Scotland referendum: Cameron’s gamble over the Union could play into Alex Salmond’s hands

January 10th, 2012

FAKE NEWS for the Zionist agenda

By
Daily Mail Comment

Last updated at 1:37 AM on 10th January 2012

Like David Cameron, the Mail has huge affection for the Union with Scotland, surely the most successful and mutually enriching partnership between nations in human history.

Indeed, it would be a tragedy if the kingdom were to break up, after three centuries of joint enterprise in every field from science and industry to the empire and the arts.

Like the Prime Minister, too, we believe it is desirable that any doubts about the future relationship between Edinburgh and Westminster should be cleared up quickly, so that businesses and investors can plan ahead.

Slippery: Alex Salmond, left, is an accomplished politician who could benefit from the gamble by David Cameron, right, to hold a referendum sooner than later

Prime Minister David Cameron

Slippery: Alex Salmond, left, is an accomplished politician who could benefit from the gamble by David Cameron, right, to hold a referendum sooner than later

But still this paper has deep reservations about Mr Cameron’s threat to impose conditions on the format and timing of an independence referendum, which is being presented as an attempt to maximise the vote for keeping the Union.

Mightn’t this gamesmanship have the opposite effect – raising hackles among chippier Scots over high-handed English interference, so playing into the hands of First Minister Alex Salmond (himself one of the most slippery and accomplished gamesmen on the political scene)?

With Scottish opinion inching the nationalists’ way, Mr Cameron may possibly be right to calculate that the sooner a vote takes place, the more likely it will be to favour the Union.

But the constitution is far too weighty a matter for gimmicky gambles. And how else are we to see the Prime Minister’s reported threat that the referendum will be legally binding only if it is held within the next 18 months?

Isn’t it the truth that no matter when the vote takes place, the Coalition will be unable to ignore the result?

As for the format, Mr Salmond is said to want to offer Scots the option of backing ‘devolution max’ – grabbing even more power to spend English money, while refusing to obey the rules of the UK club.

If most opt for this, voters south of the border must be given the right to overrule them. But if the question is a straight Yes or No to independence, the rest of us must surely respect Scottish wishes.

This paper’s earnest hope is that when Scots come to vote, they will look back on 300 glorious years of partnership and opt for more of the same.

Or if the distant past fails to convince them, they may care to cast their minds back to 2008, when Westminster’s multi-billion bailout of RBS and HBoS saved Scotland’s economy from being blasted back into the Stone Age.

Either way, the Mail trusts that whenever the moment comes, the Scottish people will be canny enough to give Mr Salmond a resounding No.

Sicknotes in the sun

Of the 10,000 Britons living abroad on incapacity benefit, at a cost of nearly £1million a week, some will be genuinely too sick to work ever again.

But isn’t it certain that a great many others are simply cheating the taxpayers, knowing the authorities won’t catch them and pronounce them fit for work?

Sunny life: Ten thousands Britons live abroad on incapacity benefit, at a cost of nearly £1million a week to the taxpayer

Like the annual £13.4million that expat pensioners receive in winter fuel allowances – even those basking in hot countries – this is one more example of a benefits system wildly out of control.

Or to take another, how about the 190 workless families with ten or more children, living on handouts of more than £60,000 a year?

Founded as a safety net for the truly unfortunate, the welfare state has become a bonanza for the feckless.

Successive governments have pledged to do something about this. But taxpayers are still left asking: where are the polticians who will restore it to its original purpose, and leave us free to enjoy the fruits of our own hard work?

Here’s what other readers have said. Why not add your thoughts,
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More unsubstantiated claims from the Mail. You constantly target the sick and disabled without ANY PROOF WHATSOEVER that they are not entitled to their benefits.
If an individual was doing this to a disabled person it would be disability hate crime.
You should be throughly ashamed of yourselves

– Alphonso, Gloucs, 10/1/2012 05:34

Alex Salmod promised the Scottish people a referemdum in the second half of his term in Hollyrood. At least he is keeping his word, Cameron is not stupid, when the cuts start to really bite he is in trouble. It makes me laugh when all the old Scottish tories who sit in the lords, start mouthing telling us what is good for Scotland, we know what is goodfor Scotland as we got rid of them.

– Alex Soutar, Brighton, 10/1/2012 05:22

Yet more clueless, patronising rubbish sloppy journalism from this terrible sensationalist rag. IF (and it’s a big if – subjected to a more detailed, educated and thoughtful debate than above) Scotland does go independent, let’s hope the first thing Holyrood does is kick The Mail out of the country to beyond oblivion.

– yoursinsultedyetagain, scotland, 10/1/2012 02:14

Slippery? Don’t see that myself. From here he looks like a competent politician who puts Scotland first.

Unfortunately there’s not a man or woman in Westminster who talks about England in in the way Salmond talks about Scotland. In fact it’sbhard to find a UK politician that can even bring themselves to say the word England.

Which brings me to my main concern – England. When are the English going to have a say on anything? Another survey out yesterday (British Future) that shows 52% of English people want the English parliament back (the wording was geared against an EP but still 52%).

Still the English get the least funding and the worst most extensive services. Still the English have zero official recognition. Still England the birthplace of parliamentary democracy has no parliament.

What’s in this “Union” for the English?

– Alfred Wyrd, England, 10/1/2012 02:02

“This paper’s earnest hope is that when Scots come to vote, they will look back on 300 glorious years of partnership and opt for more of the same”……………………………… aftersaying this — “‘devolution max’ – grabbing even more power to spend English money, while refusing to obey the rules of the UK club”……………… English money you say? Go on, hold up another red rag why don’t you?

– Axis, UK, 10/1/2012 01:52

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