Thread by @kevverage, well now, this contains such a ludicrous assertion that i have to [...]

Kevin Hague

kevverage

well now, this contains such a ludicrous assertion that i have to indulge in a brief thread - stick with me, it’s a doozy
(1/6) https://twitter.com/andrewwilson/status/1355578115070832642

https://twitter.com/andrewwilson/status/1355578115070832642

for this statement to make sense, the “UK government programmes which could be replicated or not” include the following *in Scotland* spending:

Network Rail: £900m
Research & Innovation: £500m
Renewable Heat Incentive: £171m
R&D etc Tax Credits: £530m
...
(2/6)

British Transport Police, HMCTS, CICA & environmental protection costs: £200m

Nuclear Decommissioning: £270m

HMRC, DWP and HSE staff in Scotland: £900m

BBC spend *in Scotland*: £251m

Maritime & Coastguard agency, Electricity Settlements Co, Broadband vouchers, etc: £50m+

3/6

It’s also the case that he’s ignoring £227m of costs associated with Ferries and Creative/Historic Scotland borne by rUK in the GERS figures he’s quoting and c£100m of other civil service spending in Scotland (Home Office, DBEIS)

4/6

and we’ve not yet considered spending on defence *in Scotland*: c£2.5bn (of the £3.3bn allocated in GERS)

or FCO costs: £130m
or Overseas Development Assistance: £890m

or what an iScotland’s EU contribution would be were we to get in: £600m+

5/6

So in this statement, Wilson has glossed over £2.0bn of non-defence spending in Scotland and c£2.5bn of defence spending in Scotland as well as all overseas diplomatic representation and development aid as “could be replicated or not”

are we meant to take this seriously?

/ends/

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