Scottish Politics / Independence - Vol 11

[irc]

"Scotland has become the only part of Great Britain where sales of properties by landlords has gone up, amid claims that government rent curbs are forcing them out. "

https://www.heraldscotland.com/news/24059937.scotg...

Duh! Who would have thought preventing landlords from making money from rent would make them sell up?

Vote SNP!!!

[TheJimi]

irc said:

"Scotland has become the only part of Great Britain where sales of properties by landlords has gone up, amid claims that government rent curbs are forcing them out. "

https://www.heraldscotland.com/news/24059937.scotg...

Duh! Who would have thought preventing landlords from making money from rent would make them sell up?

Vote SNP!!!

You could argue the policy is a success then, if it's leading to properties being released back into the general market.

[alangla]

TheJimi said:

You could argue the policy is a success then, if it's leading to properties being released back into the general market.

Except it was a policy intended to help the less well off (ie those unable to buy, either because they didn’t have cash for a deposit or had to move around a lot) but instead favoured the better off (those with the cash to put down a deposit and a fixed job) by lowering sale prices and restricting supply of rental properties.

A typical SNP success basically

[Evercross]

TheJimi said:

You could argue the policy is a success then, if it's leading to properties being released back into the general market.

Not necessarily. There are plenty of good reasons why a healthy and competitive rental market is a good thing. A reduction in available lets pushes up prices.

Plenty of people have good reason to rent rather than buy - perhaps they don't qualify for a mortgage or are living in an area temporarily for work reasons.

The current policies in Scotland are not predicated on improving the availability of housing (because similar policies when applied in other countries/territories have been proven to do the exact opposite). Instead it is motivated by the personalities of a few Marxist Scottish 'Green' politicians who have demonstrated amply that they are just spiteful.

[halo34]

The extended lockdown on evictions also means landlords cant necessarily exit when they need too either. I know its been modified recently to allow for sales (I think).

Tories hinting at tax cuts potentially - but if that covers income tax, then the SNP are in a corner where we might see even more difference between South/North?

What I would like to see is all Government spending that isnt core Scottish ceased (overseas embassies) - the ferries canned for what they are, let the shipyard sink. Its not like its going to win more business after this fiasco - so its essentially a badly run state support system.

Bring back some level of prescription charges over the minimum threshold of the admin costs to recoup and then wind down all depts and separation that assumed Scotland would be independant.

I reckon there is a fair chunk of money in some of that - alongside an investigation into what influence he is trying to bear on overseas issues which are family related - but have nothing to do with running Scotland.

[Earthdweller]

Evercross said:

TheJimi said:

You could argue the policy is a success then, if it's leading to properties being released back into the general market.

Not necessarily. There are plenty of good reasons why a healthy and competitive rental market is a good thing. A reduction in available lets pushes up prices.

Plenty of people have good reason to rent rather than buy - perhaps they don't qualify for a mortgage or are living in an area temporarily for work reasons.

The current policies in Scotland are not predicated on improving the availability of housing (because similar policies when applied in other countries/territories have been proven to do the exact opposite). Instead it is motivated by the personalities of a few Marxist Scottish 'Green' politicians who have demonstrated amply that they are just spiteful.

You only need to look at Ireland where state meddling in the housing market has led to a crisis of supply of rental properties

Rent controls and taxation of landlords has led to a mass exodus from the market

Demand for the fewer properties still remaining on the market has led to rents going up massively

Who’d have thought that would happen?

[Klippie]

halo34 said:

The extended lockdown on evictions also means landlords cant necessarily exit when they need too either. I know its been modified recently to allow for sales (I think).

Tories hinting at tax cuts potentially - but if that covers income tax, then the SNP are in a corner where we might see even more difference between South/North?

What I would like to see is all Government spending that isnt core Scottish ceased (overseas embassies) - the ferries canned for what they are, let the shipyard sink. Its not like its going to win more business after this fiasco - so its essentially a badly run state support system.

