1. The banks are still in charge. Their greed helped plunge Britain, Ireland, Europe and the US into the worst economic crisis since the 1930s. Now, without the slightest sign of shame, The Royal Bank of Scotland, Lloyds, TSB and the Clydesdale Bank have all warned they’ll head down south should Scotland vote for independence.
2. Big business decides what happens. You may think that people elect politicians and place power in their hands. Uh-uh. As David Cameron made clear, having met with many of its leaders in Downing Street, big business will beat into submission any country that dares think about making major political changes. Like Scotland.
3. David Cameron cries easily. We’re told when he did his cross-border dash with Milliband and Clegg, he spoke with such affection of the UK ‘family’ that there were tears in his eyes. Meanwhile he’s been impressively dry-eyed as he conducts a foreign policy that sends British soldiers to die in countries like Afghanistan, even though over three-quarters of the British population think they shouldn’t be there.
4. The decision about independence is NOT a matter for the Scottish people. Cameron and Milliband and Clegg assured us it was, only then it began to look as though the Yes camp might win. At which point all three leaders came haring north of the border, followed by trains crammed with Labour MPs fearful of losing their seats.
5. If you’re a Proclaimers fan, you’re out of luck. One of their best recordings, ‘Cap in Hand’ has been banned from the airwaves because…Well, listen for yourself. Those lyrics could put awkward ideas in people’s heads:
Hi Jude
Regarding (1) The media has blown this out of all proportion. It is perfectly normal and valid for these banks to create an office in England as they are governed by the FSA (Now FCA). It is a mandatory requirement for any banks to operate within the remaining British jurisdiction (otherwise all their branches in England, Wales and NI would have to close). All banks operate in this fashion, even our local ones with respect to operating in the south, most local banks have two head offices due to differing regulators !
Jobs will not be going anywhere and its simply beyond rediculous for the No camp to suggest so. How this made it on the news is pure skullduggery playing on people who have no clue about banking.
You should have realised this from the start that has always how the world has been run.
I can hear Jude’s cry now, “please, please vote for independence’, and that somehow will add impetus to his desire for a united Irish republic. Great idea though,we can add to the deficit down South, where a failed economy and welfare state will be able to accommodate us nicely. I can’t wait to pay €6 a pint, €50 for a visit to the doctor, I’m sure the RoI can’t wait to accommodate us.
In relation to the banks in Scotland, I’m not sure why they would stay where they won’t make money, I think that’s what banking is all about.
Sweet William – you’re a soothsayer as well as everything else – to borrow a phrase,wow. You’ll have to keep up, William: I have never suggested the north simply attach itself to the corrupt state in the south. I have advocated Irish unity and from that a country we all can be proud of.
I’m with you on the banks thing: which is why, of course, if there were a YES vote next Thursday, the banks would stay in Scotland for the same reason they’re there now – as you rightly point out, making money.
Ok Jude, so we won’t be attaching ourselves to the failed entity which is the RoI, we will be part of this new super state, led by who, let me think, ah yes, could it be your heroes SF/IRA, how enticing that I’ll be for Unionism.
I’m afraid you’ve got the wrong end of the stick, sweet William. I believe in that old-fashioned thing called democracy. If the Irish people vote in SF (the IRA went away 20 years ago, William, but maybe you were doing something else at the time) then that should be respected. No covenants promising blood and thunder, no Third Forces, no fleggers – just people accepting the will of the people. It’s not really that difficult, William. Think about it.
The IRA are in government, Jude, and until that generation have passed, unionists will not be paying homage to GK, GA, MM, and the rest.
William are you saying Republicans and Nationalists should be satisfied by people who marched out of talks to sort out a problem which the talks were put in place to sort out? Yes parades and flags. Or people like like Peter Robinson, Edwin Poots and Nelson McCausland who have damage so much of the government here and now blame the whole lot on Sinn Fein.
We could also say the ‘Vanguard’ are in government but you rarely hear that being mentioned because Nationalists and Republicans would rather move the North forward than than be satisfied by a stalemate or be dragged back to being ruled by a country which has held us under thumb for centuries…….oh but wait, that’s why Scotland is having a vote on independence. Funny how the Orange Institution’s answer to this is……wait for it……a march for the NO vote, seriously, is that their answer to everything. Surely the Orange Institution wouldn’t try to rule the Scottish parliament the way they do the Unionist section in Stormont.
