I have long been an opponent of so-called freeports, which are the onshore version of tax havens that the Westminster government wants to introduce into the UK. To summarise, they undermine fair competition, produce deliberate unfair competition, and are seen as aggressive international tax policy. They may well also undermine EU level playing field rules. Many studies show that freeports are widely associated with crime, tax evasion, money laundering and smuggling. There's very little evidence that they do actually create new jobs, but they do fit into the Singapore-on-Thames agenda.
I was hoping that the devolved administration would hold against what will become epicentres for potential corruption. The attitude of SNP conference, reported last December, was good. They passed a resolution in conference last November saying:
Conference acknowledges that freeports cannot and will not offset the damage caused by Brexit, which is taking Scotland and the UK out of the world's biggest free trade area and single market, and is concerned that the Tories' focus on freeports may be positioned to compete on low-cost, low-wage, low-value opportunities with which they are often associated globally.
Conference reaffirms that is entirely at odds with the SNP's ambition for Scotland's
economy to continue to build a high-productivity, high-wage, innovative economy built on the strength of our world-leading technology, businesses and academic clusters.
And now they have backtracked, which shows how in much esteem the SNP leadership holds its membership.
Proposals have been unveiled for a new model of green ports focused on inclusive growth, fair work practices and delivering a net zero economy.
The Scottish Government is developing plans to establish fair, sustainable, green ports. These would adapt the UK government's freeport proposals, offering streamlined planning processes and a package of tax and customs reliefs.
The Scottish Government's green ports would make it necessary for operators and businesses benefitting from the package of incentives to:
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pay the real Living Wage
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adopt the Scottish Business Pledge
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commit to supporting sustainable and inclusive growth in local communities
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contribute to Scotland's just transition to net zero
So, freeports under a green banner. But with all the tax abuses and distortions to the economy thrown in.
What's the conclusion? It is to be that the race to the bottom in tax, regulation and abuse works. And Scotland has fallen for it. The Sleazeports (for what is what these are likely to be, with even aspects of the administration of the law within them effectively outsourced to commercial operators) will now appear in Scotland too. And that's a capitulation that it should not have offered to Westminster.
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Compete and die.
The economies around the world are all in the shit, Covid will not go quietly, there is a environmental crisis and natural resources are now becoming more scarce and a source of possible conflict between nations.
I’m sure the Scottish people voted for a more than just English style politics and policy with just a Scottish accent!!!
I daren’t look – there’s enough to worry about!! Good luck Scotland.
I tell you what……………I’ve got to get off this fucking planet. Does any one know where the nearest inter galactic bus stop is?
What was it the late Frank Zappa said? Ah! Something like:
‘The most plentiful substance in the universe is not hydrogen. The scientists are wrong: the most plentiful substance in the universe is stupidity”,
My congratulations to the SNP. The:
So
Not
Progressive party.
Strapline:
‘Aye – we ‘re just as stupid as the Sassenach bampots south of the border but at least we are Scoottish bampots who soond Scottish, eat tatties, haggis and deep fried mars bars like yuse lot !! See you pal!’.
Oh dear, oh dear oh dear……………..
I’ve delayed posting a response to try and let the ‘red mist’ dissipate but I’m afraid I’ve now reached breaking point with the SNP.
I’ve been an Independence supporter for more than 40 years. That was when I first met and then campaigned on behalf of Sir George Reid (another who was treated abysmally by the hierarchy at the time).
For 40 years I’ve shared his vision for ‘confederation’, whereas the countries of UK could form an alliance along the lines of the Nordic and Benelux alliances.
After reading your article Richard and coincidentally reading this piece immediately afterwards:-
https://sourcenews.scot/source-direct-as-free-as-a-green-port/
I now feel convinced that the current leadership are either mind-blowingly incompetent or corrupt and are using their power in almost ‘Trumpian’ fashion to enrich themselves the way that venture capitalists enrich their good selves by running the country into the ground with – to quote James Foley-
‘their woke neoliberalism’.
Sir George Reid had one maxim. “I will always stand by my record, I will never treat decent people like dirt”.
I wish I had his equanimity. I’ve had it. I’m beginning to dislike my own countrymen.
Short of a Government of National Unity ( who would lead it) which I think is something that now needs serious consideration and would have my and, I believe, widespread support, then as Corporal Jones famously said
“We’re all doomed”.
I have to say Justin that your observations sound very plausible to me.
Yes – they’re all in it for independence for the country – but also to enrich themselves using the Tony Blair method perhaps? It would be awful if that were the truth – awful. But possible.
Maybe that is what politics is now – a route to get rich?
You know, I was looking at the Democrats at the inauguration and I dug around a little and read about those now in charge. All I could notice was that they were so unlike the people they ruled over? I mean we’re talking about the really well off here getting to the top of country. It’s the same here.
But all I could think of was that they are all so unlike us. They’re like a different species. I don’t know how or why we let them be in charge.
I recently participated in an SNP internal event campaigning for “Both votes SNP”.
The next day an individual whom I find utterly objectionable announced her candidacy for the list in my region.
I also recently wrote to my constituency MSP about freeports. The reply denied knowledge.
Both these events will affect my voting choice.
The news won’t affect my voting intention, S.N.P 1/2, because apart from being a member of the S.N.P, I believe they are absolutely essential to us gaining our independence. Once that is achieved, then we can go about deciding the nuts and bolts of our future direction on many policies. Who knows what politics will look like in Scotland following independence? Other political parties may rise. Some may become completely irrelevant.
No, independence first, then we can decide our future, by ourselves, not being dictated by an increasingly disfuncional Westminster.
You know you could easily sum up the current state of play by simply using the old adages:-
The emperor’s new clothes
Give an inch and they’ll take a mile
Power corrupts and absolute power corrupts absolutely
People in glasshouses shouldn’t throw stones
Birds of a feather flock together
Empty vessels make the most noise
“are seen as aggressive international tax policy”
Lots of aggression going on then. According to the OECD there are over 5,400 ‘Special Economic Zones’ world-wide in 147 countries. The EU allows them and there around 80 among EU member states.
Who is it (other than you) who regards this as aggressive international tax policy?
The EU and the OECD, for starters
“Proposals have been unveiled for a new model of green ports”
I suppose they think that something rubbish and unworkable will be accepted by the public so long as the word ‘green’ is tacked on to it.