the Scottish Independence Referendum Bill。英國在2013年12月通過
作者: felicity2010 時間: 2014-9-9 02:23 PM
本帖最後由 felicity2010 於 2014-9-9 02:29 PM 編輯 , p/ O- o. V8 b$ A4 ^' y' rTVBNOW 含有熱門話題，最新最快電視，軟體，遊戲，電影，動漫及日常生活及興趣交流等資訊。 , b' i$ ~$ n' a+ f% r( k3 gTVBNOW 含有熱門話題，最新最快電視，軟體，遊戲，電影，動漫及日常生活及興趣交流等資訊。Harold James : Should Scotland Leave the Pound Zone? . @ e9 e9 L( ?/ A7 e# ]8 Z5.39.217.76tvb now,tvbnow,bttvb' c/ _3 V# o2 P# R9 p3 d+ s! z
3 g6 m8 c9 _& W/ Z5.39.217.76PRINCETON –As Scotland prepares for this month’s referendum on independence, the United Kingdom – indeed, all of Europe – must brace itself for the impact of a successful bid. Scottish independence would revolutionize the British and European constitutional frameworks, and give a tremendous boost to other European separatist movements, from Catalonia to northern Italy. The economic impact of independence, however, is far less certain.TVBNOW 含有熱門話題，最新最快電視，軟體，遊戲，電影，動漫及日常生活及興趣交流等資訊。+ t$ \, J2 q h, o4 C
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Advocates of independence have long insisted that they are motivated primarily by the distinctiveness of Scottish identity. But Scotland’s history and traditions,while undoubtedly its own, have been shaped by centuries of interaction with England and other parts of the British Isles." U% {+ n U/ G
The more immediate issue for Scots is money. The question of whether an independent Scotland could or should continue to use the British pound has dominated discussions over the last few months of the referendum campaign. The outcome –for Scotland, the UK, and Europe – could vary widely, depending on which path Scotland chooses.5.39.217.76 L$ p# G" F: ~; F c: |) z- B
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So far,Scottish nationalists have insisted that an independent Scotland would retain the pound. But, given how much easier it would be to make the case for a separate currency – not to mention the fact that Chancellor of the Exchequer George Osborne has explicitly rejected Scottish First Minister Alex Salmond’s proposed currency union – such declarations amount to an own goal. * @. \/ l* {4 h; d# pTVBNOW 含有熱門話題，最新最快電視，軟體，遊戲，電影，動漫及日常生活及興趣交流等資訊。5.39.217.760 w* S( F2 }. j7 i- G E: ?3 T$ [) v W
The problem with the Scottish nationalists’ vision is a mirror image of the eurozone’s main shortcoming. Given that a single currency cannot function without a common monetary policy, and that economic conditions across the currency union differ,individual members will, at times, be subject to unsuitable policies.公仔箱論壇$ A/ G! b+ p I) x5 s" }( i _/ J4 l
8 J W3 {: e' w) D+ }5 ~2 IFor example,during the construction boom of the 2000s, Ireland and Spain should have had tighter monetary conditions, higher interest rates, and lower loan/asset ratios. But their eurozone membership meant that government and private-sector borrowers alike benefited from very low interest rates. After the financial crisis erupted, and policymakers began seeking ways to compel banks to revive lending in these and other struggling countries, it became apparent that there were no available tools to employ.% v) V4 u; X3 X) A3 U+ U% v. r
