The EDP Wants…

The English nationalist make a whole series of demands, but one suspects that these demands are simply not thought through; they are more in the nature of a petulant “they have, we want” argument, see here. I copy it below also:-

We demand action on the following matters

England to be recognised and treated as a unified country. Scotland and Wales have been recognised as countries and their people given the opportunity to vote in referenda for devolved government. Scotland now has a parliament, and Wales an assembly. In contrast, the people of England have been denied the opportunity to choose an English Parliament. Instead, England is being dismembered into nine regions. We find this discrimination unacceptable. England should be a political entity with its own parliament and executive.
The immediate abandonment of the Barnett formula. The formula institutionalises discrimination against the people of England by ensuring that public spending in Scotland and Wales is far higher per head of population than in England. The Barnett formula diverts about £8 billion of extra public expenditure to Scotland each year. This means that the entire population of Scotland enjoys a subsidy averaging £30 per person per week. This has meant, for example, smaller class sizes in Scotland, higher pay for teachers, shorter hospital waiting lists, and the availability of prescription drugs and surgical procedures which are unavailable in England on grounds of cost. This unjustified discrimination must end. A new fairer system is needed which enables England’s share of the £8 billion to be used to improve public services in England.

I will not deal with the first bit of their argument here I will return to that at a later date as it is the second part that I find quite laughable in that it is complete nonsense. No one doubts that the whole “fiscal autonomy” question needs addressing, BondWoman over at BondBloke puts it much better that I can:

The UK needs urgently to look at fiscal autonomy to go with the devolution of powers. This is not because this will give the English things the Scottish have, such as lower university tuition fees, which they think they are being denied because of budgetary constraints. The differences lie in political choices, not budgetary possibilities. England, for better or for worse, is making different political choices to Scotland. That is very clear in the health services and schools arenas. Even leaving aside the West Lothian question, those political choices would be more legitimate and probably better thought through if they were tied to a system of fiscal autonomy, combined with an appropriate system of fiscal transfers which all federal systems must have in order to maintain solidarity within the union. Fiscal autonomy will not necessarily lead to the break up of the UK. I hope it does not. Refusing to contemplate such autonomy may on the contrary, though, foster the types of political movements which will ultimately do much greater damage to the union.

Read the full post here

Their main bone of contention seems to be that “the entire population of Scotland enjoys a subsidy averaging £30 per person per week“; when will they get it into their heads that this is not a subsidy! (I would agrue that Scotland actually subsidizes England with the oil revenues) In fact, even if public spending per head of population in Scotland is higher than that in England, the gap is actually narrowing. But, leaving that aside, these people are complaing that Scotland (a part of the UK which incidentally is poorer on average) is bleeding England (a part of the UK which incidentally is richer on average) dry! This is just so much bollocks! What these people cannot understand is that the benefits that Scotland has, and which they are crying foul about, i.e. “smaller class sizes in Scotland, higher pay for teachers, shorter hospital waiting lists, and the availability of prescription drugs and surgical procedures which are unavailable in England on grounds of cost“, are nothing to do with such things as the Barnett formula they are purely and simply differences of political choices between England and Scotland. So, maybe it is time they stopped whingeing, thought their arguments through carefully, stopped scaremongering with facts that in truth are completely false, and started to do something constructive to aid the changes that they seek; because as sure as a snowball in hell will remain intact their demands, as they are at present, will simply be ignored!

A Bit of EDP Paranoia

Thanks to Martyn for drawing my attention to this bit of paranoia

EDP Lincolnshire Member, Stephen Wyatt, wrote to David Cameron asking him whether he regarded himself as Scottish, English or Welsh.This is the brief reply sent on his behalf:

“Dear Stephen,

Thank you for writing to David Cameron - I am replying on his behalf.

David was born in England so, if you are asking whether he is Scottish, English or Welsh - he is English. However, he likes to think of himself as British.

Many thanks again for your email.

Yours sincerely,

Anna Biles
Correspondence Secretary
David Cameron’s Office
House of Commons
London SW1A 0AA “

It should be noted that this carefully worded reply on Cameron’s behalf says: “. . he is English. However, he likes to think of himself as British.

This actually means “his place of birth is England, but he does not regard himself as English”, and he does not want to admit this! One could go further, and conclude that the phrase “he likes to think of himself as British” carries the implication that, “consequently, he does not like to think of himself as English”!

