Scotland Referendum

[TTG4]

I'm looking forward to the new constitutional settlement we're going to get, and (at last) an answer to the "West Lothian" question.

I suspect it's going to get very politiky very quickly. We're already seeing Labour trying to row back from what they promised during the election, and Conservative backbenchers like Owen Patterson getting all fired up about the latest soundbyte 'english votes for english laws'.

Trouble is, with the Barnett formula and such in place, isn't there an argument that spending policy DOES affect the Scots, albeit indirectly.

[Clockwork]

Unfortunately Glaurung, natural disasters usually cause solidarity among humans. I'd want the anarchy, aggression and hatred that comes from the denial over the refusal to take responsibility for causing your own country to collapse.

Plus I like the right to self determination and all that.

[Jubal]

Yes, English spending does affect the Scots.

A likely solution might be that how things are spent is devolved to the English MPs - but the levels of spending would be a budget for the overall Parliament.

[comrade_general]

A good read, and matches my thoughts quite well on events past and present:

http://www.fee.org/the_freeman/detail/the-liberty-to-leave