Osbourne says no to currency union.

I was gonna avoid posting on this thread, but did Konabunny just basically say that Scottish Independence won’t achieve any of the things that bencooper said were its perceived benefits basically because it won’t bring about world peace?

The differences between policies in Holyrood and Westminster all tend towards Scotland being a less selfish, more altruistic society, and should independence occur, Scotland will not have any nukes. Just because it’s the first step in a long journey doesn’t make it a pointless change!

did Konabunny just basically say that Scottish Independence won’t achieve any of the things that bencooper said were its perceived benefits basically because it won’t bring about world peace?

What Konabunny said was self-explanatory.

He said if you want a society that doesn’t wage wars then the obvious steps to take is to withdraw from NATO, dissolve the military, end subsidies to arms companies, and pursue a foreign policy of neutrality. He points that because these are not the stated aims of Yes Scotland it makes the claim just meaningless hairy fairy bollocks.

I dont think you need to do all of those you just need to avoid invading countries/starting wars.

NATO is a more tricky proposition to be fair given the US considered 9/11 to be an attack on them.

NATO is a more tricky proposition

It completely undermines it. A foreign policy of neutrality as Ireland has would be the obvious alternative to joining NATO. If the aim isn’t to wage wars then why apply to join NATO ?

And no, don’t give the fairy bollocks suggesting that small countries who aren’t in NATO risk being attacked.

did Konabunny just basically say that Scottish Independence won’t achieve any of the things that bencooper said were its perceived benefits basically because it won’t bring about world peace?

no.

cheers,

Danny B

Ben, in MTB Scotland’s July edition there is also a survey that shows that yes voters really believe that 650bs make the trail come alive, whereas no voters are discerning enough to see through the BS. Quite appropriate really.

(But there was also a serious survey that showed a clear distinction along income lines)

Oh look, trying to portray No voters as bad people. That’s never happened before.

I’m surprised there hasn’t been a nice little picture of a No voter stealing candy from a small child. Doesn’t actually need to be a no voter, just so long as someone on twitter says it is.

You can swap ‘No voter’ for ‘Yes voter’ if you like.

I’m sure somewhere, someone has done the same for the opposite camp.

The really disappointing thing about all this is just how piss poor and populist the politics is despite the importance. One of my main hopes of this referendum is a reinvigoration of the electorate to participate in the democratic process.

But the underlying quality of politicians is so piss poor that I don’t see it lasting beyond a couple if elections regardless of the result. It’s just the same **** cheap shot, point scoring, self serving toss that we’ve been having for years.

****, by and large.

I seem to be settling into middle aged grumpiness quite well. 😀

I’m going for middle-aged saying-random-stuff-to-wind-people-up 😉

Hope the DO did not spend too much time looking at the economic announcements today – NS Oil and financial services ouch!

Probably too busy working out what he’s going to do with his 10% share of the red arrows…

Obviously paint them blue and white 😀

And relocate them to Freedom City airbase

Obviously paint them It blue and white

FTFY

It could be sponsored by a recruitment agency

I’m going for middle-aged saying-random-stuff-to-wind-people-up

Whereas the Edinburgh Defence is saying something you believe, getting pwned and then claiming you were just joking, the Strathclyde Defence is to preëmptively say you’re joking, say something you believe…and then get pwned.

the Strathclyde Freedom Defence is to preëmptively

FTFY!!

bencooper – Member

I’m going for middle-aged saying-random-stuff-to-wind-people-up

You must be disappointed, or are you under the impression that you have successfully wound people up? 🙂

wanmankylung – Member
Fortunately, the CEO of my pension provider will decamp S of the border if required.
What a strange thing to say. Given that very few businesses have indicated that they will move to rUK in the event of a yes vote (probably because it would involve much more expense than it would justify) the only sensible way for the CEO and his team to move south would be if they were no longer working for your pension provider.

Strange when strange things come true isn’t it….

http://www.scotsman.com/scottish-independence/standard-life-may-be-scouting-post-independence-london-hq/

And you’re pleased about this? I thought you were a man who thought a lot about economics…. That makes no economic sense at all. If I was you I’d be considering moving my pension to a place that is run by someone more savvy.

Security and returns are the most important parameters personally. I would be more worried if I worked at Standard Life and wanted to still live in lovely Edinburgh. As you will/should be aware the CEO has other v important things to consider (regulation, money etc) and no surprise at all that relocation considerations are high on the agenda. I would be dismayed if he wasn’t making sensible plans. But you are not the only one to poo-poo such ideas, the DO did the same when Nish commented on this back in February. But the truth, they are planning for this exact eventuality.

100 Cheapside is quite a nice office though.

Still not such a stage thing to say after all, was it? 😉

Still no comment or statement from Standard Life saying where they will be based if Yes win. Not in The Scotsman or in the original article in The Huffington Post nor from the company itself. Are you Standard Life’s new press officer Thm?