Personally I have never considered myself to be anything other than Cornish; and that has nothing to do with any anti-English sentiments, it has more to do with having a cultural heritage and identity which it appears to me that the English don’t have and wish that they (at least the nationalists) did. It strikes me that the English nationalists are extremely jealous of those of us who have a cultural identity and that the only way they can deal with this jealousy is by promoting their warped message that the English are a “violently suppressed minority“, or that “English people are dying because of Scottish bigotry“, all of which is just so much bollocks. I know that this will not be popular with them because I completely disagree with not only all that they stand for, but also the way in which they promote their message using those well worn tools, hypocrisy, bigotry and latent racism; and anyone who has the temerity to disagree with them is subjected to insults and abuse, and if their comments are deleted due to the abusive nature of them then I will again be accused of censorship!

Flawed English Arguments

Another confused rant, this time by toque who is also promoting yet another nationalist website Justice For England which spouts the same old rubbish as all of the others in this vein! What these people do not seem to realise is that their arguments are flawed by the absence of fact; they take what they perceive as injustice and present it as fact using phrases like “English people are dying because of Scottish bigotry“. I simply find the hypocrisy, bigotry and latent racism of these people completely laughable, and in many ways quite, quite pathetic!

I’m dismayed to report that yet another English website has appeared, agitating for more rights for the English, and ‘equality’ with the other nations of the UK. When are these English peasants going to accept their second-class status; and when are our Scottish masters going to clamp down on this barely concealed English nationalism? This rampant internet activism cannnot be allowed to continue; sow seeds of discontent amongst the English and before long they will be petitioning for divorce. That’s what Labour achieved in Scotland by telling the Scots that they were oppressed, unrepresented by Thatcher’s government, unloved, put upon… And it worked, the very threat of divorce won Scotland monies and privileges over and above the other nations of the UK - spoilt bitch of her Westminster sugar-daddy.

I Think This Suits Me!

Your Hillbilly Name Is…

Butch Rambler

Hillbilly Name Generator

Pat the Chooks pointed me in the direction of this!

They Got This SO Right!

You're A Passed Out Drunk

Drinking gives you that warm fuzzy feeling, until you're thrown in the back of a police car…

What Kind of Drunk Are You?

“Numptie Has A Go”

More from those ‘nice people at the CoSG; This time having another go at my good self!

Billy
Admin

He seems to like it here.

In fact most of his posts seem to revolve around this forum in one way or the other.
If you are reading this,I would point out that there are many individuals here. I doubt this will register but we dont all hold the same views.

I would not say that I like it here but it does give me good material to prove my point that the majority of those who post here are bigoted, hypocritical and latently racist. Yes I did read this and I would hope that there are “many individuals here” and that this was not the work of one individual. As I have said before I do not tar everybody with the same brush and am sure that there are a lot of people at the CoSG who do not hold the views of the bigots, hypocritres and latent racists who post there. I would like to make one other point here, and that is that if your friend Gareth had not begun by using insults and abuse, and encouraging others to do the same I would never have given this obnoxious little forum a second look; also to add fuel to the fire one of your number took an email address of mine and not only posted it on your forum but also planted it on several porn sites with the express intention that my inbox should be flooded with spam! I will not beleive in the argument that this is coincidence as I do not believe in such coincidence, especially as I have had that address for two years previously without a hint of spam at all. So the fault for my attention lies within your own ranks!

English
True patriot

Sounds like another arrogant scared anti elitist…oh dear what a shame

Neither arrogant, scared or anti elitist unlike most of your colleagues!

Hotspur
Admin

At least we’re not boring. I sick of jocks sticking their nebs into our businness, this is what got them roped in to the union in the first place. They can’t stand the thought we don’t want them.

One English MP said: “We have pretended this doesn’t exist and will not be an issue at the next general election. But this poll shows it does exist and it is an issue which is obviously concerning the Labour Party more than it does the Tories

You’ve gone beyond boring I am afraid! Typical really of the latent racism, can’t resist the derogatory remark (”jocks”); actually it was James VI of Scotland who became King well before the act of union, and that because the English could not provide one for themselves. I think it more that the English can’t stand the thought that they might lose the oil revenues that they have been getting from Scotland than anything else…

Gareth
Admin

Numptie isn’t Scottish - he just lives up in Leith enjoying the benefits of devolution but doesn’t want England to enjoy the same constitutional privilege or funding largesse. A case of what we have we hold.

If you saw the development taking place in Leith you would probably understand. Since devolution it (and Edinburgh) has been transformed with new buildings and infrastructure. I expect he has a smelly little bedsit by the docks and he has seen its market value sky-rocket thanks to devolution.

Pop down to Nobles this Sunday and you’ll see Numptie there with the other plastic Jocks listening to jazz and drinking a pint ‘o heavy wishing they were Scottish and could understand that chat of the locals. The real Scots despise his sort.

