Welfare will do nicely, thank you very much
Seems life on the dole isn’t so bad.
SEVEN in 10 of Scotland’s hidden unemployed would not take a job if offered one, government figures have revealed.
The Labour Force Survey for 2004 found that 69.9% of those classed as economically inactive did not want to work, compared with 66.3% in 2003.
Why would they not want to work? Answers on a postcard to the usual address…
Here’s another shocker form the same article:
The number classed as economically inactive, largely those on sickness and incapacity benefits, was 655,000 – down 33,000 on 2003.
Across Scotland, 21% of the workforce was in this category.
21% are on sickness or incapacity benefit? 21%? You mean to tell me that in a country with first world medical care that’s free at the point of use we still have a fifth of our people who are just too sick or ill to work?
Who said there’s no such thing as a free lunch? And a free dinner….? And a free house…
Here’s an idea: devolve power properly by declaring English independence. Let Scotland et al (special dispensation for N Ireleand however) fend for themselves and let me keep a bit more of what I earn to spend on my family and not everybody else’s.
See how long the Scottish Parliament will put up with those lazy sods then.
Thanks, Bishop Hill
“See how long the Scottish Parliament will put up with those lazy sods then”.
You miss the point entirely. Those lazy sods are solid socialist voters, the state client sector, and since all (except about one) MSPs are socialist in one form or another, and since the English carry a lot of the expense, then why upset the voting pattern?
Comment by harryj — August 5, 2005 @ 10:21 am
Good post as ever Gary, however I would go one further. I think that one of the few useful things the EU might do for us is enable us to divest ourselves of a Celtic Fringe which increasing seem desirous of a future seperate from England. Socialism seems to be far more strongly rooted in Scotland and Wales and, if the EU is able to set itself up as a substitute for us, then they might be able to attract the Welsh ansd Scots to them on the pretext of more money for their political elites to spend. Of course, in my heart I would be sad to see the break-up of the UK, but my head says we would be better off without having to send large amounts of our hard earned cash north and west to buy the loyalty of people who dont really feel they want anything to do with us except when we pay their bills. Clearly, those in the minority who dont see their future in terms of what the Government can do for them and who wish to chart their own course would be welcome to join us in England.
What do you think?
SD
Comment by Sussex Downsman — August 5, 2005 @ 11:38 am
No great surprise in those figures my friend. In my area a fish processing factory has to import workers from abroad because of the supposed low unemployment, yet there are still a large number of people claiming. What gives? You can’t find work Mr Claimant? Bollocks - to the fish factory with you!
Comment by Lurch — August 5, 2005 @ 12:05 pm
What,let them keep the oil? I think not.
Comment by DE — August 5, 2005 @ 12:10 pm
Interesting. So I’m not the only one who thinks the EU could be the recipient of UK client states who despise their providers.
Scotland especially seems to detest us and yet they get the leftist government they want plus a guaranteed income for life courtesy of the British (ie English)tax-payer.
It would be instructive to offer Scotland a referendum to see if they really do want independence and a future as serfs to the EU (because I doubt strongly they’d ever want true, meaningful, independence). I reckon they’d vote to stay with England because they know which side their bread is buttered.
A second referendum should then be held in England to see if we want to remain part of the union.
That could result in the fascinating spectacle of Scots, faced with life without the despised English’s largesse, actually campaigning in favour of the union.
GM
Comment by Administrator — August 6, 2005 @ 6:23 pm
Strong words
I take it that Gary is one of those Conservatives that disagrees with ‘English votes on English Laws’.
Trackback by Who do you think you are kidding Mr Prescott — August 7, 2005 @ 7:41 am
Absolutely. The best deal Scotland could get from independence would be from England leaving first. I want rid, but as I’ve to people in Scotland before we should encourage England to leave the union first. It would certainly make for extremely entertaining watching. I mean all the hundreds of billions of pounds of UK resources (in London and England) of course have to be split in the divorce settlement. England would not only have the pleasure of being kicked out of the EU, but the cruel indignity having to apply for UN membership again. And France will be much more powerful too.
