... thinking of poverty.

David Cornock's blog had an interesting comment today,

Comment No. 45. by  paul80  "Poorer parts of the UK should receive more funding. Makes sense. The UK is a sinlge country after all."

I don't think he is right, "why should a poor part of any country receive government funds because it is poorer than other areas ? "

Two questions, both linked, spring to mind, "who would receive the funding, and, who would decide how it would be used ? "

If, for example, it can be demonstrated that an area has such poor literacy that its inhabitants are unable to attract good, well paid, employment, then government might address educational needs of the area.

If, for example, health issues can be linked to poor sanitation, then government can intervene, much like London of the 19th century.

With this in mind, should Westminster fund various regions of the UK as it does, should Scotland receive more per head than Wales, should Wales receive more per head than the East of England, per head ?

I don't think so, funding should be equal across the UK as a whole, based upon population, but a new approach to funding societies deficiencies wherever they are found.

Mad Max or Devo Max, both ...

... as ridiculous as the other,  Mad Max depicts a post-apocalyptic world, whilst Devo Max is the preferred method to sunder Britain (difficult to use the term UK) into its component parts.

Whist I sit comfortably with the 61% who support a referendum for separation, ...

... I certainly do not support giving the separatists a win-win referendum.

"Devo Max" is in fact separation without the pain of responsibility, it ...

... would spare Scotland the constitutional wrangling and guarantee it British protection, yet give it the right to tax and spend as it saw fit. Although much would be down to negotiation, a practical guide issued by the SNP almost presents Devo Max as a feast where Scotland gets all the treats, leaving England and Co. with the leftovers.

The referendum in itself, whether the Scots drift off or remain, will cause a re-writing of Britain and its constitution, no longer will any section of society be prepared for treatment as anything other than equal, whether Bradford, Belfast, Bridgend  (or Bishopbriggs possibly)  Salmond has, unwittingly or otherwise, opened a constitutional Pandora's box from which there can be no going back.

I doubt if the electorate will tolerate in the future, one section of society having a larger share of the cake (on average) than anyone else.  Mutterings of the unequal treatment of students across mystical boundaries is a recent manifestation of discontent, (not so) free prescriptions are another bone of contention, and both cases are relevant and in urgent need of redressing, these are the indicators of a stressed society.


Now is the time to cut across sensibilities and cut the devolved budgets to equality, there is little to lose, Scots are on their way, next year or in a decade is not overly important, Wales and NI need to wake up and put their houses in order, now is the time to slash Barnett and replace it with the reality of equality rather than the mythical needs of political spending, there is little to lose, and to everything to gain.

As Hemingway wrote, "It takes more cojones, to be a sportsman where death is a closer party to the game." Here we stand on the threshold of the death of country, are there representatives with the metaphorical cojones at Westminster to finish the game so eloquently started by Salmond ..............