Ask them if they want the government debt on independence allocated on basis of the Barnett formula.

I suspect that would stop them in their tracks
Nick | 09.10.08 - 2:49 pm | #

If we are a drain on England , why are the treasury so keen to hold on to us? looks very much like bribery to me , ask yourself why.
Donny B | 09.10.08 - 3:10 pm | #

"If we are a drain on England , why are the treasury so keen to hold on to us? looks very much like bribery to me , ask yourself why.
Donny B"

Take a look in the House of Commons and you'll understand why. Lose Scotland, and Labour loses 40-ish MPs. They might never get a majority again.

It's not about money, Donny, whatever you might like to fantasise.
Russell Long | Homepage | 09.10.08 - 6:03 pm | #

Donny

I agree with Russell.

But I also think HMT has a total aversion to losing control of any purse-strings.

According to the OECD, the Treasury directly controls 95% of all tax revenues raised in the UK. That's much higher than in any other major economy (see paper). They don't want Scotland to control its own taxes because quite simply it means they lose power.
Wat Tyler | Homepage | 09.11.08 - 5:35 pm | #