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Today, the UK faces a similar dilemma. The property boom in the London area demands tighter monetary conditions. But higher rates would wreak economic havoc on the rest of the country, where the recovery remains anemic., I2 _, C5 k) r2 C" F6 I/ X
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Moreover,like Germany, London maintains a huge current-account surplus (8% of GDP) – a potentially serious problem, given the deflationary effect that Germany’s surplus has had on the rest of the eurozone. Already, the rest of the UK runs an external deficit that is higher than that of any industrialized country.5.39.217.76& Y" E; t( A M, L1 p
% T1 H4 U% ^% Z, ?2 J3 dtvb now,tvbnow,bttvbThe behavior of a currency can be driven by one powerful and preeminent sector of the economy; in the pound’s case, it is the financial sector. Some viewed the pound’s rapid decline in 2007 and 2008 – a 30% depreciation in trade-weighted terms – as a much-needed economic stimulus, given the boost that it implied for export competitiveness. The UK’s independent monetary policy provided it with a level of flexibility that the eurozone economies lacked. 5.39.217.76) v. }7 ^$ _, V
; M" j- N3 G; S# P0 H' Q5.39.217.76But the revival of confidence in the financial sector has caused the pound to rebound sharply (by 18%since the end of 2008), eroding the UK’s competitiveness gain. What is good for the City of London is not necessarily good for the rest of the economy. ; \/ a7 _' y# j6 ^( W: ctvb now,tvbnow,bttvb" R" j7 T/ x q* R
There is thus an unmistakable appeal in escaping an economic arrangement that shackles Scotland to London – an appeal that the great Scottish economist Adam Smith would have recognized. Indeed, his most influential work, The Wealth of Nations, was motivated by the belief that the interests of the London merchant community were distorting British commercial policy. 1 x) X0 n: Z7 R1 @7 m - m( R+ ^! }/ z: C% o1 L% ytvb now,tvbnow,bttvbThe alternative to retaining the pound, however, presents its own challenges.According to the Scottish economist Ronald MacDonald, an independent Scotland should have its own currency,which would behave like a petro-currency, owing to the economy’s dependence on North Sea gas and oil. TVBNOW 含有熱門話題，最新最快電視，軟體，遊戲，電影，動漫及日常生活及興趣交流等資訊。7 J D. G2 s; [% W8 y
5 h# Q, p3 P) Q4 fTVBNOW 含有熱門話題，最新最快電視，軟體，遊戲，電影，動漫及日常生活及興趣交流等資訊。But replacing one dominant sector with another is probably not good for the rest of the Scottish economy, which would lose competitiveness whenever surging energy prices pushed up the exchange rate. As less competitive industries were driven into loss and insolvency, economic activity would become even more concentrated and specialized.5.39.217.76# S E8 S* }6 Q
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Placing the burden of adjustment on the exchange rate is not the answer. The small, open economies of Switzerland and Norway – important models for Scotland – struggled with sharp currency appreciation during the global financial crisis. For Switzerland, the solution was to implement a ceiling on the franc’s exchange rate against the euro. 2 t" \! t0 e3 M+ E( T; r$ P& ]5.39.217.76公仔箱論壇( j8 ?! E) P2 |0 B4 A+ s( G6 Q
