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Can't help thinking this is political posturing.Quote:
Originally Posted by Moulin Yarns
It's not beyond the wit of technology to identify all those who are, for example, higher-rate taxpayers, exclude them from the payment, and redistribute it among lower-income earners. £100 is not that big a deal for a pensioner with an income of £45k, whereas it is for someone only on State Pension.
Preparation for 2026 election.Quote:
Originally Posted by CropleyWasGod
I've said much the same for decades. How the DWP and Inland Revenue can't get together and identify all those who might not claiming all sorts of benefits and drop them a letter to suggest claiming is beyond me.Quote:
Originally Posted by CropleyWasGod
Reform **** I'm worried about. How do we get the immigrants we need without letting them get ammo. Can't see anything but a rainbow alliance if a party is to get a majority. Last I saw is mayhemQuote:
Originally Posted by grunt
BallotBoxScot
Poll Analysis: Survation 1st - 15th of November 2024
Holyrood Seats Projection:
SNP ~ 38
Labour ~ 36
Conservative ~ 21
Reform UK ~ 14
Green ~ 10
Lib Dem ~ 10
Independence:
No ~ 52% : Yes ~ 48%
Or just pay themQuote:
Originally Posted by Jack
You could just give it to houses on lower council tax bands?Quote:
Originally Posted by CropleyWasGod
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Too simple.Quote:
Originally Posted by CropleyWasGod
Why not make the benefit taxable like Child benefit when you earn over a certain amount and force more people to do more tax returns.
That way you complicate the system even more and add in another weird threshold / cliff edge into the system ;-)
A tangent but I was looking at the council tax bands for my street it's wild how random it seems, didn't realise they were set in 91. Was it by house sizeQuote:
Originally Posted by Ozyhibby
Yip, set in 91 and no longer take into account extensions or any other upgrades some houses have had. It’s a ridiculous situation.Quote:
Originally Posted by Stairway 2 7
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CheersQuote:
Originally Posted by Ozyhibby
Do they not re-assess its band at the point of the property's next sale?Quote:
Originally Posted by Ozyhibby
Yes they do, my next door neighbours had extended their house about 15yrs ago which made it bigger than mine but they were in a lower council tax band.Quote:
Originally Posted by lapsedhibee
They moved out this year and it’s been updated to the band above its original band now.
:aok:Quote:
Originally Posted by hibee
My wife and I combined income is around that, and last week we used just under £100 electricity. Believe me, even £100 would be welcome.Quote:
Originally Posted by CropleyWasGod
Scottish Government looking at scrapping the two child benefit cap along with reversing Yousafs £200m cut to the housing budget. I've no doubt they're playing politics but if it helps people who are struggling and creates more homes then you can't really complain. Leaves both Labour in Westminster and the branch office in a bit of a predicament.
I guess all those on here who criticised the SNP for the Council Tax freeze (endlessly, so it seemed) will be delighted to hear they've ended it?
Yes delighted, it was a horrible populist policy that was unfunded and hit the most needy in society.Quote:
Originally Posted by grunt
Council tax needs completely changed. All parties have said it for years but no one seems to want the commitment
Just saw this.Quote:
Originally Posted by Stairway 2 7
Perth and Kinross councillors have just voted to endorse a three-year indicative Council Tax Strategy which would see council tax increase by 10% in 2025/26, 10% in 2026/27 and 6% in 2027/28.
I would imagine Edinburgh will be the same.
It's kind of like chucking money at the NHS, will we see better outcomes from the increased funding? Who knows but I hope so.
A couple of extra bands for the very largest properties would be a start if there is no appetite for real reform.Quote:
Originally Posted by jamie_1875
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Guess where I live??Quote:
Originally Posted by jamie_1875
Pkc is an SNP led council, even a good poster on here is a councillor.
I'm happy with a 10% uplift. ( band C)
It’s getting out of control how much they charge now, using that calculation I’d be paying over £4000 by 2027 and getting nothing much for it.Quote:
Originally Posted by jamie_1875
They need to come up with a fairer system but as others have already said nobody seems interested in changing things.
Probably paying now for all the years it was frozen - which was a nonsense.Quote:
Originally Posted by hibee
Better put things up a wee, regular nudge at a time than nothing than nothing then big chunks.
I’ve been in my flat for 20 years. Whilst I’d probably not be thrilled about the idea of bringing up a family of 4 in a 2 bedroom flat, if you’d asked me if when I moved in if my council tax now would be reasonable from where it was then, I’d probably have said yes.
