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No need for independence - Holyrood has the powers to give business a boost

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"The SNP pays lip service to the idea of delivering a significant cut in business rates"
Published Date: 12 April 2007
By BRIAN MONTEITH
AFTER eight years of devolved government, when a great deal of hot air has been expended by all parties about the need to put Scotland's economic growth top among a plethora of priorities, what is there on offer from the four main parties?
Maybe something radical that will cut through swathes of regulation created by the hundred or so laws passed by Holyrood?

Maybe a significant cut in business taxes, not funded by the familiar trick of making the largest businesses pay more, but b...



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  • Last Updated: 11 April 2007 8:46 PM
  • Source: The Scotsman
  • Location: Edinburgh
  • Related Topics: Brian Monteith
 
1

Cincinnatus,

The Capital 12/04/2007 00:04:33

The reason this brilliant if "maverick" MSP is no longer at Parliament, is precisely because he could not persuade his erstwhile colleagues, of the merits of using existing Holyrood powers in a creative fashion.

He is right on the details, but wrong on the reasons for them not being implemented. It's simple, their is collective inability to look beyond Unionist paradigms to see what is best for Scotland and apply the first rule of Politics - THE ART OF THE POSSIBLE!

A Unionist party committed to free market economics has not worked and wont work in Scotland. Obstinately remaining wedded to that notion, will see an evolutionary watershed - some will survive and others like the currently strucured Tories will die - it's basic it's brutal - Adapt or die or become a Liberal;-))

2

democracy,

Scottish Borders 12/04/2007 15:42:49

Scottish nationalism. It's a power that will defeat all forces that conspire against it,

3

The Strategist,

12/04/2007 16:44:55

Monteith doesn't understand.. For me Independence is essential if we're ever to grow the Scottish economy properly. In order to do that we have to get out from under the dead hand of the Treasury.

4

Dr. James Wilkie,

12/04/2007 18:20:05

Mr Monteith should look up the election manifesto of the Scottish Enterprise Party (SEP) that has just been posted on its website. And, yes, we stand for independence too, without which a great deal of our business-friendly policies cannot be implemented. www.scottishenterpriseparty.org

5

Mr. Lachie Todd,

Edinburgh 09/12/2008 12:32:16
Perhaps its time to adopt the same local taxation system, or lack of it, as exists in many other European nations?

In the 1970s, the same debate took place in the Republic of Ireland, until the government finally abolished domestic property rates, and passed on some of the increases to business and commerce, which had traditionally been let off with low charges.

Local government in Ireland now gets the vast majority of its funding from a central government block grant and non-domestic rates, and rubber-stamps centralised policies.

Instead of being an apologist for all these poor companies which are allegedly over-taxed, the author must be aware that, contrary to popular belief, rates of Federal and State business taxation in the US are much higher than here in the UK? IF, America, the land of unbridled capitalism can do it, then so can we.
6

Dr. James Wilkie,

Vienna 02/09/2009 17:09:15
Please note that #4 above is a fake. I don't know who is using my name, but the Scottish Enterprise Party (SEP) has now been subsumed in the newer umbrella organisation, the Scottish Democratic Alliance (SDA), which is also open to other groups on the centre-right of the political spectrum. The changeover to the new website (www.scottishdemocraticalliance.org) is still incomplete, but it will be further expanded within the next week or so. The SEP organisation has been completely dismantled and replaced by the SDA, which represents a considerable advance on its predecessor.


7

Major (Retd) Michael Hamilton, KOSB,

KELSO 02/09/2009 17:27:06
Having been present with Dr James Wilkie and another colleague when the Scottish Democratic Alliance (SDA) was registered at the Office of the Electoral Commission at 28 Thistle Street, Edinburgh, EH2 1EN, may I verify Dr Wilkie's posting at #6 and confirm that post #4 is indeed a fake. Thank you.

 

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