Scottish Referendum / Independence - Vol 10
Discussion
Who would have thunk it possible??
https://www.scotsman.com/news/politics/snp-coaliti...
SNP coalition partners Scottish Greens fail to submit party accounts on time
The Scottish Greens, who are set to enter government with the SNP, failed to submit their accounts to the Electoral Commission on time.
More than 340 political parties across the UK submitted their annual statements of accounts to the commission on time. However, the Scottish Greens were among seven who failed to do so, the commission confirmed.
This breach can lead to fines and further sanctions if the commission believe there is further wrongdoing
The Scottish Greens told The Scotsman their accounts have now been submitted with a clean audit report.
The party is set to enter government with the SNP should the co-operation deal agreed by the leaders of the two parties be ratified by the Scottish Greens’ membership.
The SNP is also undertaking a consultative ballot of its members to understand levels of support for the deal.
Co-leaders of the Greens, Patrick Harvie and Lorna Slater, will receive ministerial roles in the government should the deal be agreed by their party members.
The MSPs will be given remits covering decarbonising transport, homes and buildings as well as a new deal for tenants, with another looking at green skills and industries such as the energy sector.
Louise Edwards, director of regulation at the Electoral Commission, said: “All registered political parties must keep financial records and submit annual statements of accounts to us. Publishing this data helps voters see political parties’ income and what they’re spending.
"This is an important part of delivering transparency in political finance in the UK, and in enhancing public confidence and trust in our democratic processes.”
https://www.scotsman.com/news/politics/snp-coaliti...
SNP coalition partners Scottish Greens fail to submit party accounts on time
The Scottish Greens, who are set to enter government with the SNP, failed to submit their accounts to the Electoral Commission on time.
More than 340 political parties across the UK submitted their annual statements of accounts to the commission on time. However, the Scottish Greens were among seven who failed to do so, the commission confirmed.
This breach can lead to fines and further sanctions if the commission believe there is further wrongdoing
The Scottish Greens told The Scotsman their accounts have now been submitted with a clean audit report.
The party is set to enter government with the SNP should the co-operation deal agreed by the leaders of the two parties be ratified by the Scottish Greens’ membership.
The SNP is also undertaking a consultative ballot of its members to understand levels of support for the deal.
Co-leaders of the Greens, Patrick Harvie and Lorna Slater, will receive ministerial roles in the government should the deal be agreed by their party members.
The MSPs will be given remits covering decarbonising transport, homes and buildings as well as a new deal for tenants, with another looking at green skills and industries such as the energy sector.
Louise Edwards, director of regulation at the Electoral Commission, said: “All registered political parties must keep financial records and submit annual statements of accounts to us. Publishing this data helps voters see political parties’ income and what they’re spending.
"This is an important part of delivering transparency in political finance in the UK, and in enhancing public confidence and trust in our democratic processes.”
Newarch said:
It does seem to be a case of nationalism in action;
a) ploughing ones own furrow, regardless of whether that furrow is pretty much in the same direction as the existing furrow, it is nevertheless important to have ones own furrow and be seen to be ostentatiously ploughing it.
b) blaming outsiders for things going wrong, although SNP and the Welsh Government seem to have narrowed that down to disassociation with and blaming the English (see also Brexit and 2nd homes).
I think it was here that someone mentioned it but it’s worth mentioning again: we’ve spent however many thousands of pounds generating our own slogans (FACTS and what not) to be different to England, when we could’ve just piggybacked on the perfectly suitable Hands, Face, Space of BoJo for free. But no, we can’t be doing what Tories tell us. a) ploughing ones own furrow, regardless of whether that furrow is pretty much in the same direction as the existing furrow, it is nevertheless important to have ones own furrow and be seen to be ostentatiously ploughing it.
b) blaming outsiders for things going wrong, although SNP and the Welsh Government seem to have narrowed that down to disassociation with and blaming the English (see also Brexit and 2nd homes).
633Squadron said:
Well, f
k me gently with the bell end of a rag man's trumpet. - I mean who could of seen this coming?
https://www.heraldscotland.com/politics/19539640.s...
SNP auditors make unprecedented fraud statement in party accounts
THE SNP’s auditors have included an unprecedented statement about fraud in the party’s new accounts as police investigate potential criminality around fundraising.
Finance experts Johnston Carmichael LLP inserted a lengthy section on the “extent to which the audit was considered capable of detecting irregularities, including fraud”.
The accountancy firm revealed it had been reading the minutes of the party’s ruling body and audit & finance committee to check for “events that may impact the financial statements”.
