100 Days to Scottish Independence Referendum

[Who Knows]

Today marks the 100 days to the vote and Shetland's is playing a role on the national stage with the latest local star Miriam Brett, from Bressay, you tube video collecting significant viewing on how she has reached her decision on how to vote.

 

http://m.youtube.com/watch?v=dr3Ula7hOiU

 

Previously Louise Thomason article in Shetnews was a nationwide hit with links in numerous blogs

 

http://www.shetnews.co.uk/features/scottish-independence-debate/8290-independence-wading-through-the-arguments

 

Our local MP as Secretary of State for Scotland has filled a few column inches plus TV and radio shows.

 

Back on island the No campaign appear to the the quieter of the two. Yes Shetland appear to have had more meeting with the latest in Aith Hall on Tuesday 10 June at 7.30pm. Previously had meetings in Bressay, Brae, Sandwick, Burra, Scalloway and Lerwick. The Woman for Independence Shetland group have had meetings in Bixter, Levenwick and Lerwick whilst the National Collective Shetland group have had meetings in Lerwick with next one scheduled for the Lounge on Thursday night, 12 June and have a summer event planned for 23-24 July.

 

http://womenforindyshetland.wordpress.com

https://www.facebook.com/womenforindyshetland

http://yesshetland.info

https://www.facebook.com/YesShetland

 

Whether you are undecided or made your mind up get involved in the local discussions and make sure you vote wisely on 18 September 2014 as it is an important vote with long lasting consequences.

 

It is still not to late to register to vote or apply for a postal vote if you need one contact the local electoral register

http://www.orkney-shetland-vjb.co.uk/ELECTORAL.html

[shetlandpeat]

Is this now the 9th thread on Scottish independence, certainly gripping stuff?

 

This is something you should cast a vote on. I would guess it is your duty.

[Ghostrider]

This is something you should cast a vote on. I would guess it is your duty.

 

Perhaps, if I was Scottish, that is.

[Colin]

This is something you should cast a vote on. I would guess it is your duty.

Then, I think, that you have guessed wrong.

 

Important, yes this time it is but, since when did it become a 'duty' to vote?

 

Is it a 'duty' to express support for 'career politicians' who are totally disconnected from the electorate? 

Is it a 'duty' to vote for someone who says one thing at the hustings and, once elected, proceeds to do the exact opposite?

Such a 'duty' would only add the false image of 'support' to them when, perhaps, the opposite is true.

 

The only time I would accept such a 'duty' is when 'None of the Above' was added to the ballot paper.

[JustMe]

Oh well Colin, I guess in this case you can write "Maybe" on your ballot paper.  I know it would count as a "spoilt paper" but it would be good to know what people have put on them.  As for a duty to vote it is a legal requirement in some countries.  Personally I reckon that those who do not vote should not moan about whatever the outcome of the election or indeed referendum is.

[Colin]

Oh well Colin, I guess in this case you can write "Maybe" on your ballot paper.  I know it would count as a "spoilt paper" but it would be good to know what people have put on them.  As for a duty to vote it is a legal requirement in some countries.  Personally I reckon that those who do not vote should not moan about whatever the outcome of the election or indeed referendum is.

Nah, prefer "No thanks, I won't be fooled again."

 

Whatever you use to 'spoil' a vote will not be heeded anyway.  Who looks at spoiled votes?

 

FWIW, I DO VOTE whenever the opportunity arises but, if I am not enamoured to any of the candidates, I deliberately 'spoil' it.

[MuckleJoannie]

The checking system for counting votes means that a spoiled vote will probably be scrutinised more that one completed "correctly" to confirm it is indeed invalid.

[Who Knows]

European Union membership for Scotland following a Yes vote is often a subject full of assertions and unfounded position statements by both sides.

 

University of Oxford, Professor of European and Human Right Laws, Sionaidh Douglas-Scott, has done the independent research and issued a paper outlining the conclusions reached.

 

http://gallery.mailchimp.com/3d8f589fda4fb7526a70254d4/files/e3c82843-2a9f-41af-a4e3-de3eeec55737.pdf

 

There is also a podcast were you can listen to the arguments.

