Another epic fail
Its nice to know that Westminster are allaying fears, where the YESNP can only assert, regarding questions relating to public pensions should Scotland go independent.
It is at last reassuring to know that people will not lose their pensions in the event of a Yes vote. However, the nationalists, as ever, are using this to spin their own narrative.
Brian Nugent (Scare story bites the dust; SN, 08/05/14) and Douglas Young (A few simple mistakes; SN, 08/05/14) are saying that it confirms that pensions would be safe; however how do we know that NEW public pensions in an independent Scotland would be safe?
This Westminster declaration only confirms that existing UK pensions would be funded. How can they guarantee that new public pensions in an independent Scotland would be fully funded?
Simple fact is that they can’t, they are using the UK’s economy of scale to cover up for the fact that they still cannot justify how they would continue to pay for Scottish pensions in an independent Scotland.
The UK will fulfill its UK pension obligations as it should be. That does not mean that the SNP should be shirking their responsibility to clearly define how they will pay for newly vested public pensions.
Again, the nationalists are shamelessly trying to take credit for something they actually have no authority over.
What it will mean is that we will have a two tier public pension system, with those receiving a UK pension having Westminster decide when and how much they receive.
Independent Scottish pensioners will however have Holyrood decide when and how much they receive.
This situation will cause unfairness and confusion, thereby creating a get out clause for a future Scottish government to honour the white paper empty promise of higher and paid earlier pensions.
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Therefore the only way to guarantee your pension in full knowledge of what and when you will receive it, is to vote No in September. Nice try guys, but another epic fail by the nationalists,
Finally, just to poke a little fun at Douglas Young and his “mistake-free” claim; here is an extract from a recent debate on the Better Together Shetland Facebook page. Spot Douglas’s howler of a mistake.
”Douglas Young: Salmond has nothing to do with the vote on the 19th.
But luckily for Yes these pages dwell on him and the SNP while Yes gets on with closing the poll gap.
Loving every minute of this campaign.
Like · 3 May at 21:16
Gordon Harmer: What vote would that be then Douglas, on the 19th of when? Like · 4 May at 20:36
Lourie No’ness: Ha Ha I think we are loving it more than you Douglas especially if you go to vote on the 19th, nice one”
Gordon Harmer
Brae
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