“William Fay”
“…..we won’t be attaching ourselves to the failed entity which is the RoI…..”
Certainly not a failed entity according to the “The Economist Intelligence Unit”
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Where-to-be-born_Index
On the contrary, a very successful one.
Envy is poisonous William – be done with it – only makes you very bitter and makes you sound like a loser.
Ha ha, munsterman, using wiki for research, keep up the good work
William Fay
It was “the Economist Intelligence Unit” research.
But keep avoiding reality.
Here’ s another reality check for you :
– Nationalist majority already by 2020.
– Nationalist ELECTORAL majority by mid-2020’s.
– Unionists could well dip below the 40% mark by 2030.
A Re-United Ireland is inevitable – it’s all good.
Yes William, the ROI is a “failed entity”, while its citizens rank higher every year for superior quality of life than the UK. Not to mention the ROI ranks higher than the UK for ease of doing business, attracting foreign investment, for gender equality, etc etc and ROI even was voted by the London “The Economist” Magazine as having the Best Quality of Life in the WORLD in the year 2005.
Yes William, that really sounds like a failed state.
Oh, forgot to mention that the ROI also has a higher educated workforce than USA, UK, Canada, Israel, Japan, etc too. Copy and Paste: http://www.rediff.com/business/slide-show/slide-show-1-10-economies-that-have-most-educated-workforce-in-the-world/20131025.htm#10
I’m sure those southerners wish they never left the UK now, eh William?…..
Ryan, I don’t know what world you live in but try going down to the south for a few days with your eyes open. I am a regular visitor and have quite a few friends and relatives living down there, and it is very difficult at the moment. Fancy editorials in a glossy magazine are not necessarily reality, ask the average guy trying to make ends meet.
GRMA, I personally feel that a Yes vote is in Scotlands best interests as a people. I do feel however that even a Yes majority can be subterfuged by Britain. Whenever ‘Britains” interests are at stake, they will do whatever is necessary, by any means necessary, witness the northern part of Ireland and countless countries around the world. A book by Liz Curtis published in 1983 called ” Ireland the Propaganda War” describes the dirty tricks, misinformation campaignsand outright lies that did and continue to go on in the north. I have no reason to beleive that they will treat this issue any different. Go for it Scotland, just be prepared for a hard road ahead. That stated I firmly back the YES vote
” William Fay ”
1. “…we can add to the deficit down South…”
Sad to note that the height of your ambition is to be a sponger for eternity – very sad indeed but I believe you are in the minority.
Or is it your opinion that the majority of people in the North want to be spongers for eternity ?
Or is it simply a case that you think to continue to make the North a dysfunctional economic and political FUBAR is the best strategy that unionists can employ in order to try to stall a Re-United Ireland ?
Most people in this part of the country welcome the inevitable Re-United Ireland and will certainly be prepared to pony up to support the transition, so no worries there William.
A Re-United Ireland is inevitable – it’s all good.
A Re-United Ireland is inevitable – it’s all good.
So you keep saying however in the end nothing is inevitable at all still if it keeps you happy carry on hope you wont be to upset if it doesnt
Got it wrong again munsterman, I’ve never claimed off the welfare state in my life, educated myself alongside working full time, so I’ve no idea what you’ve based your theory on. Maybe if you checked the statistics, you will find that statistically less unionists claim off the welfare state than nationalists. If you are looking for spongers, you need to look in another direction.
Neo-eisimeileachd na h-Alba
What goes round comes round. Lee Rice wrote, ‘Banks of Marble’ in 1950, a song recorded by Pete Seeger and Iris De Ment. Some of the lyrics are:
“I’ve seen the weary housewife,
Buying groceries at the store
And I’ve heard the grocer saying
This is going to cost you more…”
The Scots have conducted themselves with sophistication, decorum and good humour on the issue of independence. There were no threats of violence. Protagonists did not walk out of meetings with political opponents. There was no need for interlocutors. Younger voters articulated concerns in relation to a range of issues that impact on their daily lives.
Chan eil aon chanan gu leor. One language is not enough.
“The times they are a-changin”.
