U.S. Army, culminating with his role as
Supreme Allied Commander of NATO. He led the operation in Kosovo that
saved 1.5 million Albanians from ethnic cleansing - without losing a
single American life. He has the courage to make the tough calls that will
get our economy back on track and help Americans feel safe again - both at
home and abroad. about the man who can help restore the promise of
America.
FOOT IN THE MOUTH
NOTES
The Home Office (England)
has speculated that when immigrants wish to become British citizens and
take the oath in Scotland, Scottish councils should be allowed to
substitute the Saltire and Flower of Scotland, for the Union Jack and God
Save the Queen.
Could the new proposals
be introduced by the Scottish Executive doing this first?
American billionnaire,
Philip Anschutz, has been charged with fraud in an action by the
California State Teachers Retirement System; his company Qwest is facing
similar actions in a number of US states. Mr Anschutz was considered a
saviour by Labour when he agreed to develop the Millennium Dome site.
We could think of a few
British politicians who should have been charged with fraud over the
Millennium Dome.
Somewhat dubious
figures allege that Scotland is being subsidised by England to the tune of
£8 billion per year; some sections of the Scottish press crowed that this
made Scotland hopelessly uneconomic.
Next year, the
Chancellor of Greater England has to borrow £37 billion to balance the
books; the same Scottish press call this "running a deficit."
WHAT’S BEING DONE
AND SAID?
A selection of some of the
issues raised by our Parliamentarians; as we do not anticipate a lot of
Press releases over the Festive Period, the Daft Days, as Peter Wright
calls them, here is a selection for the period in the run-up to Christmas,
and a wee bit beyond.
MASSIVE UNDERINVESTMENT IN SCOTS
CRUISE LINERS
Mon 29 Dec 03
SCOTLAND
BEING LEFT BEHIND IN TOURISM STAKES - MACASKILL
Shadow Transport Minister Mr Kenny MacAskill MSP has today (Monday)
launched a paper showing that Scotland's cruise liner industry is being
left behind its Scandinavian competitors because of a lack of investment
in Scottish tourism. Mr MacAskill said:
"Norway is sailing away
ahead and leaving Scotland in its wake when it comes to cruise liner
visits and passenger numbers. Norway is a beautiful country but so is
Scotland.
"There is no logical reason
for Scotland being so far behind Norway. The routes taken by the ships
mean that landing in Scotland is as easy and sensible as landing in
Norway. It simply comes down to investment. They have funded the sector
and reaped the returns. We have failed to fund it and our return is
accordingly poor.
However the investment by
the Norwegians in the sector has seen them gain far more passengers and
cruise liner visits than Scotland. The sector offers considerable
opportunities for Scotland in terms of visitor numbers and cash spend.
"For every pound spent on
marketing Scotland as a tourist destination, we would get 12 pounds back,
so it makes sense to invest.
"More investment could see
substantial gains in visitor numbers and ship landings. Not only do they
bring passenger spend but they offer a taster to encourage passengers to
return for a longer stay at another date.
"Scotland must press full
steam ahead in this sector to reap the rewards, the potential is there it
just requires a will from Government and agencies. The Norwegians have
shown the route to follow and we must give it a fair wind."
SNP PILE PRESSURE ON
LABOUR MPs AND TORY OVER TOP-UP FEES
Fri 19 Dec 03
"BIG POLITICAL ISSUE IN NEW
YEAR"
The Scottish National
Party's Westminster Education Spokesperson Ms Annabelle Ewing MP announced
today [Friday] that she has tabled a Motion in the House of Commons on
top-up fees, following the publication of the Scottish Parliament
Enterprise Committee's report on the "adverse" impact in Scotland of
variable tuition fees being introduced in England.
Ms Ewing's Early Day Motion
reads:
EDM 335
IMPACT IN SCOTLAND OF THE
INTRODUCTION OF VARIABLE TOP UP FEES IN ENGLAND
18.12.03;
Annabelle Ewing
That this House notes with concern the report of the cross-party
Enterprise and Culture Committee of the Scottish Parliament, published on
18th December, which concludes that variable top-up tuition fees at
English universities will have an adverse impact in Scotland, since
Scottish higher education will be put at a funding disadvantage; and
believes that under the current constitutional arrangements the Scottish
interest requires all honourable Members representing constituencies in
Scotland to oppose the introduction of top-up fees when the issue comes to
the vote in the House.
Ms Ewing commented:
"This will be the big
political issue for Scottish MPs in the New Year, and Labour and the solo
Tory have nowhere left to hide.
"The Enterprise Committee
of the Scottish Parliament has made is abundantly clear that top-up fees
in England will be bad for Scotland. The SNP's solution is clear - full
financial powers for the Scottish Parliament would give Scotland the
freedom to invest properly in our higher education, and then English MPs
could decide on the future of English higher education themselves.