Bring back some level of prescription charges over the minimum threshold of the admin costs to recoup and then wind down all depts and separation that assumed Scotland would be independant.

I reckon there is a fair chunk of money in some of that - alongside an investigation into what influence he is trying to bear on overseas issues which are family related - but have nothing to do with running Scotland.

I hear what you say but the SNP can only keep the face-painter core nats voting for them if they keep the free stuff rolling out and constantly berate Westminster at every opportunity...its all they've got.

Its the mass incompetence that's ruining everything...they are just useless.

[Evercross]

halo34 said:

Tories hinting at tax cuts potentially - but if that covers income tax, then the SNP are in a corner where we might see even more difference between South/North?

Humza has already said he won't be passing them on if they happen. Once again showing his lack of political nous as if Hunt goes for a big cut in income tax all talk of 'Tory bribes' are going to ring hollow because the battle in Scotland isn't with the Tories, and Labour will capitalise on how the SNP are punishing Scots in the middle of a cost of living crisis. Even if a UK Labour government rolled back on income tax cuts that still does not preclude the Holyrood election boost they would get by saying it was part of a two-stage realignment of income tax to make it fairer across the UK, which Labour would implement if they became the Scottish Government.

Humza should have held his water on the issue, but then he's as thick as mince.

[Evercross]

Earthdweller said:

Evercross said:

TheJimi said:

You could argue the policy is a success then, if it's leading to properties being released back into the general market.

Not necessarily. There are plenty of good reasons why a healthy and competitive rental market is a good thing. A reduction in available lets pushes up prices.

Plenty of people have good reason to rent rather than buy - perhaps they don't qualify for a mortgage or are living in an area temporarily for work reasons.

The current policies in Scotland are not predicated on improving the availability of housing (because similar policies when applied in other countries/territories have been proven to do the exact opposite). Instead it is motivated by the personalities of a few Marxist Scottish 'Green' politicians who have demonstrated amply that they are just spiteful.

You only need to look at Ireland where state meddling in the housing market has led to a crisis of supply of rental properties

Rent controls and taxation of landlords has led to a mass exodus from the market

Demand for the fewer properties still remaining on the market has led to rents going up massively

Who’d have thought that would happen?

The correct answer to the problem would be to build more affordable housing, but this clashes with two of the Marxist Scottish 'Green's ideologies as they are against any redevelopment of land, plus they despise any and all profit-making enterprises so would go out of their way to make things awkward for the builders.

Hence we have this half-baked solution that makes things worse rather than better.

[alangla]

Evercross said:

Humza has already said he won't be passing them on if they happen. Once again showing his lack of political nous as if Hunt goes for a big cut in income tax all talk of 'Tory bribes' are going to ring hollow because the battle in Scotland isn't with the Tories, and Labour will capitalise on how the SNP are punishing Scots in the middle of a cost of living crisis. Even if a UK Labour government rolled back on income tax cuts that still does not preclude the Holyrood election boost they would get by saying it was part of a two-stage realignment of income tax to make it fairer across the UK, which Labour would implement if they became the Scottish Government.

Humza should have held his water on the issue, but then he's as thick as mince.

UK Labour are already hinting at tax cuts (personally I think it’s more likely to be an uplift in the basic and higher thresholds, with the additional rate threshold stays frozen). If Robison had any sense she’d be pushing the fact that the SNP have already increased the starter rate threshold, but that’s too sophisticated for them. I’m now absolutely convinced that Sarwar will make tax realignment the core of the next manifesto.

[halo34]

Klippie said:

I hear what you say but the SNP can only keep the face-painter core nats voting for them if they keep the free stuff rolling out and constantly berate Westminster at every opportunity...its all they've got.

Its the mass incompetence that's ruining everything...they are just useless.

Oh I know - its just what I would like to see, not whats going to happen.

I guess thats what happens when your first minister is too busy trying to influence and get involved in events that are nothing to do with him.

[Klippie]

I see we are going to be battered by Storm Isha...perhaps they should have called it storm Humza as full of wind and pish.

https://www.thescottishsun.co.uk/news/11813057/sto...

