SNP Tactical Voting: Bridge Loan

Thursday, March 5, 2009

Bridge Loan

The Scottish Government has seemingly been offered £1bn to help build the Forth Road Bridge.

I don't know how this would fit with any SNP independence plans, gradualist or otherwise, but they have to take the money.

The party can't bemoan a £500m funding cut on the one hand and pass up a £1bn funding offer on the other.

Indeed, I daresay they could trumpet the result as their pushing for a better deal for Scotland but any way you want to look at it, there is now no room for manoeuvre over such an expensive project.

(NB: I remain sceptical that this bridge is even needed but the momentum is such that I don't see any of the main parties changing their minds on it now.)

5 comments:

Indy said...: Are you daft? It is money that belongs to the Scottish Government anyway.

£500 million of Barnett consequentials from the London cross rail. The rest from the Scottish Government’s underspend plus efficiency savings and asset sales made by the Scottish Government.

So they are offering us our own money.

Suppose it is testament to the fact that there is some life left in the New Labour spin machine if they persuaded you it was new money.; 05 March, 2009 12:58
Jeff said...: Regardless of whether it is Westminster or Holyrood money, it has to be taken.

Crossrail consequentials are not my strong point, I would imagine the same could be said for the most of Scotland so if this story can be easily spun as "SNP refuse £1bn funding" then they should take the cash and sew up a deal. Or keep their own cash. Or whatever the correct wording is.

And yes, I am a little daft but nothing's harmful if taken in moderation.; 05 March, 2009 13:03
James said...: It's testament to your unusual open-mindness amongst nationalist bloggers that you can question the need for this absurd bridge scheme.

Occasionally I wander around the depressing morass which constitutes the cybernat blogosphere, and it's as if William Wallace himself had designed it.; 05 March, 2009 15:31
Jeff said...: Thanks James. I think it's that audit mindset that helps challenge the perceived status quo.

Must be frustrating to be outvoted 127 to 2 and be so confident of being right...

I think a part of the problem is also there is no clear reason given for why a bridge is needed. A trusted, independent analysis of the situation from engineers and/or other experts would have been beneficial. (One may exist for all I know.); 05 March, 2009 16:21
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