It will still be lower than England.Quote:
Originally Posted by Smartie
The rate in Edinburgh is lower than the English average, which considering we are a large city is pretty good.
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Unless it's still coming out in dribs and drabs, I assume no movement on the childcare front and aligning more with England in terms of provision of hours for children under 3? Certainly can't see anything at first look - but not sure if everything is finished or not.
Comparisons with England are "whataboutery" apparently.Quote:
Originally Posted by Ozyhibby
Council tax will not be the problem for the SNP in 2026. Income tax will. Especially the £43k tax band. It’s too low to be classed as a higher rate tax payer and it’s going to cost votes.Quote:
Originally Posted by grunt
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https://news.stv.tv/politics/poll-su...np-on-59-seats
Latest Scottish polling. Yes majority, SNP largest party, labour hemorrhaging votes to reform.
And 54% yes for independence.
I’m sure operation branch form will have some updates shortly.Quote:
Originally Posted by Moulin Yarns
Always felt it was being kept back as an ace card
What's Murrell's position now? Been charged but no appearance in court yet?Quote:
Originally Posted by Hibs4185
Are the polis still figuring out the complex and ingenious criminal conspiracy that resulted in the loot being parked on someone's mum's driveway?
Branchform's not the one about the pens and stamps is it? So hard to remember all the details of stuff that happened so long ago.
Murrell charged but waiting for court appearance, more likely to be-sometime in 2026 with court backlog.Quote:
Originally Posted by lapsedhibee
The stamps were fake news made up by someone and peddled as gospel by the media.
Odds on money for Sturgeon to be charged around 2026 and court appearance as well and the media will have a field day, hopefully Scottish folk are starting to wake up to this witch-hunt.
Not quite. He's been charged but AFAIK the decision rests with COPFS as to whether it will go to court. They haven't ruled yet - let's face it, it's only been 8 months since he was charged. [/S]Quote:
Originally Posted by silverhibee
Quote:
Originally Posted by silverhibee
:aok:Quote:
Originally Posted by grunt
I wonder if it's the same team that was put on investigating the fake charges against Hibs fans after our glorious display of exuberance in 2016.Quote:
Originally Posted by silverhibee
£1,900,000 spent by the polis so far in investigating Murrel/Sturgeon.
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Hing oan!! Police Scotland investigate their employer, is that not a bit of them just owing it to themselves kind of thing???Quote:
Originally Posted by Kato
Quote:
Originally Posted by Ozyhibby
I'm very much for progressive taxes but a single earner running a house is not a high earner at £43K. They will be struggling to pay their bills more than likely.
The whole strategy appears to be lifting the lowest paid by sacrificing the band above that. Public Sector pay has been pretty decent for those on the lowest bands. Get one or two bands up though and the story is very different. There needs to be a look at Tax with a blank page approach that also takes into consideration assets and wealth. Hard to do when one government controls the paper and the other the pencil. I'd be interested to see how much I am taxed compared to when I started working. I would wager it is more now and add to that massive council tax bills and having to pay a fair chunk of my wage for a pension, which is now worse, which previously was included in my salary.
https://news.stv.tv/politics/swinney...ering-use-of-x
Scottish govt look like they might be about to move on from Twitter. Well done if they do.
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Is there anything to stop Musk buying Bluesky after the 20th? :dunno:Quote:
Originally Posted by Ozyhibby
I guess not but given how simple it is to set up another one it would surely be a daft decision?Quote:
Originally Posted by lapsedhibee
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The Sturgeon’s announce they are ending their marriage
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cvgpl37lez7o
The stress these 2 people have been living under, must be a considerable factorQuote:
Originally Posted by Berwickhibby
I actually thought they had already split?[emoji2369] I must have been confusing rumour and news.Quote:
Originally Posted by Billy Whizz
Three and a half years is a very long investigation it should be said but it has done its job in silencing her.