"But under the current
arrangements, the Scottish interest requires every single Scottish MP to
vote against top-up fees when the issue comes to the vote early in 2004.
"If Scotland's Labour MPs
act as Tony Blair's 'tartan lobby fodder' and force top-up fees through,
they will be exposing themselves to public ridicule and attack - as will
the solo Scots Tory, Peter Duncan, if he sits on his hands when Scottish
interests are on the line.
"As always, the SNP will be
voting in the Scottish interest by opposing top-up fees - and we challenge
Labour and Tory to do the same."
SWINNEY CONGRATULATES MICHELLE ON
POP IDOL WIN
Sat 20 Dec 03
Shadow
First Minister Mr John Swinney MSP has tonight (Saturday) sent his
congratulations to Michelle McManus after she was crowned the winner of
Pop Idol. Commenting, Mr Swinney said:
"Congratulations to
Michelle for her amazing win on Pop Idol tonight, she has done herself and
Scotland proud.
"Her performances have been
excellent throughout the series and I hope that this is the start of a
very successful musical career."
CAT AND DOG FUR TRADE
BAN CLEARS FIRST HURDLE
Wed 18 Dec 03
Ian
Hudghton, SNP Member of the European Parliament is welcoming news that a
majority of MEPs have backed calls for an EU-wide ban on trade in cat and
dog fur, after a required 314 MEPs put their names to a written
declaration calling for a ban.
Fraserburgh-based Sandra
Edwards, of animal rights group Voice 4 Dogs, had asked Mr Hudghton in
October to deliver a 14,000 signature petition to Internal Market
Commissioner Frits Bolkestein. The petition was supported by animal lovers
from across the UK and beyond and was an immense show of public revulsion
against this trade.
Speaking from the European
Parliament, a delighted Mr Hudghton said:
"Surprising as it may seem,
it’s not easy to get 314 MEPs with their diverse interests and political
priorities to sign a written declaration. I’m informed by Parliamentary
staff that, since 1999 only five such declarations have made it past the
50% mark. Sandra and her fellow campaigners cannot be congratulated enough
for their determination to get this ghastly trade stopped and I’m
delighted that MEPs have shown that they are behind the campaign."
Mrs Edwards commented:
"I’m over the moon that
MEP’s have listened to the concerns of their constituents and have added
their voices to the many calling for this trade to be stopped. It’s been
hard work but worth it. This news is an early Christmas present for cat
and dog lovers everywhere. I hope that the EU Commission will follow the
lead given by MEP’s and their constituents and instigate action to get
this trade stopped immediately."
ENDS- Contact: Ian Hudghton,
Tel: 07885-254385
Sandra Edwards, Tel:
01346-583337
NOTES: Text of the Written
Declaration follows:
The European Parliament,
- having regard to Rule 51
of the Rules of Procedure,
- whereas there is strong
evidence that over two million cats and dogs are killed each year in Asia
solely for their fur and skins and much of this is being directed to EU
countries,
- whereas intentional
fraudulent labelling or dyeing of these items leaves consumers and
legitimate retailers the victims of massive consumer fraud,
- whereas forensic evidence
indicates that these items have been found on sale in France, Italy,
Germany, Spain, Austria, The Netherlands, Belgium and Denmark,
- whereas nine EU Ministers
of Agriculture have called for an EU-wide ban,
- whereas EU authorities
have stated that a balanced ban would not trigger a WTO problem,
- whereas porous borders
make it impossible for individual countries to stem this consumer fraud,
- whereas waiting for the
Commission to harmonise EU individual country laws sometime in the distant
future will leave EU citizens continuing victims of this fraud,
1. Requests the European
Commission immediately to draft a regulation under internal market powers
to ban the import, export, sales and production of cat and dog furs and
skins to restore European Union consumer and retailer confidence and end
this trade.
CUNNINGHAM TARGETS
HOUSING SHORTAGE
Sun 28 Dec 03
REVIEW
TO TACKLE AFFORDABLE HOUSING CRISIS
Shadow Environment Minister Ms
Roseanna Cunningham MSP today (Saturday) announced a wide-ranging policy
review aimed at tackling the shortage of affordable housing.
Ms Cunningham highlighted
the increasing number of people now homeless, rising house values pricing
public service and low paid workers out of the market and a lack of both
public and private investment in affordable housing.
The review will include
detailed examination of all aspects of both the urban and rural housing
markets including mortgage provision, planning, second homes, the role of
Communities Scotland, infrastructure constraints and land supply.
It comes in the wake of
warnings from the Scottish Federation of Housing Associations of a looming
crisis in affordable housing. Announcing the review, Ms Cunningham said:
"In every part of Scotland,
housing has become one of the key issues facing our communities. In rural
Scotland, second homes are pricing the young out of the market and adding
to the depopulation that is draining the lifeblood from too many
communities.