Three members of the finance committee resigned earlier this year in protest over a lack of transparency, as did the then party treasurer, MP Douglas Chapman.
The auditors also said they had “obtained an understanding of the legal and regulatory frameworks that the party operates in”, with a focus on “material amounts and disclosures”.
I'm afraid that's a utter bk me gently with the bell end of a rag man's trumpet. - I mean who could of seen this coming?https://www.heraldscotland.com/politics/19539640.s...
SNP auditors make unprecedented fraud statement in party accounts
THE SNP’s auditors have included an unprecedented statement about fraud in the party’s new accounts as police investigate potential criminality around fundraising.
Finance experts Johnston Carmichael LLP inserted a lengthy section on the “extent to which the audit was considered capable of detecting irregularities, including fraud”.
The accountancy firm revealed it had been reading the minutes of the party’s ruling body and audit & finance committee to check for “events that may impact the financial statements”.
Three members of the finance committee resigned earlier this year in protest over a lack of transparency, as did the then party treasurer, MP Douglas Chapman.
The auditors also said they had “obtained an understanding of the legal and regulatory frameworks that the party operates in”, with a focus on “material amounts and disclosures”.
ks article by The Herald there (at least the spin they're putting on it). That section of the audit report is a new requirement of International Standard on Auditing (UK) 700 Forming an Opinion and Reporting on Financial Statements (Revised January 2020). Every single audit report for any UK company for periods beginning on or after 15 December 2019 will now paragraphs explaining how the auditor assessed the fraud risk and responded to and also any irregularities. You can thank the various audit scandals (Carillion, Patisserie Valerie etc). The wording in the SNP report is one step up from boilerplate language (the wording is supposed to be tailored to reflect the risks and work performed).
No, the real interesting aspect of the SNP's accounts is how little money they had at 31 December 2021 at what should be a high point in their funding cycle, just before their main (Holyrood) election campaign begins. After all the election spending their cash balance will be much lower now. All of which suggests they cannot afford an IndyRef2 campaign anytime soon despite Mike Russell insisting they're ready for immediate campaigning.
Hill92 said:
I'm afraid that's a utter bks article by The Herald there (at least the spin they're putting on it). That section of the audit report is a new requirement of International Standard on Auditing (UK) 700 Forming an Opinion and Reporting on Financial Statements (Revised January 2020). Every single audit report for any UK company for periods beginning on or after 15 December 2019 will now paragraphs explaining how the auditor assessed the fraud risk and responded to and also any irregularities. You can thank the various audit scandals (Carillion, Patisserie Valerie etc).
The wording in the SNP report is one step up from boilerplate language (the wording is supposed to be tailored to reflect the risks and work performed).
Indeed. That is shockingly bad journalism. I'd be seriously peeved if I thought my supporters interpreted this as there being a particular fraud issue. ks article by The Herald there (at least the spin they're putting on it). That section of the audit report is a new requirement of International Standard on Auditing (UK) 700 Forming an Opinion and Reporting on Financial Statements (Revised January 2020). Every single audit report for any UK company for periods beginning on or after 15 December 2019 will now paragraphs explaining how the auditor assessed the fraud risk and responded to and also any irregularities. You can thank the various audit scandals (Carillion, Patisserie Valerie etc). The wording in the SNP report is one step up from boilerplate language (the wording is supposed to be tailored to reflect the risks and work performed).
I've had a quick look at the accounts and I wondering what they managed to spend £600k of capex on - this is quite a chunky bit of the surplus and I couldn't see mention of it in the narrative, but may have missed it.
They also note they suspended the amount of membership fees they remit to local branches for part of the year due to Covid which I suspect may not have gone down too well.
£77k on legal fees you have to wonder what on earth that is for unless that is "normal" for political parties - it was half the figure in 2019 though.
alangla said:
I’m going to predict a couple of decent sized outbreaks in student accommodation when the Unis go back, followed rapidly with Sturgeon doing one of her TV briefings to deliver a “not scapegoating” scapegoating of students. This will manifest itself as students specifically being banned from pubs as per last year, freshers weeks being banned and probably a restriction in class sizes to something less than a typical tutorial group. Oh, and masks absolutely everywhere forever & further absolutely scapegoating of any students allegedly unvaxxed.
Anyone agree/disagree?
You missed the scapegoating of capitalism as well.... Anyone agree/disagree?
They are now linking capitalism to critical race theory as taught to my children...
https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2021/08/26/white-...
The guidelines assert that white people receive “automatic advantages” because of their skin colour with society “designed around a world view of a white majority ethnic group”.