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Maybe once divorced it will allow her to talk about the whole sorry tale.Quote:
Originally Posted by Ozyhibby
They can’t say anything while the investigation is open.Quote:
Originally Posted by Hibrandenburg
Given how small the SNP is (only about 20 staff), you have to question the ability of Police Scotland to investigate any real serious more complicated white collar crime?[emoji2369]
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They've been separated for a while. This is their confirming it.Quote:
Originally Posted by Ozyhibby
I'm sure the legal situation, investigation and charges, or not, will be over soon, like in the next 4 or 5 years.Quote:
Originally Posted by Ozyhibby
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It’s a pity police Scotland removed they blue tents :thumbsup:
The press seem to have went over the top though with it headline news everywhere but a labour councillor gets hardly any coverage of allegations of being a nonce, Cammy Day is who I’m talking about since there seems to be a load of them being arrested for noncey stuff. :rolleyes:
The delay isn't with PS. They are waiting for instructions from the Crown Office.Quote:
Originally Posted by Ozyhibby
Need to make sure it last until the 2026 election.Quote:
Originally Posted by Kato
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Instructions on taking the case forward to court are due to be announced by the Procurator Fiscal on the first day of campaigning for the 2026 Scottish election followed by a closing of the case the day after the election.Quote:
Originally Posted by CropleyWasGod
A few legal road humps didn’t do Trump any damage.Quote:
Originally Posted by Hibs4185
You don't know that. Without those humps Trump might have got as much as 50% of the vote, maybe even more.Quote:
Originally Posted by greenginger
It's hard keeping up with all the various conspiracy theories. I suspect none are true and it's just a case of a complex case needed properly investigated. It is taking a long time though but no chance it's going into 2026!
It a fraud case that a decent forensic accountant would have had sorted, evidence produced and a decision made about prosecutions in a matter of weeks. Almost 3 years, multiple blue tents, loads of photo opportunities, door stepping by the media and here we are no further forward. Politically motivated bull****. If anyone has done anything wrong they deserve what's coming but it should never have taken this longQuote:
Originally Posted by jamie_1875
The police explained the tents were because they were going through a lot of personal items, so it was to protect their privacy but that doesn't fit the narrative of it being some big show being put on. Again the police explained the investigation moved on from a basic fraud investigation into a more complex case involving embezzlement and forged signatures etc, again a valid reason.Quote:
Originally Posted by weecounty hibby
I agree it's taking a very very long time but if it's politically motivated then by who? It was an Independence supporter who made the initial complaint, Police Scotland has been run by the SNP government for years now and the head of the Crown Office sits in John Swinney's government.
I am betting there is a rational explanation for most things.
Protect their privacy? Easy done. Put stuff in boxes or bags and take them to a police station. No need for tents. Every media outlet in the country followed them about, knocking on their door at points.
Massive Ponzi schemes have been investigated quicker than this.
Sean Clerkin made one of the first Complaints. An Independence supporter, yes I suppose so. But not one I want on my side of the argument
How many conspiracy theories have you heard?Quote:
Originally Posted by jamie_1875
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"Ch Con Livingstone told BBC Radio's Today programme he would have "rightly been accused of a significant dereliction and neglect of duty" if Police Scotland had not carried out its investigations the way it had.Quote:
Originally Posted by weecounty hibby
He said: "I know the full circumstances of the case. The tent was there, as were all the other measures, to protect the interests of justice and to protect the individuals involved"
I mean yes he could be lying and being in on "it" whatever it is. I just don't buy the conspiracy theories.
Lots, but I suspect very few are true and it's generally the simplest and most logical explanation being the truth. Like the tents etc.Quote:
Originally Posted by Kato
Clear as mud that.Quote:
Originally Posted by jamie_1875
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I hear that London Bridge is up for sale. I have a friend who can get you in on the bidding. Are you interested?Quote:
Originally Posted by jamie_1875
I've heard police Scotland were delaying the case to hurt the SNP. I've heard it got sent to procurator fiscal ages ago and it's getting delayed by the Lord Advocate and Solicitor General to help cover it up for the SNP cabinet.Quote:
Originally Posted by Kato
Both will be nonsense. The Lord Advocate and Solicitor General being in the cabinet makes me suspect it will be pretty watertight due to the scrutiny it will get from lawyers from both sides
That's two (2) conspiracy theories.Quote:
Originally Posted by Stairway 2 7
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Lol, so what do you think is happening? Who is behind this great plot? I am genuinely interested...Quote:
Originally Posted by grunt
I mean if the ex Chief Inspector of Police Scotland is in on it he must have had some seriously high up handlers yes? Like who?
£2m investigation shows they are certainly taking it serious. Wonder how common it is for Police Scotland to sanction that kind of money for an investigation?Quote:
Originally Posted by Stairway 2 7
Almost as big as the 2016 pitch invasion investigation.