Comment by Elgol — August 7, 2005 @ 9:28 am
Of course the resource split won’t be such a major thing as it will be based on population and 85% of the population live in England. So we will have to find the cash for 15% of the nations joint assets, dvla itself would probably cover Wales. Shame we didn’t get a pre-nuptual agreement based on the relative wealth of each country prior to 1707. Of course then the real campaigning can then begin for Independence for Shetland which may want to follow the Faroes pursuit of independence from Denmark and go it alone and take the vast majority of the oil with them. The break up of the UK is a can of worms that everyone seems determined to open.
Comment by Hyw — August 8, 2005 @ 9:43 am
“England would not only have the pleasure of being kicked out of the EU, but the cruel indignity having to apply for UN membership again.”
Uh, no. As the largest state on the former territory of the UK, England would automatically succeed to all of the formers’ international rights and obligations by operation of the law of state succession, just as Russia did to those of the Soviet Union.
Comment by Dave J — August 8, 2005 @ 5:51 pm
All successor states would automatically inherit all international undertakings and privileges of the former state. Neither Scotland nor England would have to reapply for UN, NATO, EU etc membership.
England can have the nukes - Gravesend anyone?
Comment by Stuart Dickson — August 9, 2005 @ 6:57 pm
“Uh, no. As the largest state on the former territory of the UK, England would automatically succeed to all of the formers’ international rights and obligations by operation of the law of state succession, just as Russia did to those of the Soviet Union. ”
Uh, yes - size don’t matter I’m afraid, especially if England goes first - which I very much hope (but very doubtful will happen). The fact England will lose a large part of her defence capacity (and nuclear weapons) - cos she won’t be able afford moving them to Gravesend, or wherever. Bye-Bye to a big place on the world stage.
There is no law concerning the adoption of bilateral and multilateral treaties by successor nations (the Vienna Convention has only been signed by 6 parties - (UK isn’t one of them). There is also no law in EU that says an independent Scotland or England will fully assume EU membership. In the case of England this will probably be made more difficult by some other European nations.
“Of course the resource split won’t be such a major thing as it will be based on population and 85% of the population live in England. So we will have to find the cash for 15% of the nations joint assets, dvla itself would probably cover Wales”
Sadly, not quite as indicated before Defence is a rather large and significant area where England will lose out, as she waves bye-bye to several strategically important airbases, and selling the nuclear deterrent off (maybe on Ebay!). There is also the UK territoral waters (80% in Scottish jurisdiction) and all the oil, fish and gas contained within. Then there are our foreign relations, we’ll want a share of those assets and liabilities of them too, real estate for example - not to mention a share of UK territories and dependencies. And all other UK assets and liabilities. And every other UK asset and liability. If it has a money value and has UK on it - we’ll have some of it.
There is no question of England being the new UK on the world stage - she simply isn’t big enough or have the largesse to be so!
If you take a proxy measure of the UK’s GDP and national wealth - well over a trillion dollars - much of which concentrated in England - transferring slightly less than 20% to the rest of the UK is quite a large wedge of cash.
So please, England vote for independence first and make this Scotsman very happy indeed!
Comment by Elgol — August 10, 2005 @ 7:04 pm
The Witanagemot Club
Little Man in a Toque is proud to unveil an exciting new initiative - The Witanagemot Club. Hey! Yes it is exciting. If you are a blogger, and if you are pissed off with the assymetrical cack-handedness of those crazy…
Trackback by Little Man in a Toque — August 14, 2005 @ 6:06 am
Comment by Elgol
NO PONCE YOU WONT BE GETTING ANY MORE FREEBEES VIA ENGLAND
LIKE IVE SAID MANY TIMES BEFORE, GO SUCK THE FROGS DICKS AGAIN!! JOCKS AND FROGS HMMMMM YES YOU GO TOGETHER!!! NO INTEGRITY NO MORALITY NO STYLE NOTHING MUCH AT ALL EXCEPT INFLATED EGOS!!!
Comment by TONY COCKSUCKER BLAIR — August 19, 2005 @ 10:37 am