"In our cities, problems we
thought only affected London are now to be seen in Scottish cities. The
starting salaries for teachers, nurses and police recruits are often less
than 20,000 pounds per year, well below the level needed to buy even a
modest flat.
"In the rented sector, lack
of both private and public investment has led to almost quarter of a
million Scots being on the waiting lists for a council house, while
private rents have gone through the roof.
"The result of all this is
3,000 children living in temporary accommodation and a record 50,000
homeless applications made to councils. That is a record of shame.
"I want this review to be a
radical re-examination of all aspects of the housing market in every part
of Scotland. We will seek the views of all the stakeholders, from mortgage
providers, to builders, housing organisations and environmental groups,
but most importantly we give a voice to the needs of the ordinary home
owner and tenant.
"It's time to look at the
levels of investment, review the planning laws, examine the impact of
second homes and decide how we want to house ourselves and our children in
the future. A roof over our head is the most basic of human needs. We
cannot go on ignoring the looming crisis in affordable housing.
SNP OPPOSE UNLIMITED FUNDING COMMITMENT FOR LONDON
OLYMPICS
Tue 30 Dec 03
"WISHART'S
PARLIAMENTARY QUESTIONS TO FORCE CHANGE"
The Scottish National
Party's Westminster Sports Spokesperson Mr Pete Wishart MP announced
that he has tabled Parliamentary Questions to the Department of Culture,
Media & Sport (DCMS) at Westminster, aimed at preventing the UK
Government from providing an unlimited funding guarantee for the
proposed 2012 London Olympic Games.
On 2nd December, the DCMS
Minister, Tessa Jowell, tabled a Departmental Minute reporting
"contingent liabilities" in the event of London winning the bid for the
2012 Olympics. If the cost of the Olympics exceeded the planned 2.375
billion pounds BY ANY AMOUNT, the UK taxpayer would become liable for
the entire overspend, under the terms of this Minute.
The DCMS Departmental
Minute would automatically have become operational 14 working days after
being tabled - unless an MP registered their opposition by tabling
Parliamentary Questions objecting to it, as Mr Wishart has now done. The
matter will now become the subject of parliamentary debate at
Westminster.
Mr Wishart pointed out
that similar funding guarantees for the 2000 Sydney Olympics were made
by the Government of New South Wales - NOT the Australian Government.
Commenting on the issue,
Mr Wishart said:
"I have no problem with
London hosting the Olympic Games in 2012, indeed I would support it.
"But I am strongly
opposed to the UK taxpayer underwriting the entire cost, regardless of
what that that cost may finally be - and particularly when there is a
very real danger of the London bid soaking up Lottery Funding from
Scotland and elsewhere in the UK.
"We already have the
example of the billion pound Millennium Dome - where Scotland, Wales,
Northern Ireland and the regions of England were expected to pay the
price.
"However, when the old
Scottish Office decided on the ridiculous Holyrood Project, Scotland is
expected to pick up the tab - despite the fact that the decisions were
taken under the authority of the Cabinet in London.
"There is already a risk
of Scotland losing over 40 million pounds of lottery funding, which
could be transferred to support the London Olympic bid.
"And any UK-wide
underwriting of the Games would simply divert yet more resources from
Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland and the English regions to London.
"Nor are these state-wide
guarantees the norm. For example, when Sydney landed the 2000 Olympics,
it was the Government of New South Wales which underwrote the Games -
NOT the Australian Government.
"The Olympic Charter
makes it clear that the necessary financial guarantees, 'may be given by
the city itself, local, regional or national public collectivities, the
State or other third parties.'
"There is nothing that
requires this unlimited commitment to be made by the UK Government on
behalf of the UK taxpayer. The principle is very simple - if London
wants the Olympics, London should take financial responsibility,
particularly now that it has its own City Government.
"Now that I have formally
tabled my objections to this proposal at Westminster, I expect the
matter to be flushed into the open and properly debated.
"There is an attitude of
UK governments that the nations - and indeed English regions - are
obliged to pick up the tab for London projects.
"That is why the UK
remains over-centralised, and London remains dominant.
"It is an attitude that
must change - and where better to start than with the London Olympic
bid."
Note: Mr Wishart's
Parliamentary Questions are as follows:
* Pete Wishart (North
Tayside): To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, if
she will withdraw the Departmental Minute dated 2nd December, reporting
contingent liabilities in the event of London winning the bid for the
2012 Olympic Games.
* Pete Wishart (North
Tayside):To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, if
she will withdraw the policy of an unlimited funding commitment by the
taxpayer to hosting the Olympic Games in the event that the cost exceeds
2.375 billion pounds.