This should inspire Scotland to pursue association with a larger currency area and a more diversified economy. How about adopting the euro?tvb now,tvbnow,bttvb' J" i# g2 T4 c& e
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8 Y: q) {: K" xtvb now,tvbnow,bttvb ( I1 ]: f6 y+ P [+ d$ P5.39.217.76Harold James is Professor of History and International Affairs at Princeton University, Professor of History at the European University Institute, Florence, and a senior fellow at the Center for International Governance Innovation. A specialist on German economic history and on globalization, he is the author of The Creation and Destruction of Value: The Globalization Cycle, Krupp: A History of the Legendary German Firm,and Making the European Monetary Union.+ l: Y6 z$ Y( E# X: o$ t z
2 p( K% x5 Y+ m y4 K. Y 作者: felicity2010 時間: 2014-9-11 10:42 PM
本帖最後由 felicity2010 於 2014-9-11 10:49 PM 編輯 ( w: L- x, M4 A2 |0 Q) {tvb now,tvbnow,bttvbtvb now,tvbnow,bttvb# u: _4 M5 N: _2 J3 \) X
The Economist: UK RIP ? 9 n+ y. P- ^2 b8 U# j' l5.39.217.76 " W @) C# q4 F) x1 g6 i5 B+ |Ditching the union would be a mistake for Scotland and a tragedy for the country it leaves behind 2 h" X; Y3 ?+ T- c. G, @tvb now,tvbnow,bttvb : a( [' A) L8 S公仔箱論壇 6 \, i7 F# u4 \" O. ^, K. e: p4 ` eTVBNOW 含有熱門話題，最新最快電視，軟體，遊戲，電影，動漫及日常生活及興趣交流等資訊。 ( I' c2 ^, k3 a1 O; HTVBNOW 含有熱門話題，最新最快電視，軟體，遊戲，電影，動漫及日常生活及興趣交流等資訊。 3 o" w# L$ {0 W$ iSCHOOL CHILDREN once imagined their place in the world, with its complex networks and allegiances, by writing elaborate postal addresses. British youngsters began with their street and town (London or Manchester, Edinburgh or Cardiff),followed by England, Wales, Scotland or Northern Ireland; then came the United Kingdom (and after that Europe, the World, the Universe…). They understood that the UK, and all its collective trials and achievements—the industrial revolution, the Empire, victory over the Nazis, the welfare state—were as much a part of their patrimony as the Scottish Highlands or English cricket. They knew, instinctively, that these concentric rings of identity were complementary, not opposed.公仔箱論壇" v; s V [3 O' E5 Q8 q6 R
2 d& g" @% b, Y0 F2 b8 qAt least,they used to. After the referendum on Scottish independence on September 18th,one of those layers—the UK—may cease to exist, at least in the form recognisable since the Act of Union three centuries ago. As the vote nears,Scotland’s nationalists have caught up with the unionist No camp in the opinion polls, and even edged ahead (see article). More and more Scots are deciding that the UK, which their soldiers, statesmen,philosophers and businessmen have done so much to build and ornament, does not cradle their Scottishness but smothers it. This great multinational state could be undone in a single day, by a poll in which just 7% of its citizens will participate. That outcome, once unthinkable, would be bad for Scotland and tragic for what remained of the UK.5.39.217.76 C+ A) B+ H, C