There are at least two other things which the Scottish Referendum has taught us, if one may be allowed to toss in his tuppence -worth, Esteemed Blogmeister.
1. The first is that Heavyweight Ruth ‘The Ruthless’ Dudley Edwards has been punching far below her weight for yonks.
There was perfunctory Perkie, idly sipping his favourite tipple at sundown, a glass of coconut-flavoured Caribbean rum decanted from the distinctive white bottle of Malibu, with his thoughts ever straying to that island of Harry Belafonte in the sun, Jamaica when suddenly his tranquility was rather rudely interrupted by the r.-roaring sounds of a Title Fight on Radio Uladh/ Radio Ulster..
In one corner was the Heavyweight Ruth the Ruthless of both Rotten Row and Rottenrow while in the other corner was the Super-Heavyweight, Tom Devine of Edinburgh, known as ‘The Prof’, for the number of opponents he has nonchalantly seen, erm, off.
Bliss was it that evening to be alive
But to be Sixty Seven was very heaven !
Hardly had one taken the advice of EB to tune in to Uladh (Radio) than one’s fancies were straying from where Ireland’s only ever White Jim Aiken the Great used to operate back to Jamaica of January 1973 where Big George Foreman pulverized Smokin’ Joe Frazier in perhaps the most momentous display of pulverization in pugilistic history.
I see woman on de bended knee
De more she bend de more I see
Tis none other than Ruthless Ruthie.
Cast, alas, in the role of Smokin’ Joe as she entered the ring, brimful of overconfidence in her trademark Edwardian duds, from jaunty boater through her smoking jacket of herringbone tweed with velvet collars on down to her toothpick shoes of black and tan leather. (Her spats she reserves for studio duty). So oh! confident indeed was Ruthless Ruth, she even left her iconic walking stick of malacca and rattan OUTSIDE the ring.
If she only had of having knew, what lay ahead of her. Alas, and indeed, a lad.
‘Cead cainte ag bean chaillte an bhabhta’,as the Leprechaun adage has it: ‘Last word to the loser’. And sure enough, through cauliflowered ears, tomatoed nose and rhubarb lips came this last plaintive gasp before subsidence on to the canvas of unconsciousness: ‘If……Scot…..land….votes….yes….it…will ….open….a Pandora’s Box’.
Note, and note well the last words there, for they are not irrelevant to what follows.
2. The second thing that the Scottish Referendum has taught us is that more and more The Unionist Times is becoming to resemble a Roumanian Taxi Driver in Dublin: you just do not know where you are with them.
Now, TUT is the market leader in the business of Child Abuse Denunciation (CAD) and as here is no more caddish cohort than the Catholic clergy who are responsible for 3% of this depravity on the island of Ireland this despicable demograph is fully entitled to 97% of the coverage in TUT which is a venial synonym for balance and a mortal synonym for even-handedness itself.
Thus, prompting Perkie’s inner poet to pulse forth with:
‘So, why don’t we read more of Kincora
In stern TUT of the finger-wagging aura?
Nothwithstanding the McKeague
J. was neither priest nor Teague
And so best not unlock this box of Pandora’.
This truly scurrilous Limerick returned to stab PW in the back of his memory of late while reading a poignant, three-handkerchief piece in TUT. It concerned a heroic boy sailor by the name of Joseph Pierce Murphy who was torpedoed into an early edition of eternity at 6.35 am on August 6th, 1914 on board HMS Vivid in the North Sea while in the course of gallantly protecting the British Islands from the onset of the enemy at the onset of the World Donkey Derby 14-18..
Who can ever not disremember that pathetic play entitled: ‘Observe the Huns of Munster marching towards the Somme?’.
With the sensitivity which is a hallmark of TUT their delicate readership was spared the actual age of the Ringsend boy when he was first inducted (oops! one almost wrote Shanghaied) into HM Navy in 1909. Now, while some mischievous malcontents who are seemingly never far away, have estimated his age at time of enlistment as being a shocking 8 a more measured PW is not one of those. PW has disinterestedly calculated that he was a far more mature 9 and a half.
A reasonable enough age, one would have thought, to be able to cope with the civilizing delights of, erm, Rum, Sodomy and the Lash.