LABOUR'S FIDDLED
FIGURES PROVE VIABILITY OF INDEPENDENT SCOTLAND
Mon 29 Dec 03
"GERS
REPORT SHOWS SCOTLAND MEETS EURO CURRENCY RULES - AS UK DEBT SOARS
THROUGH CEILING"
The Scottish National
Party stepped up the debate during the holiday period on the economics
of Scottish Independence, by focussing attention on the detail of the
Scottish Executive document published earlier this month on "Government
Expenditure & Revenue in Scotland 2001/02" [GERS].
SNP Westminster Trade &
Industry Spokesperson Mr Mike Weir pointed to the small print of the
GERS document, which shows that if North Sea oil and gas figures are
factored into Scotland's accounts, Scottish borrowing stood at 2.9
billion pounds - or 2.8 per cent of Scottish GDP (gross domestic
product).
Thus, even on the hotly
disputed GERS figures, Scotland is within the Maastricht rules for
membership the European currency, which stipulate borrowing of no more
than 3 per cent of GDP.
By contrast, in Gordon
Brown's Pre-Budget Report, published on the same day as GERS (10
December), the Chancellor forecast a UK deficit of 37 billion pounds
this year, equivalent to 3.4 per cent of GDP, i.e. in breach of euro
rules.
Mr Weir commented:
"There are all sorts of flaws in the GERS figures
which do down Scotland's real financial position. For example, the
Scottish share of UK income tax is based on a defective sample, and the
report's authors admit that the figure they use is out of date.
"And for defence and
other expenditure that is not identified by area, GERS gives Scotland a
population share - when it has been proved beyond doubt that this
spending is massively concentrated in London and the South East of
England.
"But by far the most
newsworthy part of GERS is in the small print. The report clearly shows
that even on these fiddled figures, Scotland easily satisfies the rules
for membership of the European single currency - with borrowing of less
than 3 per cent of GDP on the latest figures available.
"In other words, not even
this politically-driven exercise by the Labour and Lib Dem government in
Scotland can disguise the strength and viability of an independent
Scotland.
"By contrast, Gordon
Brown's new figures for the UK show Britain's deficit going through the
roof - soaring to 37 billion pounds, and standing at 3.4 per cent of GDP
this year, i.e. in breach of the euro rules.
"Labour and the other
London-based parties keep peddling their bogus claim that Scotland is
subsidised, when the reality is Scottish oil and other revenues have
been bankrolling the UK exchequer for years.
"When even the Scottish
Executive's own figures start proving the SNP's case, it is time for
them to change the record. They need to catch up with the SNP's agenda
for growing the Scottish economy, by growing the economic and financial
powers of the Scots Parliament."
SALMOND ATTACKS TORY
LEADER OVER FISHING CRISIS
Sat 27 Dec 03
"SAYS
ONE THING IN SCOTLAND - AND NOTHING AT WESTMINSTER"
The Westminster leader of
the Scottish National Party Mr Alex Salmond MP has launched a strong
attack on the Tory Party leader Michael Howard for "pretending to be the
fishermen's friend in Scotland", and saying and doing nothing about the
fishing crisis at Westminster.
Mr Salmond said:
"Michael Howard visited
Scotland for one day earlier this month and claimed support for the
fishing industry.
"But his record shows
that he has TOTALLY IGNORED the issue in his capacity as Tory leader at
Westminster.
"Michael Howard pretends
to be the fishermen's friend in Scotland - but does absolutely NOTHING
for the fishing industry in the House of Commons.
"In all, Michael Howard
has had the opportunity to ask Tony Blair 30 questions during Prime
Minister's Question Time sessions.
"And during the Prime
Minister's statement in the Commons after the European Council in Rome
[15 December], Mr Howard was able to raise a whole series of issues
relating to Europe that the Tories regard as priorities.
"But he has not asked a
SINGLE question about fishing, and did not mention it once during the
Rome Summit Statement.
"Only the SNP raised the plight of the Scottish
fishing industry on that occasion - just as we have continually pressed
the Prime Minister and Foreign Secretary on the subject at every
parliamentary opportunity.
"Michael Howard has
apologised for introducing the Poll Tax, and he should also now
apologise for his party's appalling record on the fishing industry.
"It was the Tories who
first took us into the disastrous Common Fisheries Policy, and described
Scottish fishermen as 'expendable'. The Thatcher government signed up to
the existing CFP, and the Major government sold out on Spanish access to
Scottish fishing waters.
"The reality is that both
the Tory and Labour parties have jointly sold the Scottish fishing
industry down the river. In government, they have each been every bit as
bad as the other.
"Instead of UK party
leaders who say one thing in Scotland, and do nothing at Westminster,
Scotland needs an independent government of our own to fight for the
fishing industry.
"And a real Scottish
priority is getting out of the CFP, which is destroying the fishing
industry, and restoring national control over fisheries policy."