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The damage a split would do 8 B0 \! ]$ ^* h# [; _tvb now,tvbnow,bttvb % B, I2 L1 a6 r) O2 A5.39.217.76The rump of Britain would be diminished in every international forum: why should anyone heed a country whose own people shun it? Since Britain broadly stands for free trade and the maintenance of international order, this would be bad for the world. Its status as a nuclear power would be doubtful: the country’s nuclear submarines are based in a Scottish loch and could not be moved quickly. Britain would also be more likely to leave the European Union, since Scots are better disposed to Europe than are the English (and are less likely to vote for the Conservatives, who are promising a Euro-referendum if they win next year’s general election). The prospect of a British exit from the EU would scare investors much more than a possible Scottish exit from Britain (see article).5.39.217.76$ p& ]4 x& x) R9 @7 m
* }8 I5 o* Q# z& s1 q$ d公仔箱論壇The people of Scotland alone will decide the future of Britain, and they are not obliged to worry about what becomes of the state they would leave. But—perhaps not surprisingly, given the endurance and success of the union, imperilled though it is—Scots’ own interests, and the rest of Britain’s, coincide.TVBNOW 含有熱門話題，最新最快電視，軟體，遊戲，電影，動漫及日常生活及興趣交流等資訊。- F2 ~0 j3 m2 Z$ {' R% v6 d& i
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At the heart of the nationalist campaign is the claim that Scotland would be a more prosperous and more equal country if it went solo. It is rich in oil and inherently decent, say the nationalists, but impoverished by a government in Westminster that has also imposed callous policies. They blame successive British governments for almost every ill that has befallen Scotland, from the decline of manufacturing industry to ill-health to the high price of sending parcels in the Highlands. Alex Salmond, Scotland’s nationalist leader, is broad in his recrimination: Labour and the Tories are of a piece, he suggests, in their disregard for Scotland. 8 n; z8 v. @" Z1 ~9 V% _' S' T& R . \4 S# C3 u8 ?4 L8 G7 O6 Q+ RBut Scotland’s relative economic decline is the result not of southern neglect but of the shift of manufacturing and shipping to Asia. If Westminster has not reversed all the deleterious effects of globalisation and technology, that is because to do so is impossible. The nationalists know this, which is why, sotto voce, they would continue many of Westminster’s policies. Instead they make much of minor adjustments, such as abolishing the “bedroom tax”, a recent measure designed to nudge people out of too-large social housing. To break up a country over such small, recent annoyances would be nuts. ! F/ t4 {: V& |2 b. ^' a8 t1 a $ M" K/ g7 E5 s6 b* O( z* ^% s! {The nationalists’ economics are also flawed. Scotland would not, in fact, be richer alone. The taxes that would flow to it from the North Sea would roughly compensate for the extra cost of its lavish state, which would no longer be funded by Westminster (last year spending was some £1,300 per person higher in Scotland than elsewhere in Britain). But oil revenues are erratic. They would have earned Scotland £11.5 billion in 2008-09 but only £5.5 billion in 2012-13.If an independent state were to smooth these fluctuations by setting up an oil fund, it would have less cash to spend now. In any case, the oil is gradually running out. In order to maintain state spending after it is gone, taxes would have to rise. And a crunch might come much sooner. Foreign investors and big businesses that mostly serve English customers could well move south.公仔箱論壇( l; T5 P0 }# ?( V) ?( a% V P
