Implications of this questionable decision?

[you've been farmed]

Namely the decision by owen Paterson's decision to add the £223 million EU convergence cash to deathra's overall budget.
I am not sure how much coverage this has had in other parts of the UK but the Ag media up here are incensed as supposedly the only reason the UK received the monies was due to Scotland's lowest in the EU payment rates per ha and was intended to be targeted by the EU to lift the payments in Scotland to closer to the EU average payment per ha.
Obviously there are a number of reasons our payment per ha is lower not least the much higher proportion of true hill land which attracts lower rates, but that is a side argument really, as apparently without Scotland the UK would have received no convergence uplift yet it seems Scotland is to receive none of this cash.

What a tremendous boost to the Yes campaign for independence!

Now I am no fan of the idea of independence and think it would be an unmitigated disaster but if they are successful in the vote it will be at least in a large part due to the contempt Westminster is currently displaying towards those living north of the wall.
Even if the cash had been divvied up between all the regions it would seem less of a kick in the teeth for Scotland and I don't believe farmers in other regions will take any pleasure in receiving extra support at the expense of their Scottish counterparts!

 

[poorsheepfarmer]

we will take great pleasure if we get extra at you expense!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[Fergieman]

It'll make a change if Scottish farmers are at a disadvantage to the English. Scotland has looked after it's farmers better than England over the last 8 years of sps payments, although the high historic payments are coming to an end as you change to area payments like we did in 2005. Lots of Scottish money been spent on the RDP unlike England.

 

[Walterp]

No sympathy here, I'm sorry - Scots farmers already receive the highest per capita SFP in the EU, and it's easy to see that the UK Government is trying to be fair to everyone, with the extra money being divided between all regions, including the Scots. Which fact you have omitted.

Independence? I'm slowly coming to the view that it's a great idea: the sooner the Scots have their own affairs to tend to, the better for everyone, isn't it?

If they have no loyalty to the union (which is the whole point of the sharing out of the EU award) then why should we?


[Walterp sits there, scratching what remains of his hair, and puzzles it out: "If they don't see the point of sharing, what's the point of a union?"]

 

[exmoor dave]

so what extra support will us English farmers be getting exactly?

If it's been added to defra's "budget" that doesn't mean that it will be going to any more farmers. Probably rural projects or more like civil servants pay and pensions!

 

[you've been farmed]

so what extra support will us English farmers be getting exactly?

If it's been added to defra's "budget" that doesn't mean that it will be going to any more farmers. Probably rural projects or more like civil servants pay and pensions!

There is a cynical reply!!! but probably correct.

Scotland has certainly looked after farming much better than down south, and not looking for sympathy just others viewpoints.

Walter, according to the press up here we will see none of this extra top up, where have you seen we will get a share?
Also, although this is a 'snp' area of Scotland, there is little appetite for independence here as far as I know, the unknown is the level of support in the inner cities.
I think by the time the vote has been and gone you will see there is plenty support for the union.

 

[z.man]

out of curiosity if we do "gain" independence up here and relinquish our membership to the EU, before we are reintegrated as an independent country, who will be paying our SFP..............maybe Sir Alex hasn't mentioned this for a reason, or maybe I'm just a cynic

 

[neilo]

Walter, according to the press up here we will see none of this extra top up, where have you seen we will get a share?

My understanding was that the extra money was being divided across all regions, with none being left out (including Scotland). Can't remember where I read that now, but here is DEFRA's explanation in fwi.....
http://www.fwi.co.uk/articles/08/11/2013/141910/cap-allocation-is-fair-says-defra.htm

 

[Brisel]

out of curiosity if we do "gain" independence up here and relinquish our membership to the EU, before we are reintegrated as an independent country, who will be paying our SFP..............maybe Sir Alex hasn't mentioned this for a reason, or maybe I'm just a cynic

UKIP are equally hazy about how the SFP would be financed should the UK leave the EU.