[Evercross]

alangla said:

UK Labour are already hinting at tax cuts (personally I think it’s more likely to be an uplift in the basic and higher thresholds, with the additional rate threshold stays frozen). If Robison had any sense she’d be pushing the fact that the SNP have already increased the starter rate threshold, but that’s too sophisticated for them. I’m now absolutely convinced that Sarwar will make tax realignment the core of the next manifesto.

It is an absolute open-goal for Scottish Labour and almost a no-cost move as, by ScotGov's own figures and Robison's own admission, the increases were mostly performative and don't raise anything like the revenue levels originally claimed.

You would think that an SNP government would do the maths and realise that they might secure another Holyrood term if they rolled back on their tax increases, and I suspect that Kate Forbes is thinking exactly that. Humza and Robison have (idiotically) closed off the option for themselves, but if/when Humza crashes and burns at the General Election and the party move to get rid of him, in steps Forbes and steal's Sarwar's trump card for the 2025 Holyrood election....

[jamesson]

Klippie said:

I see we are going to be battered by Storm Isha...perhaps they should have called it storm Humza as full of wind and pish.

https://www.thescottishsun.co.uk/news/11813057/sto...

[alangla]

Seems Sturgeon destroyed all WhatsApp messages related to the pandemic https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2024/01/19/nicola...

[Master Of Puppets]

alangla said:

Seems Sturgeon destroyed all WhatsApp messages related to the pandemic https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2024/01/19/nicola...

Hardly a surprise is it, only serves to make her look even more suspect. I wonder if Freeman has also deleted her own by coincidence.

[irc]

Evercross said:

It is an absolute open-goal for Scottish Labour and almost a no-cost move as, by ScotGov's own figures and Robison's own admission, the increases were mostly performative and don't raise anything like the revenue levels originally claimed.

You would think that an SNP government would do the maths and realise that they might secure another Holyrood term if they rolled back on their tax increases, and I suspect that Kate Forbes is thinking exactly that. Humza and Robison have (idiotically) closed off the option for themselves, but if/when Humza crashes and burns at the General Election and the party move to get rid of him, in steps Forbes and steal's Sarwar's trump card for the 2025 Holyrood election....

Agreed. In my case the tax I pay to the Scottish govt would increase as I would spend it now rather than sticking it in a pension to avoid 52% tax and NI.

[irc]

alangla said:

Seems Sturgeon destroyed all WhatsApp messages related to the pandemic https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2024/01/19/nicola...

Ah but She doesn't need the records mere mortals keep because of her photographic memory.

[General Price]

irc said:

alangla said:

Seems Sturgeon destroyed all WhatsApp messages related to the pandemic https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2024/01/19/nicola...

Ah but She doesn't need the records mere mortals keep because of her photographic memory.

The public are all too stupid to understand them anyway.

[Master Of Puppets]

Another interesting read from Effie today....

"If Humza Yousaf is not a nationalist, what is he? What motivates him and how did he reach the top? It’s not just a matter of cruelly playing with his name, the past year has shown that he is shockingly talentless as a politician. It’s one disaster after another as if he became leader only after making a pact like Faust and has ended up being cursed.

Like Sturgeon too it looks rather as if Humza Yousaf is running a family business and it means now that voting for the SNP turns out to involve Scotland more than it might like in Gaza, Turkey and the worst parts of Dundee.

Pretendy Scottish nationalists who only ever wanted independence if they thought life would go on just like it does in the UK but, they’d all get gold bars for voting SNP are as disgusted with Humza Yousaf as the rest of us. They are not going to get independence, nor gold bars, nor £10,000 and they don’t much like the SNP being associated with the dregs of society.

Expect support for the SNP to fall still further. It matters very little indeed what you call it. What matters is what it is.

If Humza Yousaf is not a nationalist it’s because he’s something worse. He's just pretending to be one. "

https://www.effiedeans.com/2024/01/if-hes-not-nati...