It is difficult to know where to start today, the always reliable and expert LSE has two reports out this week well worthy of mention. One on the cost of Brexit to the fashion industry and another on the damage that Scottish independence would do to the country. Since I tend to specialise on Brexit I was going to go with the rag trade. But Michael Gove seems to have retweeted a report on the LSE study on Scotland; pointing out it shows that independence would do more damage than Brexit. So I have decided it wins hands down.
This is the same Michael Gove who claimed, during the Brexit referendum campaign, that we “have had enough of experts”. Not only that but the headline is about how Scottish independence would do MORE damage than Brexit.
Coming from the minister in charge of Brexit who won the referendum, in part, by claiming that Brexit would be good for the economy, this is quite a hand brake turn. Perhaps now he can tell the country how much damage Brexit is doing? Not only that but the experts Mr Gove was fed up with in 2016 were the ones warning of the damage Brexit would do.
More important even than the charges of hypocrisy, which Mr. Gove will doubtless ignore is a more serious point; breaking the rules of political debate is easy and wins you an immediate advantage. But just like in diplomacy, economics or warfare you only get to do it once, your opponent will never trust you again and they will do the same or worse back to you in revenge. The Scots Nats can now tell their supporters to ignore the experts, after all Mr. Gove did and all those who now claim Scottish independence will be a disaster will be, in their eyes, guilty of Project McFear.
https://jonty.substack.com/
Jonty to be honest I like most English have had enough of the 14 years of vitriol aimed at us as the most awful humans on earth. If they want to go I hope we will not stop them BUT as a self styled expert economist they need to be aware the economic agument is not there, and the negative will have a significant effect on their wallets. I think the LSE argument is rather understated, and the reality is much worse. The SNP have had 14 years running Scotland so they cannot blame us forever for their misfortunes and the large Scottish income & expenditure gap.
With the Barnett formula handouts I believe Scotland is holding England back & whilst I don't mind if they choose to stick around or not I just wish the loathing for us English would end, it is not engraciating.