Scottish Politics / Independence - Vol 12

[irc]

More ferry delays.

" User groups were told that MV Isle of Mull, which entered dry cock at the end of November, has suffered extensive decay in some hull voids.

CalMac says that repairs on the MV Isle of Mull are ongoing, with redocking planned for January 27 to complete the "steel renewal" of the underwater area of the vessel. "

"Steel renewal"? Is this like how back in the 70s old bangers needed bits cut out and welding done to pass the MOT. In other words it worked for a short time but you can be sure there will be bigger problems next year.

https://www.heraldscotland.com/news/24070085.rust-...

[hidetheelephants]

Old ships go rusty, it's a feature of the product; once over 15-20 years old there will be the need to replace areas of hull plating.

[Taffer]

irc said:

.........Isle of Mull, which entered dry cock at the end of November..........

[LastPoster]

Taffer said:

irc said:

.........Isle of Mull, which entered dry cock at the end of November..........

Where’s that ‘Juvenile things that make me snigger’ thread

Doing my best not to, whilst sat on a busy train

[Evercross]

sherman said:

JC KC is not holding back. Large rat trying to leave the ship as he knows the game is up. That trough is not going to fill itself
]

He's so bloomin' transparent though. Blackford has a financial history that would make most Tories wince and would give Michelle Mone a run for her money, yet he got a free pass for decades because he hitched his wagon to Nationalism.

He was the CEO of a tax avoidance scheme just like the ones 'allegedly' run by Mone's husband. He profited from American arms sales to Saudi Arabia while making speeches decrying British arms sales to Saudi Arabia. He lobbied for an internet infrastructure company to receive Scottish Government contracts and then profited massively from their raised share value as a result.

And then let us not forget his gaslighting of Charles Kennedy.

None of this illegal of course, but the guy has a brass neck that makes Sturgeon look weak in comparison. Horrible human being. I am not one for wishing divine intervention on someone, but a massive heart attack would be a fitting self-inflicted end for this guy.

Edited by Evercross on Wednesday 24th January 10:16

[Master Of Puppets]

sherman said:

JC KC is not holding back.
Large rat trying to leave the ship as he knows the game is up.
That trough is not going to fill itself

Edited by sherman on Wednesday 24th January 00:07

Hypocrite, this is the guy that lambasted Ruth D not that long ago for accepting a life peerage in the HoL.

If he had a Latin name it would have to be Trougheris Maximus.

[alangla]

This does rather smack of him wanting to glue his snout into the Westminster trough for life, while presumably continuing to decry it.

[Evercross]

alangla said:

This does rather smack of him wanting to glue his snout into the Westminster trough for life, while presumably continuing to decry it.

There is no doubt that is exactly what he is intending. This is a multi-millionaire who had the audacity to describe himself on-the-record as nothing more than a "humble crofter". 'Two Faced' are his middle names.

[Master Of Puppets]

Imagine how much Ermine it would take to cover him, they should make a one off with Weasel instead, far more appropriate.

[alangla]

Wings has published what’s probably his shortest ever article on this subject. With an I told you so from September 2023.

[Roderick Spode]

Evercross said:

alangla said:

This does rather smack of him wanting to glue his snout into the Westminster trough for life, while presumably continuing to decry it.

There is no doubt that is exactly what he is intending. This is a multi-millionaire who had the audacity to describe himself on-the-record as nothing more than a "humble crofter". 'Two Faced' are his middle names.

Ah yes, the humble crofter. I recall Greg Hands commenting on this claim back in the day by saying ‘I had a career in the City and I don’t recall him being a simple crofter at that time. Maybe that was his codename on his Bloomberg terminal as he was buying and selling financial assets.’

There was also, of course, the humble crofter's penchant for a fleet of his & hers Range Rovers, perfectly adapted for the rural crofting life - especially the convertible Evoque, great for transporting ewes to the mart on a Tuesday morning in open topped luxury. This was a view not universally shared by his humble crofting neighbours, who inexplicably found that their own humble crofting toil was unable to sustain such largesse on so grand a scale, and caused some to postulate the almost inconscionable possibility that Mr Bloatfud may potentially be moonlighting as something other than a humble crofter.

The man's been a charlatan and a fraud all his political career - what he and his supporters orchestrated against the honourable Charles Kennedy was nothing short of an outrage, yet because the egregious humble crofter wore a yellow rosette he could do no wrong in the eyes of the cult faithful.

[Scotty2]

Didn't he break some covid "rules" picking up or travelling to get the vehicle? Seem to remember some deleted tweets being discussed.