This truly touching piece in TUT was marred only by what was obviously a typo or printer’s error, when it announced that a Service ‘celebrating’ the short but heroic life of Petty Officer Joseph Pierce Murphy (15 and three quarters) and the links of this Dublin fishing community with H.M. Navy.
So?
So far so good.
But, in ainm Chroim, what is one to make of this stark denunciation by Ireland’s Highest IQ, codenamed ‘Carauntoohil’, he who has left his FOT-prints on the sands of our Intellectual Ipanema: step forward and take a bow, the phenomenally brainy, Fintan O’Toole.
Here is he writing of late on his fellow Crumlin parishioner: ‘ Brendan Behan was in effect a Nazi collaborator, sent to bomb Liverpool by men who had no compunction about recruiting a child of sixteen’.
Oy?
Coming so soon after their blue-bell ringing endorsement of a ‘Yes’ vote in the Scottish Referendum one truly does not know where one is these days with TUT at all, at all.
Cabbie, I said …Belbulben Road, Drimnagh….not Benbulben Mountain, County Sligo !
These Roumanian taximen have one half driven demented.
Sadly it looks like the No voters will have the edge next thursday. However it has been so enjoyable to see the camps pull up neck and neck and the heebie jeebies this has evoked in Unionists, Tories and assorted naysayers. It will be so disappointing when it’s over and the furore has died down. Can we perhaps arrange for a border poll here for say 2026. At least that way, whether or not a UI would result, we can luxuriate in the flapping about and grinding of teeth from said naysayers. It would be a bitta craic at least.
I will tell you one thing Jude, England may win its referendum but there is one thing I am now sure of beyond all doubt……Scotland will never lie down!
The Scottish do not like what the English based politicians and media have done in order to scare their population into fearing repurcussions from Establishment UK of an Independent Scotland.
I am going out to buy the Proclaimers song and going to try to get it to number 1.
Saor Alba!
I didn’t know the proclaimers had a song called saor alba
You keep on saving up your euro for that pint!
Reading some of the comments, it is quite disturbling how Willian et al believe what they type, truely scarey and has no basis in actual facts. If anyone thinks that the status quo here is some kind of settlement or that unity wont happen, they need to pull their head out of the sand. Scotland will be independent, maybe this week or within the next referendium after they work out that they were conned by the torries.
The argument for Scotland going independent is far weaker than it is here. You can expect a border poll within the next 5 years for here and a rediculous amount of pressure from the British, Irish and American governemnts for a ‘YES’ to unity. Unity makes sense in every way possible. Those who object are ‘content’ with living on beggers scraps from their British paymasters.
The unionist community simply do not have the numbers anymore. Had the DUP had a younger leader, we would have expected them to ask for a deal on unity right now from a position of strength. However, Peter and his cronnies are all heading towards 70 and know that they wont have to deal with the issue and thus have no consideration for their electorate.
We could have had a new Ireland, instead it will look like us joining the 26 !
Dr. Michael :
You are quite correct – the unionist community is being shafted by their own inept leadership.
With each passing year, their negotiating position within the inevitable Re- United Ireland becomes weaker. Unionists have nothing to fear from a Re-United Ireland – but Nationalist Ireland would have expected Unionists to negotiate from some strength – rather than wait until it is a virtual fait accompli.
For a doctor, your level of English is atrocious. ‘Unity makes sense in every way possible’, you need to offer some reasoning behind throwaway comments of that nature. I’m not sure why you think it is disturbing that I believe what I write, I believe in the Union, I believe in the Unionists rights within Northern Ireland. We refused to allow the IRA to destroy us, we are still here and we are not going away anywhere soon, even if that is what you and others would like.
William, with respect, nobody says that you are going anywhere. If the people here vote for unity you must live with it.
You mention rights. You WILL have them in the event of a united Ireland. They will be the same rights as everyone else. You mention Unionist rights in NI. Republicans have those also, I hope?
You are correct though, There is no point in people of a non Unionist persuasion bandying about things like “Unity makes sense in every way possible”. We need to put more flesh on that. You can be sure, William, that that is exactly what will happen. That discussion will take place. You should not fear it. In fact, many of us are looking forward to it.
Spot on William if you listened to some contributors on this site you would believe a united ireland would be a land filled with milk and honey the reality would be different very different but I am sure dr micheal would be happy in economic misery