Meanwhile, teachers are told that they should recognise that race is “a system that serves to enable capitalism and the current world order”.
They have been urged to “reflect on their own racist thinking with which they have been socialised” and to take a 30-question “white privilege test” designed to demonstrate “structural racial inequalities” in British society.
And this is before the Greens start with the identity politics!
Braveheart300 said:
Here she goes again.....announcing a unscheduled briefing for lunch time and getting her face on the TV again.
I expect a briefing of absolutely nothing different to a couple days ago and more half threats of lockdown if we don't comply blah blah!
I've fortunately missed her recent TV appearances. But I would hope that we are now at the stage where if she is putting herself forward to give briefings she is taking questions from the media as well.I expect a briefing of absolutely nothing different to a couple days ago and more half threats of lockdown if we don't comply blah blah!
Am I hoping for too much?
On the subject of the Greens in power, I am waiting for the Presiding Officder, a Green MSP, to announce that the Greens will no longer be allowed to ask questions at First Minister's Questions. After all how can you question a govt you are part of.
Nicola's not considering a lockdown.
Because she has no money.
And she knows it.
Thank. God.
The idiotic Leitch is now ok with 50k at Ibrox....Neither "safe nor unsafe". don't just follow the guidance "extend it". So the guidance isn't right then Jason...
Complete half wit.
Sturgeon actually sounds a little defeated....
Because she has no money.
And she knows it.
Thank. God.
The idiotic Leitch is now ok with 50k at Ibrox....Neither "safe nor unsafe". don't just follow the guidance "extend it". So the guidance isn't right then Jason...
Complete half wit.
Sturgeon actually sounds a little defeated....
Many months ago I said that her constant daily PPB briefings would result in more and more becoming sick at the mere sight of her, look at her poll ratings now, totally in the gutter where they should be. I speak to a lot of folk and I dont know anyone that isn't scunnered by her, even indy supporters. So keep up with the need to show your mug constantly on the TV Nicola, it's working wonders.
Pastor Of Muppets said:
Many months ago I said that her constant daily PPB briefings would result in more and more becoming sick at the mere sight of her, look at her poll ratings now, totally in the gutter where they should be. I speak to a lot of folk and I dont know anyone that isn't scunnered by her, even indy supporters. So keep up with the need to show your mug constantly on the TV Nicola, it's working wonders.
Do you have any recent poll ratings for Scotland, rather than Uk wide?On COVID. Scotland is better vaccinated so no surprise that lock down is not planned.
Edited by aparna on Friday 27th August 14:50
aparna said:
Do you have any recent poll ratings for Scotland, rather than Uk wide?
On COVID. Scotland is better vaccinated so no surprise that lock down is not planned.
"Six Scottish health boards are among the top 10 worst-hit regions in Europe, according to World Health Organization (WHO) figures."On COVID. Scotland is better vaccinated so no surprise that lock down is not planned.
Edited by aparna on Friday 27th August 14:50
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-57712737
Seems that all those people last year who thought Nicola had done a great job of handling the epidemic could have been wrong.
irc said:
"Six Scottish health boards are among the top 10 worst-hit regions in Europe, according to World Health Organization (WHO) figures."
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-57712737
Seems that all those people last year who thought Nicola had done a great job of handling the epidemic could have been wrong.
not only has the opposition gone silent on Scotland’s better vaccination rates and much improved death rates. They are being noisy about infection rates? All the while banging the drum about opening up quicker?https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-57712737
Seems that all those people last year who thought Nicola had done a great job of handling the epidemic could have been wrong.
I hope most people on planet Earth can see this for what it is.
aparna said:
irc said:
"Six Scottish health boards are among the top 10 worst-hit regions in Europe, according to World Health Organization (WHO) figures."
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-57712737
Seems that all those people last year who thought Nicola had done a great job of handling the epidemic could have been wrong.
not only has the opposition gone silent on Scotland’s better vaccination rates and much improved death rates. They are being noisy about infection rates? All the while banging the drum about opening up quicker?https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-57712737
Seems that all those people last year who thought Nicola had done a great job of handling the epidemic could have been wrong.
I hope most people on planet Earth can see this for what it is.
The point is that you cannot meaningfully control a virus. It's why "gung-ho" states such as Texas and Florida and places like that have not collapsed despite having no meaningful restrictions in place for a very long time. The fact is that we don't understand this virus all that well. The mistake the political class made was in asserting that they were in control of the virus when self evidently that is not the case.
Sturgeon has long asserted that she is more cautious and more careful than the Toaarees. If that is true, why is she not locking us down right now?
ant1973 said:
That is true - Scotland are a few % points ahead on first and second doses. In terms of mortality, there is no meaningful difference as far as I can tell?