Little Man in a Toque
“beware the dragon that blandishes with the head and smites with the tail.” — Richard Rolle de Hampole, English hermit and mystic; 14thC

No, Numptie is not Scottish he is Cornish and proud of it. This all smacks of so much jealousy; I did not move to Leith, one of the more interesting parts of Edinburgh, to enjoy “the benefits of devolution” I moved here with my partner who got a job up here, and as what I do can be undertaken anywhere it made sense to work in a more pleasant environment. As to the “funding largesse” remark I see nothing of the sort, in fact I see it the other way round; Scotland funding England with the oil revenues which are far greater than anything that comes north from England…

Now we get to what I would expect from this member, insults and abuse! Yes Leith has been developed in recent years, but still retains its character. No I do not live in “a smelly little bedsit by the docks” (as I said he can’t resist the abuse) I live in a rather nice three bedroomed apartment in a lovely complex with great views of both the coast and of Edinburgh itself; as I said the green eyed monster rears its ugly head!

And no, you won’t find this man down at Nobles on a Sunday night with the other “plastic jocks” (that latent racism again), I would go anywhere near the place for fear of meeting too many people like the author of this rubbish! Yes I like jazz, so what? Yes I like good beer, and there is a lot of it to be found up here from the local independent breweries; and may I say that it equals and in some cases surpasses English beers. I don’t wish I were Scottish, I am Cornish and proud to be so; I understand the Scots perfectly well as would anyone who took the trouble to try and do so. On the contrary, if people make the effort they will find that the Scots are a warm and friendly people who do not despise us; the only people they despise are the people like the author of this who patronise them…

Lance Dragon
Hero

England is just building up Scotland’s infrastructure to put it in fine fettle for independence.

There is only one English region She is called ENGLAND
English Parliament Day = 26th March 2007

Lance Dragon
Hero

He/she/it seems to be quoting me a lot. Must be my resident stalker.

There is only one English region She is called ENGLAND
English Parliament Day = 26th March 2007

I just can’t be bothered with this rubbish as this person does not even bother to read what has gone before, and if he/she/it thinks that I am quoting him/her/it a lot then he/she/it might like to reflect on why!

Hotspur
Admin

where is he from then

One English MP said: “We have pretended this doesn’t exist and will not be an issue at the next general election. But this poll shows it does exist and it is an issue which is obviously concerning the Labour Party more than it does the Tories

Cornwall! How many more bloody times do I have to say it!!!!!

Update: 7:40pm

For a far more informed opinion see “The Soft Underbelly of Devolution”

The Queue Jumper

This person is mainly to be found in the supermarket, but can equally be found wherever there is a queue. The queue jumper is invariably an elderly lady belonging to the tweeds, twin-set and pearls, jolly hockey-sticks brigade who thinks that age brings certain privileges with it. Although, to be fair, I have come across young - male and female - queue jumpers, but in far lesser numbers than the former species. Most of these elderly ladies, despite being obviously well educated, become quite rude in the scrabble to get to the head of the queue, I sometimes wonder if even a bare-knuckle boxer would stand a chance against them, as they are a ferocious breed.

Most people are under the misapprehension that the average supermarket trolley has a mind of its own; this is not true. The average supermarket trolley which gives one such a clout on the ankle is being driven by one of these demons - showing the same skills as the impatient driver - in search of the latest bargain, and hell bent on getting out of the supermarket before anyone else. This breed does not care if it leaves one lying in a pool of blood just as long as it gets to the head of the queue. The most annoying thing about this person is that once they get to the head of the queue they suddenly lose all of the sense of urgency which was previously being displayed. These tyrants keep one waiting whilst fumbling about, in capacious purses, looking for odd bits of loose change to pay for their purchase; and then, having paid for their purchase, proceed to pull out a wad of money off coupons about which they are not sure if they are still valid.

A Quiet Period!

Numptie may be a little quiet on the blogging front for a while, he is in the process of helping refurbish a flat that needs a hell of a lot of work; so the blogs may just be a little thin on the ground…

Dear Dog

I am so sorry about you being sent to the dog pound for the broken lamp which you did not break; the fish tank you did not spill; and the carpet that you did not wet; or the wall that you did not dirty with red paint….

Things here at the house are calmer now, and just to show you that I have no hard feelings towards you, I am sending you a picture, so you will always remember me.

Best regards,
The Cat

How Dishwashers Really Work!

Ritorni di Numptie

I AM BACK! Apologies to my readers, but circumstances dictated that I curtail my blogging activities; my service provider was buggering about with upgrades etc. without having thought through that some people might find themselves unable to connect - bloody typical!

Connectivity Problems

Sorry folks no posts at present as I am having problems with my broadband connection; basically it is non-existent at present! I have got BondWoman to post this for me to keep you all informed. I will be back ASAP… I WILL BE BACK!!!!!!!