No – refer to my first comment on this

Two of the UK’s most experienced and formidable bankers have joined the independence debate to accuse Alex Salmond of deceiving Scots over currency union following a “yes” vote.

Interesting choice of verb – wonder why/where they got it from!!!

Sir Martin Jacomb, the former chairman of Prudential, and Sir Andrew Large, the former deputy governor of the Bank of England, claim in an article published in The Times today that the first minister is not being honest over what they say is the most important issue in the independence debate.

Add two more to the list……honestly (excuse the irony) it gets more embarrassing by the day. Perhaps the DO will release plan D during the debate with darling. In the meantime…..

Ah, the debate with Darling, Eck thought we had forgotten that one…

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/politics/10999560/Alex-Salmond-rejects-two-BBC-debates-with-Alistair-Darling.html

Frit!

and in other news – seems the Catalans are getting twitchy at the prospect of a Scottish Yes vote –

http://en.ria.ru/world/20140729/191445552/Wannabe-Sovereignties-Closely-Watching-Scottish-Independence%20-%20Political%20Adviser%20at%20UK%20Parliament.html?fid=15399&isc=1&did=custom.4515&ctp=article

I’m sure that will play well with the Spanish government when it comes to Scotlands EU plans (ps. we’re still waiting to see that independent legal advice Alex!)

Slightly non-consensus view of the debate and the heebie jeebies also in the Torygraoh

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/politics/SNP/10998120/Alex-Salmond-should-beware-of-the-heebie-jeebies.html

Surely the DO can’t screw that one up, it’s only darling!

This from today’s herald
“Standard Life not seeking London headquarters move
Published on 30 July 2014

Greig Cameron
STANDARD Life has denied reports that it is looking to purchase a flagship headquarters in London.

The insurer was said to be in talks over a deal for the 100 Cheapside building in the heart of London’s financial district as it was planning to use the site as a base if the Scottish people voted for independence in the referendum.

While Standard Life would not be drawn on whether it is looking to buy the property as part of its investment activities it strongly refuted suggestions it was looking for a replacement for its existing Edinburgh headquarters..”
Perhaps Thm should reconsider.
“Strange when strange things come true isn’t it…..”

Or he has better sources!l it’s pretty obvious what they need and will do – they are if nothing else prudent and canny.

Ah yes The Huffington Post 🙂

The what? The Scotsman merely confirmed my sources.

The Scotsman in turn got it’s article from The Huffington Post. 🙂

😀

Or he has better sources!l it’s pretty obvious what they need and will do – they are if nothing else prudent and canny.

Sorry – why exactly is it obvious, prudent, canny and needful to relocate the company from Edinburgh to London in the event of independence? Plenty of pension funds operating in the UK are owned and/or operated by non-UK companies.

never mind that here is the quote

A Standard Life spokesman said: “We cannot comment on individual deals as we manage a large portfolio of properties on behalf of our clients, but we can confirm that we are not looking for a London-based HQ.“

How does that support THM’s view

But you are not the only one to poo-poo such ideas, the DO did the same when Nish commented on this back in February. But the truth, they are planning for this exact eventuality.

http://singletrackworld.com/forum/topic/osbourne-says-no-to-currency-union/page/194#post-6193553

this is why you say I troll. You either have to accept you were wrong or call me names or ignore me

I wonder which you choose this time.

Plenty of pension funds operating in the UK are owned and/or operated by non-UK companies.

Very true KB, no one is arguing any differently. In addition to SL, I am a client of exactly those sort of firms.

SL and others are clear in why they are making contingency plans – that is the obvious bit. The legal structure and what you call the building is the finessing. The upshot is the same. The horses mouth is better than the press BTW. Like the DO’s name, you heard it here first.

(Ignore)

Really… the horses mouth. Are you Dr Dolittle? Any evidence to counter Standard Life’s statement. ” but we can confirm that we are not looking for a London-based HQ.”?

(Ignore)

I think you ignored the question.

The horses mouth is better than the press BTW.

We know that is why a number of us have stated their spokesperson saying what they are doing rather than read something into a press report that states they are looking at purchasing a building and concluding this means they are planning on relocating. the horses mouth is not supporting your view and it is really rather strange you would argue otherwise. You cannot possibly believe what you just said as it is clearly at odds with the stated facts.

Dont you be trolling him now with facts that counter his stated view.

Gordi, yes and yes! It helps when you talk directly to these people (I mentioned lunch a month or so ago) rather than relying on secondary material especially the press. So spot on,

Yours Dr D.

(Ignore)

I think you ignored the question.

KB, it’s better to cross the bridge and engage directly with those involved (and understand currencies, central banks, monetary policy, legal structures and impact in regulation and supervision etc) that engage with those underneath who don’t. Simple really.