The point is that you cannot meaningfully control a virus. It's why "gung-ho" states such as Texas and Florida and places like that have not collapsed despite having no meaningful restrictions in place for a very long time. The fact is that we don't understand this virus all that well. The mistake the political class made was in asserting that they were in control of the virus when self evidently that is not the case.
Sturgeon has long asserted that she is more cautious and more careful than the Toaarees. If that is true, why is she not locking us down right now?
Princess Devi tweeted yesterday Scot gov should/would no longer use cases to guide policy. The point is that you cannot meaningfully control a virus. It's why "gung-ho" states such as Texas and Florida and places like that have not collapsed despite having no meaningful restrictions in place for a very long time. The fact is that we don't understand this virus all that well. The mistake the political class made was in asserting that they were in control of the virus when self evidently that is not the case.
Sturgeon has long asserted that she is more cautious and more careful than the Toaarees. If that is true, why is she not locking us down right now?
Cases used to be a fairly reliable leading indicator of hospitalisations. That’s no longer true as vaccines have changed the landscape entirely.
Maybe if we put politics aside for a small minute, there are signs that NS is apparently on board with the UK’s broader plan to live with the virus now we have some better tools to deal with it.
aparna said:
Princess Devi tweeted yesterday Scot gov should/would no longer use cases to guide policy.
Cases used to be a fairly reliable leading indicator of hospitalisations. That’s no longer true as vaccines have changed the landscape entirely.
Maybe if we put politics aside for a small minute, there are signs that NS is apparently on board with the UK’s broader plan to live with the virus now we have some better tools to deal with it.
She has no choice in the matter as she in hock to Rishi for the furlow money.Cases used to be a fairly reliable leading indicator of hospitalisations. That’s no longer true as vaccines have changed the landscape entirely.
Maybe if we put politics aside for a small minute, there are signs that NS is apparently on board with the UK’s broader plan to live with the virus now we have some better tools to deal with it.
PS. For once I agree with Devi - we shouldn't be in thrall to cases, but Sturgeon needed someone to break that link for her so she could maintain her 'caring' image.
PPS. I predicted a year ago that Scotland would be ahead of rUK in August for cases because we open our schools a month earlier. I was 100% on the button back then, so I hope no-one is surprised at the same pattern repeating this year.
Final note - IMO vaccines are making not a hate of difference to anything now and the reduction in death rates is due to the mutation being more transmissible but less deadly (as per the evolution of every SARS-Covid virus there has ever been) combined with people generally being healthier right now thanks to the naturally enforced doses of Vitamin D, of which there has been an unprecedentedly high amount in Scotland this summer......
Edited by Evercross on Friday 27th August 17:06
Philodox Sturgeon thinks she has a level of intelligence above the rest of us, well I would love to hear her thoughts on this.......
https://www.effiedeans.com/2021/08/the-snps-white-...
The failed Solicitor could only dream of that level of insightful thinking.
https://www.effiedeans.com/2021/08/the-snps-white-...
The failed Solicitor could only dream of that level of insightful thinking.
irc said:
"Six Scottish health boards are among the top 10 worst-hit regions in Europe, according to World Health Organization (WHO) figures."
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-57712737
Seems that all those people last year who thought Nicola had done a great job of handling the epidemic could have been wrong.
By delaying opening up until just before the schools re-opened, she's stored up a humungous shttps://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-57712737
Seems that all those people last year who thought Nicola had done a great job of handling the epidemic could have been wrong.
t-ball which is currently hitting us in the form of vastly increased cases and hospitals that seem to be full of predominantly "everything else" but obviously a not insignificant amount of Covid.Whitty, during one of the UK government briefings in July, said that it was better to get opened up more while the schools were off to get the exit wave out the way as much as possible during the holidays & when the weather was better. This means we should have been looking at a full re-opening (i.e. "beyond zero" or further) at the end of June - instead she waited until the 9th of August. This could have been done by now, but instead we're heading into autumn with the worst case rates in Europe (again) and various NHS trusts starting to dump operations, some of which should probably have happened last summer when things were quiet, but again, we didn't reopen.
I'm genuinely worried about what happens when further & higher education comes back as inevitably there will be outbreaks in student accommodation - I'm still sticking to my prediction of some sort of selective restrictions aimed at students rather than the wider population. As others have observed, the lack of furlough appears, thankfully, to be tying their hands. If furlough was to become available again, then I wouldn't bet against another hospitality closure.
Edited by alangla on Friday 27th August 17:22
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