You've got to assume that there would be a cash flow problem & a painful interim period as everything is renegotiated & settles down to the new system.

 

[Farmer Piles]

A s southerner, who none the less lives a very long way from Westminster, the only benefit of independence that I can see is for the glory seeking politicians - especially dear Alex Salmond. Currently Scotland has a higher spend per head of population than the English average, Cornwall gets below average spend, we all know that the oil and gas will run out, ship building can be revived in England, Scotland would have to apply to join the Euro as a new nation. And surely we are stronger as a nation, as a United Kingdom. As Alex Salmond said, and seems to have conveniently forgotten, "we should be independent and be one of the Celtic Tiger economies like Ireland and Iceland". Hmmm.

The decision is obviously one for you Scots but I find it hard to believe that much good will come of it bar for those in the Scottish Parliament and "Prime Minister Salmond".

 

[grumpy]

out of curiosity if we do "gain" independence up here and relinquish our membership to the EU, before we are reintegrated as an independent country, who will be paying our SFP..............maybe Sir Alex hasn't mentioned this for a reason, or maybe I'm just a cynic

you will get none and it will be a few years before we are allowed to rejoin and quite rightly so we chose to leave so will be at the back of the queue

 

[TheRanger]

The only good thing about independence would be if we didn't rejoin the bloody EU. If they told us we wouldn't be rejoining I might actually vote for it.

 

[grumpy]

The only good thing about independence would be if we didn't rejoin the bloody EU. If they told us we wouldn't be rejoining I might actually vote for it.

the great irony the snp want to dump Westminster as its a rope around our neck but want to jump in to bed with the EU as there great,most English folks want to dump the EU as there a rope around there neck.the fact is 90% of the bull shyte comes from the EU not Westminster.

 

[TheRanger]

the great irony the snp want to dump Westminster as its a rope around our neck but want to jump in to bed with the EU as there great,most English folks want to dump the EU as there a rope around there neck.the fact is 90% of the bull shyte comes from the EU not Westminster.

The worst part is to join the EU you must join the Euro. As confirmed by the President of the European Commission.

 

[Brisel]

The only good thing about independence would be if we didn't rejoin the bloody EU. If they told us we wouldn't be rejoining I might actually vote for it.

And where would your SFP come from then? The Scottish taxpayer? I don't think so. Scotland gets more out of Brussels than it pays in. Who is going to stump up the difference?

 

[grumpy]

The worst part is to join the EU you must join the Euro. As confirmed by the President of the European Commission.

they dont want the uk to break up as that will encourage Catalonia to follow suit.

 

[grumpy]

And where would your SFP come from then? The Scottish taxpayer? I don't think so. Scotland gets more out of Brussels than it pays in. Who is going to stump up the difference?

you obviously havent heard the snp spiel it will be the land of milk and honey a utopian paradise in fact,once we have dumped you dudes who are dragging us down.

 

[Brisel]

you obviously havent heard the snp spiel it will be the land of milk and honey a utopian paradise in fact,once we have dumped you dudes who are dragging us down.

Oh, ok. Good riddance!

 

[you've been farmed]

A s southerner, who none the less lives a very long way from Westminster, the only benefit of independence that I can see is for the glory seeking politicians - especially dear Alex Salmond. Currently Scotland has a higher spend per head of population than the English average, Cornwall gets below average spend, we all know that the oil and gas will run out, ship building can be revived in England, Scotland would have to apply to join the Euro as a new nation. And surely we are stronger as a nation, as a United Kingdom. As Alex Salmond said, and seems to have conveniently forgotten, "we should be independent and be one of the Celtic Tiger economies like Ireland and Iceland". Hmmm.

The decision is obviously one for you Scots but I find it hard to believe that much good will come of it bar for those in the Scottish Parliament and "Prime Minister Salmond".

The biggest growth industry in recent years is the political sector with ever increasing tiers of government and consequent increasing levels of interference and no doubt independence would create plenty new politically convenient highly paid jobs for king alex and his cronies.