I’m republishing a post I did back in March on arch unionist Brian Wilson in response to his latest tirade where he seizes on the GERS accounts that the Scottish administration foolishly persists in publishing (and paying for) that purport to show Scotland runs a deficit.
I have been demanding a breakdown of how Westminster spent the money they had from Scotland's tax revenue, year 2023/24 £84.5b. That figure does not include any oil or gas revenues.
So far mainly people who bring up Scotland's deficit as an argument against independence. Most years the sum spent on our behalf is equal to what is spent by the SG to run the country, now it is more.
I did have Viceroy Jack lined up, after all as "Westminster's man in Scotland" I felt he would be best placed to know. Then the GE, so yes, now I will send a breakdown request to the Union Jack clad Murray. Like you, I don't hold out much hope of a definitive answer.
I have been demanding a breakdown of how Westminster spent the money they had from Scotland's tax revenue, year 2023/24 £84.5b. That figure does not include any oil or gas revenues.
Who have you asked? Wonder if Viceroy Murray would provide an answer! Highly doubt it.
So far mainly people who bring up Scotland's deficit as an argument against independence. Most years the sum spent on our behalf is equal to what is spent by the SG to run the country, now it is more.
I did have Viceroy Jack lined up, after all as "Westminster's man in Scotland" I felt he would be best placed to know. Then the GE, so yes, now I will send a breakdown request to the Union Jack clad Murray. Like you, I don't hold out much hope of a definitive answer.
How can they blame Scotland for having a deficit when they take billions of pundsworth of energy from Scotland and pay us nothing?