Saturday, January 27, 2007

The benefits of blog land and the cost of indepedence

It may be an obvious point but the blogging world is once again showing its strength through the debate which is developing about "independence" and the associated costs. The issue may never be properly resolved, but I have always found it strange that on the simple fact that Wales is a net beneficiary of tax revenue, and nationalists seek independence, they call for an increase in the Barnett formula (tax benefits compared to England). Surely they should campaign for the end of the barnett formula to ensure we become more self sufficient ?

There are several interesting contributions some prompted by this posting on Blamerbell Briefs and noting some of the related postings : seren and ted jones.

There are several more out there. I have always felt Plaid get away with too much. For example when their Llwydd/President talks about removing UK military presence from Wales (RAF Valley, St Athen etc = loss revenue) and creating a new civil force (= more expenditure).

5 comments:

dd said...

I would suggest you spent some time reading up on your Welsh history. Ceidwadwr- oedd dim byd da ni ar ol i gadw. Dr D Davies

Martin Eaglestone said...

Happy to be guided on this - which bit of Welsh history should I review : i cadw ar ol be ?

hafod said...

So are you in favour of PFI and privatisation of public services, Martin?

Tucked away in the detail of St Athan are the fact that it's a Private Finance Initiative that will mean the closure of 16 other bases throughout the UK. All the skilled jobs on the site will be relocating from those sites. The locals will get the usual security and cleaning jobs.

Locals are already unhappy about the impact of 4,000 moving to the area will have on the Vale's infrastructure - schools, roads, etc. But the PFI company won't have to worry about that - it'll just take the money and run.

It's a pre-election stunt that won't make a blind bit of difference to voters in Caernarfon.

Martin Eaglestone said...

I would accept that the links to Caernarfon will be minimal. But that is not my main consideration as I think it helps Wales. (we should sometimes think "Team Wales", not just of our own patch).I assume that is why Plaid also decided to welcome the decision in spite of Dafydd Iwan's calls for a civilian force and re-negotiation of UK military arrangements in Wales.

flatstomach99 said...

As a member of Plaid Cymru, the party of Wales, we must resist all attempts by the colonials to impose their military bases on our soil.

There is plenty of land in England for the British to continue their warmongering activities.

Dafydd Iwan was right to call for the removal of all military sites from Wales.

We should campaign for the closure of the RAF Valley site too. And while we are on Anglesey, let us take a stand against the monstrosity of new nuclear power at Wylfa.