Scottish Referendum / Independence - Vol 8

[Leithen]

hidetheelephants said:

FFS, Scotland's public sector is too fking big already and now these assclowns want to nationalise electricity?

It's in their nature - centralise power and control of everything.

[dromong]

Leithen said:

hidetheelephants said:

FFS, Scotland's public sector is too fking big already and now these assclowns want to nationalise electricity?

It's in their nature - centralise power and control of everything.

Absolutely correct. Sturgeon et-al would burn Scotland if it meant they could control and rule the ashes. One of the most devious characters in Politics as far as I am concerned, with a pair of eyes that just oozes deceit.

[anonymous-user]

Leithen said:

hidetheelephants said:

FFS, Scotland's public sector is too fking big already and now these assclowns want to nationalise electricity?

It's in their nature - centralise power and control of everything.

Looks like a good policy, out lot should follow suit.
It’s not nationalising electricity. It’s a government not for profit company, to compete with the private sector who have abused their positions.

[98elise]

Jimboka said:

Leithen said:

hidetheelephants said:

FFS, Scotland's public sector is too fking big already and now these assclowns want to nationalise electricity?

It's in their nature - centralise power and control of everything.

Looks like a good policy, out lot should follow suit.
It’s not nationalising electricity. It’s a government not for profit company, to compete with the private sector who have abused their positions.

If thats true then I would be happy for something like that in England as long as its not subsidised in any way. IMO that's the best of both worlds.

[Alpacaman]

https://www.theguardian.com/sustainable-business/2...

To me this is a better idea than any state owned energy company, since the Scottish Government seem incapable of paying farmers their rural payments why would we expect them to be able to run an energy company without ending up costing us all more.

[steveL98]

gofasterrosssco said:

StottyGTR said:

gofasterrosssco said:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-scotland-pol...

SNP to set up Scottish energy firm..

I'm not sure how the economics of that will work, as there's already significant competition in the market (despite the usual complaints that there isn't).

If it's selling 'Scottish' produced energy then it'll be relatively expensive renewables energy, which genuinely won't appeal or help those on lower incomes (but its a good party conference sound bite), or will the Scottish tax payer be asked to subsidise..

I find Nicola Sturgeon one of the most annoying people alive but this is absolutely genius. If they can set up an efficient energy company they will be able to undercut the competition by a huge margin.

I worked for a large energy firm and the inefficiencies are mind blowing, but its all ok because the public don't have an option but to pay for it.

I agree, but the key word there is "efficient", which is not something typically associated with public ownership.. If it works, great, but the issue is that the Scottish tax payer is on the hook should it fail or become a loss leader. Once set up, the political dimension to it will mean public money will likely be used to prop it up, regardless of realities. A bit like Prestwick unfortunately..

Amen!!

I remember the '60's and '70's when everything was nationalised but nothing worked or made a profit so the taxpayers had to foot the bill with higher and higher rates each budget time.

[steveL98]

Wait til the Scottish budget in December when all our taxes will increase the following year..

Leftys always increase taxes, its what they do!

[pingu393]

I used to work in an MOD workshop and we were not allowed to tender for work such as servicing the council vehicles, as we had an unfair advantage over private industry. Does the Scottish Government not have to worry about such things now we are leaving the EU?

[Silverbullet767]

I see nippy's got another jolly up to the artic circle this time. Any chance they could keep her?

[Blue Oval84]

Jimboka said:

Looks like a good policy, out lot should follow suit.
It’s not nationalising electricity. It’s a government not for profit company, to compete with the private sector who have abused their positions.

Exactly how much margin do they think they can strip out? Most domestic suppliers run on 3-5%, is the Scottish Government such a paragon of efficiency that they can find even more margin to give away?

Or is this entire initiative really aiming to deliver a 3-5% price cut whilst exposing the taxpayer to the risk that they cock it up?

[r11co]

Blue Oval84 said:

Or is this entire initiative really aiming to deliver a 3-5% price cut whilst exposing the taxpayer to the risk that they cock it up?

This. See Prestwick Airport/Ryanair for details of same thing on a smaller scale.

[Welshbeef]

I don't know prestwick or the area at all and personally am against big govt.

However maybe long term this is a good move. If it fails/closes its doubtful it would ever open again - conversely by subsiding it and drawing passengers away from glasgow and burger then your spreading the volume and wealth it's generates over a wider geography... maybe?

[blinkythefish]

Blue Oval84 said:

Jimboka said:

Looks like a good policy, out lot should follow suit.
It’s not nationalising electricity. It’s a government not for profit company, to compete with the private sector who have abused their positions.

Exactly how much margin do they think they can strip out? Most domestic suppliers run on 3-5%, is the Scottish Government such a paragon of efficiency that they can find even more margin to give away?

Or is this entire initiative really aiming to deliver a 3-5% price cut whilst exposing the taxpayer to the risk that they cock it up?