+ I x& {8 x( p: k, ^& z* F5.39.217.76Westminster has ruled out a currency union (see article)—correctly,given that the nationalists propose a deficit-widening fiscal splurge and that the assets of Scottish banks are an alarming 12 times the country’s GDP. It might relent, but only if Scotland agrees to such strict oversight that independence ends up meaning little. The nationalists say that kinks over currency and the like could be worked out amicably—that it would not be in Britain’s interests to antagonise its new northern neighbour, particularly since (they hint darkly) Scotland could refuse to take on its share of the national debt. They are far too sanguine. If Scotland goes, the rest of Britain will be furious, both at the Scots and at their own leaders, who will be impelled to drive a hard bargain. 8 K) j' K5 \! j1 Z) s# A' J4 yTVBNOW 含有熱門話題，最新最快電視，軟體，遊戲，電影，動漫及日常生活及興趣交流等資訊。tvb now,tvbnow,bttvb# s( S& l, y; n2 J9 L: [6 e1 |! a
Mr Salmond is on stronger ground when he argues that if Scotland does not leave Britain it might be dragged out of the EU against its will. This is indeed a danger, but in going independent Scotland would swap the possibility of an EU exit for a certain future as a small, vulnerable country. Its best hope of remaining influential is to stay put, and fight the Eurosceptics. 8 Q5 }& B. R: _$ g4 I8 Rtvb now,tvbnow,bttvb [: S9 o' }. O
% ?* e, B1 f/ w5.39.217.76A lot to lose' X9 N: \$ `' Z0 \% _, _) A
2 K6 d/ E; z5 P9 ?; }: dIn the end the referendum will turn not on calculations of taxes and oil revenue, but on identity and power. The idea that Scots can shape their own destiny, both at the referendum and afterwards, is exhilarating. Yet Scotland already controls many of its own affairs (even if Mr Salmond’s Scottish National Party, which runs the devolved government and is driving the Yes campaign, has not done much with its powers so far). Moreover, as Westminster politicians of all stripes have hastily made clear, if Scotland votes No, the devolved administration will soon get so much clout that the practical difference between staying in the union and leaving it will narrow. That would also lead to the distribution of power away from Westminster and to other bits of Britain, which should have happened long ago. ' @5 J* c; ]; atvb now,tvbnow,bttvbTVBNOW 含有熱門話題，最新最快電視，軟體，遊戲，電影，動漫及日常生活及興趣交流等資訊。9 O1 R( K a: P9 p, K' \$ F. o
So by staying in, Scots will not just save the union but enhance it, as they have for300 years. For the UK, with all its triumphs and eccentricities, belongs to Scots as much as it does to the English—even if increasing numbers of them seem ready to disown that glorious, hard-earned heritage, and to simplify their identities by stripping out one of those concentric rings. That goes against both the spirit of this fluid century—in which most people have multiple identities, whether of place, ethnicity or religion—and the evidence of the preceding three. For all its tensions and rivalries, and sometimes because of them, the history of the union shows that the Scots, Welsh, English and Northern Irish are stronger, more tolerant and more imaginative together than they would be apart.6 ?1 W2 ^9 R1 H, j& G