[PS I added the little flourish of red at the end, because I thought it was so "Numptie". It's true, as I said in a comment yesterday, he's now mounted a vendetta against his own computer as far as I can see, and as a result has no connectivity until he can sort out broadband. I can guarantee, he will be angry when he's back. Keep your tin hats handy BW]

What 2007 Car Should You Drive?

You Should Drive a Bentley Azure

You're all flash, and you love to show off to anyone who will watch. And you're such a high roller, this is just one car of many for you…

What 2007 Car Should You Drive?

An English Identity Crisis?

I picked this out of a debate at the CoSG Forum about English names for children; and it just goes to show that even in an innocuous discussion some of these “nice” people cannot resist taking a side swipe at all and sundry. Here again, although it is not explicitly said, we are back to the old “violently suppressed minority” mentality.

The Scots apparently “re-write history to present themselves as poor duped victims of English oppression“, make me laugh why don’t you! I would just point this person in the direction of a previous post where I discussed the whole “violently suppressed minority” thing, and dont see the point in repeating it here.

“English people are dying because of Scottish bigotry“; I have no idea what this is all about and find it quite laughable, especially in an historical perspective where so many Scottish people died because of English bigotry!

“if the Scots were actually (and not only in their tiny minds) prejudicially treated, as we English are now, then you would have rebelled long ago“; so what was Culloden all about then, just a little friendly disagreement with the Duke of Cumberland?

“Put your money where your mouths are and we will all be happy“; give the Scots back the money stolen in the form of oil revenue and I suspect that they will be very happy.

“the national press in England“; by this I am assuming that the author is talking about those xenophobic organs of the gutter, like The Scum, The Express and The Daily Mail who employ those scaremongering louts who masquerade as journalists.

“When you say things like “the English have an identity crisis” you are way off the mark because we don’t have to try to identify ourselves“; oh, no, then what is the whole English Parliament thing all about then? Isn’t it the very fact that the word English is being used is an attempt to create an ‘identity’?

It would have been very easy to go through this word by word and make a full critical analysis of it, but, and I am being quite frank here, I couldn’t be arsed because it is just so pathetic and hypocritical as to beggar belief!

Hatred of the Scots is not what goes on here. What goes on is pointing out how Scots call the kettle black. Also how they re-write history to present themselves as poor duped victims of English oppression. Most of us thought the Scots were above all that, but you have certainly got whatever revenge you thought was necessary. Unfortunately you have exposed yourselves for what you actually are.

When Scots habitually have a go at the English, the once friendly banter in rivalry has diminished beyond recall. English people are dying because of Scottish bigotry.

As I’ve said before if the Scots were actually (and not only in their tiny minds) prejudicially treated, as we English are now, then you would have rebelled long ago. The Irish did. You know the Scots have had the best deal out of the Union than any of the other constituent nations. This is why you talk big about independence but fail to deliver what your big mouths howl. Put your money where your mouths are and we will all be happy.

You may not get the chance though, judging by the massive mood-swing in the national press in England. It takes journalists a little while for the penny to drop.

Regarding your apology, I accept it, but it is really for Ingy to say.

Insults are easy on these boards and I was once guilty of a massive insult towards Scots on a Scots’ talkboard. I apologised, but typically the Scots would never let it drop.

I hope we English do a little better than your compatriots when it comes to humility.

English people are beginning to not take the Scots seriously. You keep putting your foot in your mouth when talking about the English. When you say things like “the English have an identity crisis” you are way off the mark because we don’t have to try to identify ourselves - like you.

Do They Not Mind Looking Stupid?

I give you another piece of drivel from those nice people at the CoSG:-

I recently asked for the empoyment figures of the DVLA.

Your request to Alistair Darling of 13 April 2006

Your request has been passed to me for reply. The number of people employed by DVLA in England, Wales and Scotland, by country, is as follows.

England 1496
Wales 4825
Scotland 156
Total 6477

These figures represent the position as at 31 March 2006 and are expressed as full-time equivalents to take account of local part-time working arrangements.

As you can see, the vast majority are employed in Wales. Bearing in mind the vast majority of UK drivers are English, an English DVLA would create good employment opportunities, almost 4000 jobs extra jobs.

Home Rule For England
EDP/CEP and proud of it
There’ll
always be an
England….so up yours Prescott!

I mean is it so surprising that the vast majority of the DVLA employies are Welsh; duh, the DVLA is based in Swansea, and unless it has recently relocated I am pretty sure that Swansea is in Wales, although I may have to go and check that in my atlas… I mean was it necessary to ask such a “stupid” question, when just sitting down and applying a little brain time to the matter would have come up with the answer that the majority of the DVLA employies are bound to be Welsh. I mean, I ask you, how can people who ask such assinine questions ever hope to be taken seriously in the matter of shouting for an English Parliament?