 

http://podcasts.ox.ac.uk/could-scotland-join-european-union

 

However for those short of time and just want to know the conclusion reached it is that Scotland can become a member of EU via article 48 of the EU Treaty which means it not at the back of some queue and could be concluded between the Yes vote and time Scotland actually separates from the UK in 2016.

[MuckleJoannie]

BBC documentary by Robert Peston on the economic effects Scottish independence could have. It includes a visit to Shetland Folk Festival.

 

http://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/b049b89z/scotland-for-richer-or-poorer

 

 

It seems to me that if this debate is to be serious people should be voting about identity rather than about how much cash is in their pockets. The slogan give me liberty or give me £500 doesn’t have the same ring about it.

Professor John Kay
 

[Who Knows]

Trying to rewrite history in the digital age not very easy to do as getting caught out from being conserative with the truth is getting harder to do but roughly 45 minutes in to last night BBC2 debate Jenny Marr assisted by the lack of knowledge of the BBC host, James Cook, try to blame the bed room tax entirely on the collation Conserative / Liberal Democratic who have formed the Government from May 2010.

 

http://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/b049dyhz/the-referendum-debate-08072014

 

The digital facts shows that the Bed Room Tax was introduced in to social housing by the current collation government however in non social housing, normally termed the private rental sector, the so called under occupancy rules were introduced on 7 April 2008 as Local Housing Allowance.

 

http://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Local_Housing_Allowance#Background

 

Time line clearly shows that the Labour Party was in Government at the time this change was introduced. The part that Jenny Marr was correct about was that Alistair Darling did not approve it as Chancellor. That is correct it was Gordon Brown who was the Chancellor and Tony Blair was the Prime Minister when the act was approved that brought in these changes to private sector market.

 

http://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Welfare_Reform_Act_2007

 

This is the basis of the statement that New Labour introduced what is now called the Bed Room Tax and the current collation Government expanded it's reach.

[Rasmie]

An interesting collection of other peoples theories go oot by doggy style, Alec/Douglas

[Who Knows]

The source documents and history on the Parliamentary progress of the Welfare Reform Act can be accessed here

 

http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/pabills/200607/welfare_reform.htm

 

Section 30 of the Act introduced the Local Housing Allowance. How it's calculated covered below

 

http://www.voa.gov.uk/corporate/RentOfficers/LHADirect.html

 

The official UK history of Prime Ministers and Chancellor of the Exchequers is available here:

 

https://www.gov.uk/government/history/past-prime-ministers

https://www.gov.uk/government/history/past-chancellors

 

You will note that Tony Blair retired in 2007 but the official website does not give exact calendar days so excuse the BBC news website to confirm this as June 2007 which is after the Act was given Royal Accent

 

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/6245682.stm

 

The Wikipedia articles are just simpler to read.

[Who Knows]

Deputy First Minister Nicola Sturgeon will be in Lerwick all day on Wednesday to meet locals, take questions and hopefully answer them.

 

So if you did not get answers from Monday nights debate or they did not ask your burning question there are several opportunities to engage in discussion with the Deputy First Minister and hopefully get a frank answer.

 

The posted meetings and times are:

 

12.30pm to 2pm in the Mareel Auditorium - free buffet lunch and children's play area available.

 

4pm to 5.30pm at the Mareel in the Upper Cafe. This event is aimed at young voters.

 

8pm at the Shetland Museum for a talk followed by a question and answer session.

 

No doubt if your in town in Lerwick on Wednesday there will the obligatory walk about to meet people in the streets in Commercial Street.

 

If you are either a no or an undecided voter your chance to put the deputy First Minister on the spot and raise your concerns directly about what a Yes vote might bring.

Edited August 25, 2014 by Who Knows

[Suffererof1crankymofo]

...

If you are either a no or an undecided voter your chance to put the deputy First Minister on the spot and raise your concerns directly about what a Yes vote might bring.

 

A  solitary yes vote probably wouldn't bring about much.

 

I don't wish to listen to any politician's propaganda as to what they THINK as I'm capable of making my decision on me own, ta very much ... and that's a most definite cross against the No.

[Colin]

Looks like a good enough reason to avoid Lerwick altogether on Wednesday..

 

Last thing I want is to be 'impeded' by politicians, their security(?), their minions(?) and the 'crowds'(?) that they might(not) attract...