Wales Independence. Will the the State Pension be safe ?

One of the major concerns around Wales Independence. What will happen to the State Pension?

People are understandably uncertain, even fearful, when the income on which they depend, has always  been provided by the Westminster government.

How secure is their pension, when Wales goes Independent?

Will they get the same amount of pension under the new regime?

Overcoming these concerns is vital, not only to satisfy the pensioners, but for the progress of Independence.

Pensioners make up over one fifth of the Wales population and they are also the least enthusiastic sector for Welsh Independence.

Welsh public duped again

Are you fed up with being duped?  Do you lose sleep over it? No, well that's normal, for being duped is a way of life in Wales..

First of all by being told we are better off in the Union, despite the hardship, poverty, state of health, social services, education, in fact almost everything is a problem.

Then we are told that Wales cant afford to be Independent, when all the evidence is that Wales can't afford not to be,

It's not only the Westminster government. The Welsh government for example says they no longer have the money to support the poorest children during the summer break.

Of course the financial arrangements with Westminster are detrimental to Wales, but under the present system it's about priorities and if looking after the poorest children is not a priority for a Labour, socialist government. Well.

Incidentally, they should hang their heads at supporting a constitutional arrangement, that leads to such poverty in Wales

And  the latest dupe shows why..

Saving the Union. The Gordon  and Mark show.

A new show was launched recently.

A new group took to the stage.

Not a boy band or a new leftover from Britain's Got Talent. These were old hands. 

They chose Edinburgh, appropriate as the home of the Fringe.

They haven't indicated whether there is to be a tour. Performing before audiences of tens of tens.

The group ‘ The Alliance for Radical Democracy' is headlined by the UK ex- Prime Minister Gordon Brown, assisted by the soon to be ex- First Minister of Wales, Mark Drakeford. Also in the group is the ex- Leader of the LIb Dems in Scotland, a couple of English mayors and a comedian [  tempting to say another comedian ].

Now that's a lineup to catch the attention.

What to do about England.

England is a problem.

England isn't pulling its weight in the UK ‘ Union ‘.

Despite Having millions of pounds worth of free water from Wales.

Wales supplying them with billion of pounds worth of electricity [ Wales getting no financial gain] 

Wales handing over all its income to the UK/English government.

Despite being able to print the money it needs, from its own bank. The Bank of England.

Despite having the pick of inward investment

Despite all that  ,the English economy is going down the drain and as it is 86% of the UK, the UK economy is following..

So wouldn't Wales be better keeping these resources for itself?

How to resolve the problem.

Historically, England is a bit touchy about such negative views. Usually citing Wales [ 4.8% of the UK economy ] or Scotland [ 7.4% ] for the ails of the UK..

So, what to do about England.

The runners and riders in the future of Wales.

So the interim report from the Commission on the Constitution in Wales has been released and surprise surprise the Commission finds that the present system of government in Wales is not sustainable.

Neither are the three alternatives a surprise.

A reformed devolution, the preference of the First Minister.

The  not quite halfway house of Federalism.

Independence.

The Commission has identified these as the three viable options. 

Not unexpected, but interesting that Independence has at last been conceded as an option by an official report.

The constraints on the Commission means that it gives no more weight to one option over the others, nor does it appear it will recommend one option over the others at the completion of its work.

This piece has no such constraints.

The two faces of Mark Drakeford.

First, an apology. This next piece was meant to be on the economy of an Independent Wales. That will come.

However, Independence will not happen until there is a pro Independence Senedd.

Welsh Labour, at present Unionist, at least among its leadership, has promised a Constitutional Commission to chart Wales' future.

Presumably, if they are serious, the findings of the Commission will also influence Wales Labour's position.

But are they serious?. Which face of Mark Drakeford will we see?

Do not ask, can Wales afford Independence?

Ask instead, can Wales afford the Union?

The perennial question asked, is whether Wales can afford to be Independent.

Less often is the question asked, can Wales afford the Union.

The Unionists in Wales, Welsh Labour and Tories extol the virtues of this relationship, but except for " better together " and " Wales can't manage without Westminster ", very little detail is offered in support.

The coming elections for the Senedd however, somewhat gives the game away.

Both these parties promise great changes.

Thousands of new nurses, doctors, teachers More affordable houses, roads and to increase the wages of low paid workers.

All this however,merely illustrates that they accept that Wales is suffering significant shortages.

Add to this the 10% lower than average earnings of Welsh workers. The 11% lower productivity of Wesh industry, through lower than UK average levels of investment. Twenty five percent lower in transport and infrastructure and research and development.

And then there's the lower than average levels of education standards of Welsh children against UK and international standards.

And let's not forget the 200000 Welsh children in poverty.

I nearly left out the stagnating Welsh economy.

Oh yes and the food banks.

This, as part of the sixth wealthiest economy in the world.

The opposition will lay charges of incompetent government against the Wales government, but that cannot explain such widespread impoverishment. 

The Tories in Wales also call for increases across the board and it will take miraculous redistribution to fulfil their aims from the present budget.

The Welsh Labour government has given a further clue as to the problems. They have taken up with the dreaded Public Private Finance 

Initiative.

The very system that they have derided the UK government over and 

boasted that it wasn't for Wales.

Well it is now.

They have tied a bow around it and given it a different name, but it's the same system where the private part gets rich and the public part carries the cost for years to come.

So why have they done this? Out of the mouths of babes. The First Minister admits that without this arrangement, Wales would not be able to invest in infrastructure projects. 

So, to get to the point.

Independence has played no part in this dire situation. It is a consequence of  the history of Wales only ever belonging to the Union.

How do the Unionist parties intend to resolve Wales' problems?

More of the same it would seem.

The Tories in Wales would continue to rely on friends in high places. Other than, they would work with the UK government, no other clue as to how they would achieve their huge transformation promises.

Welsh Labour aren't quite sure. Some are talking up an as yet, undefined federal system. Others an improved devolution.

Both lead back to the same problem, that control of the essential levers of government, economic and legislative, will lie outside their control.

Both the Tory and Labour solutions have the same problem. These solutions are beyond their influence. Both these approaches are in the gift of the Westminster government.

A Westminster government, not recognized for its generosity to Wales.

It's not as if Wales has not made its contribution to this Union.

It presently sends water and electricity, free of charge, to keep England going.

Revenues from the profits of businesses in Wales are paid to the UK exchequer.

In recent history Wales was an industrial powerhouse. Huge profits were made from mining, slate and iron and steel from Wales.

Where are the great seats of learning, the hospitals and care homes paid for from these profits.

The universities of Wales were as a result of the contributions of the workers, the public.

The hospitals and medical care are the result of the NHS, the contributions of the people and before that by religious and charitable organizations.

The care homes are run by private enterprises.

The benefits from these vast  profits don't seem to have found their way to the Welsh part of the Union. 

Although Wales is suffering the consequence, in long term health problems and a polluted environment.

This is not the result of Independence, but of being in the Union.

So. Those that enthusiastically bang the Unionist drum, would do well to remember that wrapping Wales in the Union Flag, only leads to getting smothered.