Blog | (Still) Yes Highlandhttps://yeshighland.net/blog/2024-03-28T19:53:19+00:00The blog is our main discussion forum with with an eclectic selection of authors and thought-provoking articles. Grab a cuppa and join the debate, your contribution is always welcome.OmniBrexitShambles2018-03-02T14:22:22+00:002024-03-27T05:11:37+00:00Editorhttps://yeshighland.net/blog/author/Editor/https://yeshighland.net/blog/2018/03/omnibrexitshambles/<p>So, you think the Brexit situation is complex. Nope! It is actually very simple. In fact, Bill Clinton had the answer way back in 1992: "<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/It's_the_economy,_stupid" target="_blank"><em>It's the economy, stupid</em></a>". The central issue with the Brexit negotiations is the Single Market and the UK's continuing access to it after withdrawal from EU membership. That's it, in a nutshell. It is the UK's single largest market and without it the UK economy will get worse, a lot worse.</p>
<p>Theresa May can huff and puff (and more likely dilly-dally) as much as she likes but in the end she will have to agree to any demands from the EU negotiators because they hold this trump card called the Single Market. Even the daft Brexiteers like Boris Johnson and Jacob Rees-Mogg realise this simple fact but, like the Prime Minister, they dare not mention it. It is still possible that the UK drops out of the EU without a deal, and therefore without a transition deal, for reasons to do with Conservative party divisions and the propping-up of the government by the DUP. The <em>no-deal</em> scenario would be a disaster for the UK not only because of the shock of leaving the Single Market but also because it would open us up to accepting trade deals with other blocs at any cost. That sound you hear is Trump rubbing his hands together.</p>
<p><img alt="" class="img-responsive" src="https://yeshighland.net/static/media/uploads/blog/2017/scottish-parliament-flags.jpg"/></p>
<p>There is one other fact that shouldn't be forgotten: <em>no one voted to leave the Single Market</em>. The EU referendum result was a very narrow UK majority to leave the EU, but the nature of that leaving was unspecified. The reasons for people voting the way they did in the EU referendum will have been multitudinousness and varied. Some may have voted because they wanted to leave the Single Market but it is unlikely to have been a deciding factor for many. Bendy cucumbers, immigration and xenophobia were probably more numerous reasons.</p>
<p>Furthermore, the people of Scotland didn't vote to leave the EU at all. There was a substantial majority (62:38) in favour of staying in the bloc. In the same manner, we do not know the individual reasons the people in Scotland voted so decisively to stay in the EU, but the overall intention was clear. Leaving the Single Market will disproportionately affect Scotland's strong export sectors, leading to a loss of jobs and an economy heading into recession.</p>
<p>We need to leave behind the flag waving, glorification of imperialism and wild fantasies of international trade agreements being espoused by May, Rees-Mogg & Johnson and instead focus on the hard economic realities, as our prosperity depends on it.</p>
<p>It's the economy, stupid.</p>
<p> </p>Brexit won't work2017-03-07T14:04:31+00:002024-03-27T05:11:53+00:00Editorhttps://yeshighland.net/blog/author/Editor/https://yeshighland.net/blog/2017/03/brexit-wont-work/<h2>Who says Brexit won't work?</h2>
<p>Well, Theresa May actually. Here are her actual words less than one year ago:</p>
<blockquote>
<p>"It is tempting to look at developing countries' economies, with their high growth rates, and see them as an alternative to trade with Europe. But just look at the reality of our trading relationship with China - with its dumping policies, protective tariffs and industrial-scale industrial espionage. And look at the figures. <strong>We export more to Ireland than we do to China, almost twice as much to Belgium as we do to India, and nearly three times as much to Sweden as we do to Brazil. It is not realistic to think we could just replace European trade with these new markets.</strong><br/><br/>And while we could certainly negotiate our own trade agreements, there would be no guarantee that they would be on terms as good as those we enjoy now. There would also be a considerable opportunity cost given the need to replace the existing agreements - not least with the EU itself - that we would have torn up as a consequence of our departure."<br/><em><strong>Theresa May, April 2016</strong></em></p>
</blockquote>
<p>Of course, these words were spoken before Theresa May became Prime Minister in July of last year. Fast forward to January of this year and this is what the Prime Minister said:</p>
<blockquote>
<p>"We want to get out into the wider world, to trade and do business all around the globe. Countries including China, Brazil, and the Gulf States have already expressed their interest in striking trade deals with us."<br/><em><strong>Theresa May, January 2017</strong></em></p>
</blockquote>
<p>Has she changed her tune because the situation has changed so dramatically in the space of nine months or is she gambling with the prosperity of the UK to sustain her premiership? You decide.</p>Where's George?2016-06-26T17:20:49+00:002024-03-28T19:53:19+00:00Editorhttps://yeshighland.net/blog/author/Editor/https://yeshighland.net/blog/2016/06/wheres-george/<h2>UK in shambles yet the Chancellor has gone missing</h2>