W2 N$ B; s2 k& G! z7 @2 E 作者: felicity2010 時間: 2014-9-12 06:57 AM
盧峯: 不一樣的帝國夕陽 ) A+ H& _# h Q1 `5.39.217.76TVBNOW 含有熱門話題，最新最快電視，軟體，遊戲，電影，動漫及日常生活及興趣交流等資訊。 l: z3 F) v' P$ L- b) A
, i4 y6 N4 t7 a w( Q7 ]$ M5.39.217.76一年多前英國首相卡梅倫同意讓蘇格蘭進行獨立公投時，不少人都認為這是保守黨的緩兵之計，既可把蘇格蘭獨立的爭議推遲，又可作好準備拆解蘇格蘭國民黨（SNP）的攻勢。那個時候大家相信，單是獨立後不能沿用英鎊及要分擔國債已足以嚇退蘇格蘭人，令他們不敢妄動。誰也想不到，要求獨立的激情卻逐步戰勝理性，支持獨立的人不斷增加，從一個月前大幅落後20個百分點到現時叮噹馬頭，個別民調甚至顯示贊成獨立陣營微微領先。假若形勢不變，蘇格蘭脫離英國獨立便不再是天方夜譚，而是即將來臨的事實，又一老大帝國解體，歐洲大陸的版圖也將再次重劃。 , q' }' Z6 M+ `" p& u* A& K' P- f1 n9 T' D
帝國解體及歐洲版圖重劃不是甚麼新鮮的事，最大規模的改變是一次大戰以後，幾個古老帝國，如奧匈帝國、鄂圖曼帝國、俄羅斯帝國解體或崩潰，歐洲面目全非，巴爾幹半島、東歐湧現大批新國家，波蘭、捷克斯洛伐克、南斯拉夫……。 - T2 \- {; j4 g) s% m; h # w2 V/ |: Y. t/ X5.39.217.76只是，一次大戰的解體過程不過是個開始，地圖的重劃不過是個序幕，分裂、重組的過程並沒有停止。第二次大戰納粹德國戰敗，歐洲分為兩大陣營，德國一分為二，波蘭的國界向西移，部份原來領土成為前蘇聯的土地，部份原來德國的領土則變成波蘭屬地。不過，最顯眼的還是從波羅的海伸延至阿得里亞海的無形鐵幕。 % p2 L2 X0 t- s' I) e% _. N/ j9 y$ ^1 xTVBNOW 含有熱門話題，最新最快電視，軟體，遊戲，電影，動漫及日常生活及興趣交流等資訊。( E" i* x6 a/ c* e
下一次歐洲版圖大變動同樣是帝國瓦解的結果。這一回是紅色帝國：蘇聯。91年蘇共強硬派政變失敗，俄羅斯從後乘勢奪權，以地方包圍中央的方式架空蘇聯中央政府，並把實質權力下放到十五個加盟國，一些消失了的國家如立陶苑等三個波羅的海小國重新成為獨立國家，還有在歷史上沒有留過多少痕迹的國家如白俄羅斯、摩爾多瓦以至近期新聞多多的烏克蘭。除了前蘇聯以外，另一個特殊歷史產物──南斯拉夫到92年也無法維持，像蘇聯那樣，多個加盟共和國紛紛鬧獨立，更釀成血戰連場，死傷無數。 ! ]: B/ }/ }) T$ Q' Y ) l4 Q* F$ q9 J$ ?3 _! F) s& _/ kTVBNOW 含有熱門話題，最新最快電視，軟體，遊戲，電影，動漫及日常生活及興趣交流等資訊。想不到的是，歐洲舊帝國分解的過程並未完結，曾是最輝煌的大英帝國也面對民族主義的衝擊，正面臨三百年來最大的憲制危機，可能被迫分解，只剩下英格蘭、威爾斯、北愛爾蘭，失去了蘇格蘭。由於在devolution（權力下放）過程中北愛爾蘭已取得不少自治權，再加上愛爾蘭不少人希望北部可跟南部統一，成為統一的愛爾蘭，未來聯合王國的疆界仍可能有變。公仔箱論壇$ p0 K- I. o) t0 V" k
5 D+ I5 d/ f1 V D' }6 W5.39.217.76儘管大英帝國免不了分解的命運，疆界可能出現大變，但跟其他老大帝國不同，她在處理民族主義、獨立問題上一直保持和平、理性及文明的態度，願意直接面對問題，讓支持與反對民眾及政黨不斷辯論、商議，再透過政治過程好好處理。97年工黨政府推動devolution，讓蘇格蘭、威爾斯、北愛爾蘭各自擁有部份行政權、立法權，希望藉此讓不同族裔有更大參與及由此建立歸屬感，加強向心力。對不少志切獨立的蘇格蘭人而言，權力下放未能滿足他們的要求，他們仍致力尋求獨立，但英國的做法至少讓國內不同成員種族在獨立問題上保持對話、溝通，不致因爭取或反對獨立而反目成仇，產生更大爭議。即使蘇格蘭真的離英國而去，整個過程也肯定比一戰以來的版圖重劃平和暢順得多，沒有槍炮血淚，有的是正反理據及辯論。 ' {% B& B' R$ z! ?3 p/ W; u 2 Y: T1 }+ z& X' dtvb now,tvbnow,bttvb # @; A/ `0 _' O公仔箱論壇作者: felicity2010 時間: 2014-9-12 10:34 AM
郭濟士：專橫鐵娘子 為英國埋下蘇獨惡果tvb now,tvbnow,bttvb! y0 [% Y; b$ l3 D6 b1 V: N
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4 A/ c4 y" _' D9 Q「如果蘇格蘭公投選擇獨立，英國建制勢力只能怪自已。獨派的壯大並不是靠盲目煽動民族主義又或對些路迪族歷史的懷舊，而是要拚命抵抗首先由戴卓爾夫人所帶來、並被新工黨所延續加劇的民生破產。」 2 u, C$ K( T q4 @' F5.39.217.765.39.217.76$ u* D7 \9 J# I: v- _( h: h
英國專欄作家瓊斯（Owen Jones）這番話，堪稱非常扼要地點出了的當前蘇格蘭獨立問題的核心癥結——與其說這場獨立運動的根源，是文化差異又或數百年積怨，倒不如說那是由於倫敦政治建制勢力長期在蘇格蘭倒行逆施的結果，而當中禍首正是戴卓爾夫人。 5 N i# Q. }6 J- c. Y
TVBNOW 含有熱門話題，最新最快電視，軟體，遊戲，電影，動漫及日常生活及興趣交流等資訊。3 C% U5 T2 S l7 \0 e- X
1 p* o3 H0 y9 j9 q; d* } T4 l7 NTVBNOW 含有熱門話題，最新最快電視，軟體，遊戲，電影，動漫及日常生活及興趣交流等資訊。管治10年 重挫蘇重工業 # ?& ~# @$ L4 q7 |# w3 Q3 p 2 Y) k% A- n E# [ J' ^蘇格蘭可說是最受戴卓爾夫人新自由主義經濟政策所衝擊的地區之一，BBC蘇格蘭政治記者布坎南（Raymond Buchanan）便形容，戴卓爾夫人的十年管治，永久地改變了蘇格蘭。在她的雷厲風行改革措施下，蘇格蘭重工業遭到重挫，多間位於蘇格蘭的大型鋼鐵和鋁業國營工廠倒閉；此外，蘇格蘭也是戴卓爾夫人與礦工硬撼的重要戰場，1984年在當地爆發的礦工示威潮，便被形容為英國戰後最龐大的工運鬥爭，持續了1 年，然而結果還是敵不過戴卓爾夫人的鐵腕政策，成千上萬的蘇格蘭礦工最終失掉飯碗。 P$ ]7 Q1 u% w, J. R - ?4 m) \ N( k A* Mtvb now,tvbnow,bttvb即使事隔25年，蘇格蘭各地礦工仍未有忘記這場悲壯的鬥爭，於2009年紛紛舉行紀念活動，足見戴卓爾夫人在當地所劃下的傷口是何等深刻。事實上，1981年，蘇格蘭格拉斯哥市的「無經濟活動人士」（economic inactivity people，即不僅失業也沒有積極搵工者），論數目在全英各地區中只排208位，但在戴卓爾夫人十年管治下情况嚴重惡化，竟急升至第10位，大批中等收入技術職位消失，由缺乏保障的低薪服務業職位所取代。 : n6 e& H$ y# M7 D8 t) f公仔箱論壇5.39.217.76% v, @% f2 M. x( t. w1 H, ?
