RuamRudy

Are you trolling? This is a direct quote from the link: "Child poverty rates in Scotland (24%) remain much lower than those in England (31%) and Wales (28%) and are similar (if slightly higher) than in Northern Ireland (22%). "

If only the promises made in the run up to the referendum should we vote to stay were kept, there might not be the discontent we have now.

This means the UK as a whole, including Scotland, so the Scottish numbers are lower than overall UK.

They do - you either choose not to accept it or you can't see the connection between the UK government's Better Together campaign and... the UK government.

Then kick us out and everyone will be happy. Learn to stand on your own two feet for once and we can all get along much better.

Then why is it that the UK government, which is heavily English in makeup, fights so hard to prevent it? I have nothing but good will towards England and it's people. I simply don't want my country governed by it. It's been said on many an occasion that Scotland is a net drain on the UK's finances - just think how you could put that extra money to good use if you were to stand in your own two feet without us truculent Jocks (allegedly) costing more than we contribute?

I have given you several links already. Better Together was a UK government backed body. The UK government lied about North Sea oil as they have done about so many other things.

Absolutely I have. Better Together was a UK government initiative and they amplified the claim. You can deny it all you like but it is there in black and white.

Come on, you are not so naive as to think that the timing of the pronouncement by the openly unionist Ian Wood, on the eve of the referendum, trumpeted by the government's campaign group across every newspaper in the land, is coincidence are you? If so, I have a bridge to sell you.

I never claimed that 'oil was finished'. It was the government's Better Together cross party campaign that propagated the lie. Alistair Darling, the former Labour chancellor and head of the pro-UK Better Together campaign, said Wood's analysis "fatally undermines" Salmond's oil predictions and "blow apart Alex Salmond's plans for funding schools and hospitals."

Published the very morning of the independence referendum: North Sea Oil 'Running Out Faster Than Feared' Published July 2023: Hundreds of new North Sea oil and gas licences to boost British energy independence and grow the economy

Schrödinger's oil - in the run up to 2014 the UK government declared that the North sea was finished. Now it's a major part of their economic forecasts.

You make a good point. Every country in the UK is declining in every major societal aspect. The Scottish government, as my links show, has done better than most other countries in the UK in mitigating the toll of being in the union, dominated as it is by the masochistic wishes of the English electorate, forcing repeated Tory governments upon us.

UK poverty Unemployment Crime Higher education Inward investment Healthcare

Child poverty 4% lower than UK Overall poverty lower... Unemployment lower... Crime lower... Record numbers in higher education Record inward investment Best performing healthcare... Etc Etc And all that with one hand tied behind our backs while the country next door rifles our pockets. Imagine what we achieve if we weren't burdened by the that.

The law isn't an SNP law - it's a cross party law, having been supported by Labour, Lib Dems and greens.

Are you suggesting that we should have no politicians? Maybe govern by AI?

Good news - disaster has been averted thanks to the application of a bit of @transam and @impulse's suggestion and the insertion of a BBQ skewer. Thanks to all for you input. Sláinte

The royal family costs the UK almost £1 million per day. That's money that could be used to better the lives of the people of the country. The posts from some individuals absolutely reek of hatred and venom, especially towards his wife. That you haven't noticed it is not an indication of it not existing.

I like that idea. I will try it in the morning - I have already poured a monkey shoulder tonight.

Credit where credit is due. I have yet to try it but it's on my list. https://www.englishwhisky.co.uk/blogs/news/the-worlds-best-single-malt-whisky

My concern is that the cork is already starting to break up - I guess if the worst came to the worst I could sieve it though a coffee filter afterwards...

Last night I was a bit over enthusiastic in getting this bottle opened and the cork split halfway down the neck of the bottle. Is there a way to extract the cork without it disintegrating and falling into the bottle? Cheers!

I can't imagine there is any scenario where you would lie low, Tranny.

Word salad? Use your finger on the lines if it makes it easier for you. He hasn't be convicted of anything yet so I couldn't possibly speculate as to what she did or didn't know.