<p>An astounding referendum result will take the UK out of the European Union, the Pound is in free-fall, the stock market has plummeted, there are hourly announcements of major employers leaving the UK and the Prime Minister has resigned. An omnishambles doesn't even begin to describe the mess the UK is in and yet George Osborne, the Chancellor of the Exchequer, hasn't been seen in public since before the EURef.</p>
<p>Quite apart from his responsibility to be doing things to steady the markets and inject confidence into the UK economy the position of Chancellor is often viewed as the number two position in government. The Chancellor should be filling the vacuum created by David Cameron's resignation announcement. Instead Mr. Osborne has run away and hidden, <a href="https://yeshighland.net/blog/2014/02/george-osborne-running-scared/" target="_blank">and it isn't the first time</a>.</p>
<p>This is the same Chancellor who wanted to cultivate a tough image (see photo above), who would refuse use of the Pound to an independent Scotland and promised a punishment budget should the UK vote Leave in the EU referendum. None of these things were true. We expect the Chancellor is honing his resignation speech and he will be gone by Monday (tomorrow) afternoon.</p>
<p>The only thing which will probably save the Tories is that <a href="http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2016/06/26/eu-referendum-hilary-benn-sacked-from-shadow-cabinet-by-jeremy-c/" target="_blank">Labour is in an even bigger mess</a>. Not only do we not have a government we don't have an official opposition either.</p>
<p>For the next IndieRef these Westminster government ministers should be fully scrutinised by the media and not treated like untouchable big beasts of politics.</p>A wee reminder2016-03-20T17:09:39+00:002024-03-28T17:20:25+00:00Editorhttps://yeshighland.net/blog/author/Editor/https://yeshighland.net/blog/2016/03/a-wee-reminder/<h2>A snippet from "Scotland's Future"</h2>
<p>This incoming Thursday is the 24th of March, 2016. Had a Yes vote prevailed in the referendum, <strong>March 24th would have been Independence Day</strong>. The following is a quote from "<strong>Scotland's Future</strong>" also known as "<strong>The White Paper</strong>".</p>
<blockquote>
<p>Between the referendum in 2014 and independence in 2016<br/>The period between the referendum and independence will see negotiations with the rest of the UK, represented by the Westminster Government, and with the EU and other international partners and organisations.</p>
<p>Following these preparations and negotiations, Scotland will assume our status as an independent country on 24 March 2016.</p>
</blockquote>
<p>Instead, we are enduring:</p>
<ul>
<li>A majority Tory government at Westminster</li>
<li>The almost certain renewal of Trident</li>
<li>A politically motivated austerity programme targeting the poorest and most disadvataged</li>
<li>An in/out EU Referendum</li>
<li>Despite the "broad shoulders of the UK" the loss of thousands of oil sector jobs</li>
<li>Continuing and new foreign wars</li>
<li>Broken promises on shipbuilding leading to thousands more jobs lost</li>
<li>Increasing numbers reliant on foodbanks</li>
</ul>
<p><br/>If only we could have done something to avoid these things.</p>George Osborne Running Scared2014-02-12T14:52:35+00:002024-03-28T14:18:37+00:00Editorhttps://yeshighland.net/blog/author/Editor/https://yeshighland.net/blog/2014/02/george-osborne-running-scared/<h2>UK Chancellor refuses interview or to answer questions</h2>
<p>Just like his coalition government colleagues, David Cameron and William Hague, George Osborne makes an anti-independence and, in this case, an anti-Scotland speech but refuses to answer questions from the press.</p>
<p>In the short video clip, shown below, Bernard Ponsonby of STV News decries the lack of scrutiny into the No campaign. Major pronouncements are made but the press aren't allowed to scrutinise them on behalf of Scottish voters.</p>
<p>Shutting down debate and avoiding any questions seem to be the stock in trade of the No campaign.</p>
<h4>Video: George Osborne refuses press scrutiny from Bernard Ponsonby of STV News.</h4>
<p><iframe height="259" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/heGdCXx_nKI" width="460"></iframe></p>Scotland: The real financial position2013-03-09T21:52:29+00:002024-03-28T16:59:20+00:00Editorhttps://yeshighland.net/blog/author/Editor/https://yeshighland.net/blog/2013/03/scotland-the-real-financial-position/<h2>GERS Report Published March 2013</h2>
<p>Unionists, and their friends in the mainstream media, made a big fuss this week about a so called "Top Secret" leaked report in an attempt to overshadow the real news in the GERS report.</p>
<p>The GERS report (Government Expenditure and Revenue Scotland) clearly shows the Scottish economy is much stronger than that of the rest of the UK. Scotland also contributed £4.4bn more to the UK than it got in return. This money could be used to improve services, reduce taxes or lower debt.</p>
<p>Yes Scotland have produced a handy graphic, shown above, detailing the most important points from the GERS report.</p>
<p> </p>