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Stewart Jackson MP: Westminster Life - on Scottish independence and High Speed 2 rail link
The big issues at Westminster this week have been David Cameron’s challenge to the Scottish SNP government to “put up or shut up” and call a referendum on independence and plans for the High Speed 2 rail line from London to Birmingham and beyond.
I will return to High Speed Rail another day.
I suspect many people in Peterborough are increasingly ambivalent about Scotland’s wish to “go it alone” towards independence.
I find the arrogant attitude of First Minister Alex Salmond rather galling however, as if the UK government is somehow not permitted to express an opinion on the break-up of what after all is our country!
Given that as a result of the near 40 year old Barnett Formula, Scots receive significantly more public expenditure per head than English residents, which allows them to avoid things like prescription charges and tuition fees as well as offering discretionary bus fares and free personal care for older people.
All by courtesy of the English taxpayer, thank you very much.
For too long, Scots have dined out on English largesse and high levels of state spending and that socialistic mentality is sadly pervasive. And they never stop complaining whilst taking our cash!
A little humility and a little less cockiness from Mr Salmond might therefore be more in order.
It seems to me that he wants his cake and to eat it too. He wants the sovereign Parliament of our country to accede to his requests for even more power and to resist having an independence referendum until he can win it and to keep the bits of the Union he likes – such as our currency and our Monarchy. Alex doesn’t want to take on his share of the national debt or join the Euro and he’s shy about the impact of jobs and business of his foolish policy.
No can do Alex: You claim to want the people to give you a mandate to break up the United Kingdom after 305 successful years of unity and harmony. Now is the time to put our money where your mouth is.
I believe ultimately the Scots are far too sensible to buy this particular pig in a poke – whenever the vote is held.
Stewart Jackson MP
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Weather for Peterborough
Saturday 26 May 2012
Today
Sunny
Temperature: 11 C to 23 C
Wind Speed: 18 mph
Wind direction: East
Tomorrow
Sunny
Temperature: 11 C to 23 C
Wind Speed: 16 mph
Wind direction: East