I predict:

1. Morphs into "Promoting Green Energy" supplier, because green energy is key to Scotland's future.
2. Everyone loves bird shredders, so we'll invent a subsidy for "primarily green" suppliers, with a sufficiently narrow definition that SCOTPOWER is the major recipient.
3. Further change to remit so that it supplies discounted power to "most vulnerable" members of society, paid for using the subsidy.

Ta-da: state subsidized power supplier to key SNP voters, at the expense of Scotland's taxpayers.

[BlackLabel]

Salmond and Tasmina dining out in Strasbourg at the taxpayers expense.


http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-4983020/Eu...

[jsc15]

BlackLabel said:

Salmond and Tasmina dining out in Strasbourg at the taxpayers expense.


http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-4983020/Eu...

I've been saying this before on here, there's something up with these 2.

Where one goes, the other isn't far behind

Maybe they've embraced the "Better Together" idea

[Sylvaforever]

jsc15 said:

BlackLabel said:

Salmond and Tasmina dining out in Strasbourg at the taxpayers expense.


http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-4983020/Eu...

I've been saying this before on here, there's something up with these 2.

Where one goes, the other isn't far behind

Maybe they've embraced the "Better Together" idea

And who is the "acquaintance "

[StottyGTR]

steveL98 said:

gofasterrosssco said:

StottyGTR said:

gofasterrosssco said:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-scotland-pol...

SNP to set up Scottish energy firm..

I'm not sure how the economics of that will work, as there's already significant competition in the market (despite the usual complaints that there isn't).

If it's selling 'Scottish' produced energy then it'll be relatively expensive renewables energy, which genuinely won't appeal or help those on lower incomes (but its a good party conference sound bite), or will the Scottish tax payer be asked to subsidise..

I find Nicola Sturgeon one of the most annoying people alive but this is absolutely genius. If they can set up an efficient energy company they will be able to undercut the competition by a huge margin.

I worked for a large energy firm and the inefficiencies are mind blowing, but its all ok because the public don't have an option but to pay for it.

I agree, but the key word there is "efficient", which is not something typically associated with public ownership.. If it works, great, but the issue is that the Scottish tax payer is on the hook should it fail or become a loss leader. Once set up, the political dimension to it will mean public money will likely be used to prop it up, regardless of realities. A bit like Prestwick unfortunately..

Amen!!

I remember the '60's and '70's when everything was nationalised but nothing worked or made a profit so the taxpayers had to foot the bill with higher and higher rates each budget time.

Depends how well its managed I imagine, the Royal Mail was a lot better when owned by the state.

[Angrybiker]

StottyGTR said:

Depends how well its managed I imagine, the Royal Mail was a lot better when owned by the state.

Really? I seem to recall a few efficiency consultancies giving it up as a bad job (just like the NHS). I definitely recall 1st class being 'more or a chance of getting there sometime in the not too distant future', although it wasn't too bad. The unions completely paralysed it; then volume dropped off.. It's had a tough old run to be fair.

[Big Rod]

blinkythefish said:

Blue Oval84 said:

Jimboka said:

Looks like a good policy, out lot should follow suit.
It’s not nationalising electricity. It’s a government not for profit company, to compete with the private sector who have abused their positions.

Exactly how much margin do they think they can strip out? Most domestic suppliers run on 3-5%, is the Scottish Government such a paragon of efficiency that they can find even more margin to give away?

Or is this entire initiative really aiming to deliver a 3-5% price cut whilst exposing the taxpayer to the risk that they cock it up?

I predict:

1. Morphs into "Promoting Green Energy" supplier, because green energy is key to Scotland's future.
2. Everyone loves bird shredders, so we'll invent a subsidy for "primarily green" suppliers, with a sufficiently narrow definition that SCOTPOWER is the major recipient.
3. Further change to remit so that it supplies discounted power to "most vulnerable" members of society, paid for using the subsidy.

Ta-da: state subsidized power supplier to key SNP voters, at the expense of Scotland's taxpayers.

Of course, ScoPo is owned by Iberdrola.

Spanish.

[amusingduck]

article said:

Introducing a citizens’ income for everyone in Scotland would cost the public purse an extra £12.3 billion per year and lead to punitive income tax rises, official analysis has revealed.


A paper prepared by Scottish Government civil servants for First Minister Nicola Sturgeon has warned that taxpayers could face an income tax rate of 50 per cent across all bands to fund the scheme

The analysis also suggests that the tax-free personal allowance would have to be removed in order to pay for the multi-billion pound scheme to give everyone cash, regardless of their wealth.

In recent weeks Ms Sturgeon has signalled she intends to consider introducing a basic income for all, despite receiving the document in March.

http://www.scotsman.com/news/politics/nicola-sturgeon-s-universal-income-is-costed-at-12-3bn-1-4589520

She's never let the facts get in her way before, why stop now