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當人頭稅白老鼠 決心爭英放權TVBNOW 含有熱門話題，最新最快電視，軟體，遊戲，電影，動漫及日常生活及興趣交流等資訊。" g# b7 V B4 R2 Z3 F2 v
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然而更令蘇格蘭人憤怒的，還有1989年的人頭稅改革。當年戴卓爾夫人變相先拿蘇格蘭作為白老鼠，率先引入備受爭議的人頭稅（針對所有成年人按統一稅率徵TVBNOW 含有熱門話題，最新最快電視，軟體，遊戲，電影，動漫及日常生活及興趣交流等資訊。$ A6 D2 }! D- M- F) i2 F
收的累退稅，代替原本的居住財產稅以幫補地方財政），令蘇格蘭普羅窮人首當其衝。雖然戴卓爾夫人最終因人頭稅在全國所惹來的反彈倒台，但就如前工黨議員 Dennis Canavan 所說，蘇格蘭人對戴卓爾主義的心惡痛絕，促使當地人決心爭取倫敦當局下放權力並成立蘇格蘭地方議會，捍衛自已的權益，並促成了新一代蘇格蘭民族主義政客的崛起、為今天的蘇格蘭獨立運動和公投埋下伏線。 保守黨回朝「如活外國統治下」 % j% g- V* s$ }( v" L2 ztvb now,tvbnow,bttvbTVBNOW 含有熱門話題，最新最快電視，軟體，遊戲，電影，動漫及日常生活及興趣交流等資訊。3 ~; U) h9 c3 N) G
0 X8 {8 b' ]" \7 b" n5 o雖然1997年新工黨上台後，調整了當年保守黨的部分政策，又引入了最低工資，但在學費徵收和推動醫療服務體系私有化等方面的措施，顯然並未獲得左傾色彩濃厚的蘇格蘭民眾支持。保守黨的回朝，更令到蘇格蘭人與倫敦的矛盾再度加劇。要知道，雖然保守黨是2010年全國大選的第一大黨，但在蘇格蘭卻僅是邊緣小黨。正如瓊斯所說，「對大多數蘇格蘭人來說，活在一個由保守黨領導的政府之下是荒謬的，就像被迫活於外國佔領軍統治之下，（不少蘇格蘭人都質問）為何要接受像睡房稅（去年由卡梅倫政府推出、變相減少對窮人住屋津貼）這類犧牲窮人利益去幫倫敦政府紓緩開支壓力的不公義政策？」 . X6 C: y- @( x! M) o% [( Y- V ( C0 B& i+ F( v" V9 wBBC記者布坎南曾指出，戴卓爾夫人將扭轉英國永久衰落的命運作為己任。然而諷刺的是，也許正是她在蘇格蘭的所作所為，令到大不列顛走向分崩。挾絕對政治強勢強推不受歡迎的決定，也許可以取得一時的勝利，但隨時有可能埋下破壞力更巨大的政治計時炸彈，於未來爆發。 ) I, m4 K& z* N" s+ t0 O1 Utvb now,tvbnow,bttvb ( H0 B! A4 O6 w$ m8 e( f9 D/ c公仔箱論壇5.39.217.76' ]+ A6 t3 D1 r+ ]( W; Y* F
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