[Evercross]

alangla said:

Wings has published what’s probably his shortest ever article on this subject. With an I told you so from September 2023.

And the comments section seems to parallel what is being said in here.

Blackford is one of the top reasons, if not the reason (even higher than aforementioned Sturgeon) why I have nothing but contempt for SNP supporters and voters, and Nationalist acolytes in general. One of their stated goals is supposedly to 'rid Scotland of Tories' while one of their leading lights is all but a 'Tory' in name (or at least their definition of what one is).

Worse (as I said before) than Mone because at least she doesn't pretend not to be a greedy cow.

[Evercross]

Scotty2 said:

Didn't he break some covid "rules" picking up or travelling to get the vehicle? Seem to remember some deleted tweets being discussed.

Not for the vehicle, but he did mysteriously turn up in photographs published on Twitter taken at some outdoor event in Edinburgh despite travel restrictions being in place and he was 'remote attending' Westminster, supposedly from his 'croft' on the Isle of Skye as he claimed.

The pictures/tweets were promptly deleted when someone noticed the disparity and have never resurfaced.

[ZedLeg]

After talking about income tax in the hypothetical I've been put into a situation where I have to make a decision about what I'm going to do.

Having some restructuring at work and I've been offered a promotion that's going to be based in Brighton. I can still mostly work from home but I will be required in the office occasionally. The salary increase will take me into the higher tax rate in Scotland but not England, so do I move to Brighton bearing in mind that housing costs are looking to be double what I pay here or stay, pay the higher tax on a little of my salary and put up with a long commute a couple of times a month?

I'm leaning towards the latter at the moment.

[Evercross]

ZedLeg said:

After talking about income tax in the hypothetical I've been put into a situation where I have to make a decision about what I'm going to do.

Having some restructuring at work and I've been offered a promotion that's going to be based in Brighton. I can still mostly work from home but I will be required in the office occasionally. The salary increase will take me into the higher tax rate in Scotland but not England, so do I move to Brighton bearing in mind that housing costs are looking to be double what I pay here or stay, pay the higher tax on a little of my salary and put up with a long commute a couple of times a month?

I'm leaning towards the latter at the moment.

Increase your pension contributions to take your taxable salary below the threshold. Money for nothing as far as you are concerned and less for Robison to hose up the wall.

Oh, and, the irony.

PS. I would have thought Brighton would be right up your street? Might be worth the additional housing costs in return for the change of environment?

Oh, and again, the irony.

Edited by Evercross on Wednesday 24th January 12:27

[halo34]

ZedLeg said:

After talking about income tax in the hypothetical I've been put into a situation where I have to make a decision about what I'm going to do.

Having some restructuring at work and I've been offered a promotion that's going to be based in Brighton. I can still mostly work from home but I will be required in the office occasionally. The salary increase will take me into the higher tax rate in Scotland but not England, so do I move to Brighton bearing in mind that housing costs are looking to be double what I pay here or stay, pay the higher tax on a little of my salary and put up with a long commute a couple of times a month?

I'm leaning towards the latter at the moment.

If housing costs double, the sensible thing is to tuck the tax difference into a pension contribution - that way your at least getting the benefit, even if it is further down the road. Ok not in your hand - but it does sound like you would be worse off down there.

[ZedLeg]

Evercross said:

Increase your pension contributions to take your taxable salary below the threshold. Money for nothing as far as you are concerned and less for Robison to hose up the wall.

Oh, and, the irony.

I thought it would tickle you

[tim0409]

ZedLeg said:

After talking about income tax in the hypothetical I've been put into a situation where I have to make a decision about what I'm going to do.

Having some restructuring at work and I've been offered a promotion that's going to be based in Brighton. I can still mostly work from home but I will be required in the office occasionally. The salary increase will take me into the higher tax rate in Scotland but not England, so do I move to Brighton bearing in mind that housing costs are looking to be double what I pay here or stay, pay the higher tax on a little of my salary and put up with a long commute a couple of times a month?

I'm leaning towards the latter at the moment.

It’s a non-brainer given your stated views; stay in Scotland and be proud to be one of those with broad shoulders who contribute to a fair and progressive society…..

[fat80b]

tim0409 said:

It’s a non-brainer given your stated views; stay in Scotland and be proud to be one of those with broad shoulders who contribute to a fair and progressive society…..

Indeed - After the position that ZL has repeatedly taken over Scottish tax differences, it would be incredibly hypocritical to then avoid the tax himself (either by moving, or by contributing to a pension etc).....That has made me chuckle

p.s. congrats on the promotion / opportunity.