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Investigating the ruling party is a major thing and shows were a serious nation and not Trump like. I think the crown office delaying this to effect the 2026 election is insane when you look at the Scottish cabinet.Quote:
Originally Posted by Ozyhibby
I have no idea. Perhaps the Scottish Police could investigate? Oh sorry, they're all busy - and have been for TWO YEARS - spending £2000k of Scottish taxpayers money trying to find a massive £600k of the SNP's OWN money which isn't even actually missing.Quote:
Originally Posted by jamie_1875
If pushed to identify those responsible, I'd say this is the work of people within the UK (Better Together) Government. I have no evidence, but it feels like a political hit job. And it's working.
To be fair Hibs put some right-wing bigots' noses out of joint. The Scottish establishment are always going to demand their rage is quenched in that kind of scenario.Quote:
Originally Posted by Ozyhibby
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:greengrinQuote:
Originally Posted by Stairway 2 7
That the blue tent was for show, before Murrell got arrested i heard that no one would ever get arrested as its just to embarrass Sturgeon, that it's being delayed just until the election starts, that it's the UK government doing this.Quote:
Originally Posted by Kato
I genuinely think all of them are nuts, including that the Lord Advocate and Solicitor General are delaying this or trying to squash it just because they are in the cabinet
That's six (6) plus two (2) = 8.Quote:
Originally Posted by Stairway 2 7
Mounting up.
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I am just not buying that all these senior people are being guided by some mysterious UK Government handler's who are only out to get the SNP. It's getting almost Trumpian. Do they give them their orders in envelopes dropped off at secret places around Edinburgh?Quote:
Originally Posted by grunt
The facts are clear, the investigation was started by an Independence supporter, the police have stated the investigation expanded into other alleged criminal behaviour including embezzlement and the tents were there for the reasons they stated. For all these senior officials and the head of the Crown Office who sits weekly in John Swinney's Cabinet meetings to also be in on "it" I find not believable, you even say yourself you no evidence. I hope we find out soon enough.
Yeah they're is quite a lot, people love a conspiracy. The moon landing is probably the most famous and I could only probably name 4 separate conspiracies involving thatQuote:
Originally Posted by Kato
Totally agree and an impartial investigation would have got it done quick so as not to be accused of it having a political impact. Yet it still runs and runs.Quote:
Originally Posted by weecounty hibby
The moon conspiracy theory is very, very deep-seated - its nuanced, involves thousands of hours of videos, the convoluted involvement of Hollywood, yards of pseudo-science and a battalion of nerds.Quote:
Originally Posted by Stairway 2 7
It makes the eight (8) conspiracy theories involving the SNP sound like sarcastic asides to the length of time it's taking. Or, if you were partial to a conspiracy theories, elements of one theory.
Wacky.
Still, 600 grand of people's cash might have been mispent and we can't have that kind of thing happening.
The trial will be box-office.
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You've been watching too much TV.Quote:
Originally Posted by jamie_1875
Right.Quote:
Originally Posted by jamie_1875
Who says they're in on it?Quote:
Originally Posted by jamie_1875
Neither do Police Scotland, it would seem.Quote:
Originally Posted by jamie_1875
£600k of SNP's cash, no?Quote:
Originally Posted by Kato
I mean the facts are the facts, I am not making that up. You seemed to imply that when I mentioned the rational reason for the tent and the reason actually given by the police themselves that I was gullible if I believed it, so I am guessing you think the police are lying with their statement and if lying then you must think they are part of the grand plot.Quote:
Originally Posted by grunt
You are also the one suggesting it was some covert UK Government plan, not me!
Donated by people. To a political party that champions the cause of of a second referendum on Scottish independence for the sole reason of bringing about a second referendum on Scottish independence. I think that was the status of the cash.Quote:
Originally Posted by grunt
The Sturgeons living a caviar lifestyle is the charge.
600 grand/motor home/bric-a-brac dragged in front of the neighbours.
Its like The Broons if DC Thomson ever decided to bring it up to date.
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This does not have to be part of some conspiracy run by the UK govt. police Scotland and the PF office has shown with the Rangers case that they are capable of acting independently in ways the Scottish Govt would not approve.
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I think the facts are anything but clear.Quote:
Originally Posted by jamie_1875
Aye, but his fanbase weren't voting for him based on integrity anyway.Quote:
Originally Posted by greenginger
Do you think the SNP vote is based on integrity ?Quote:
Originally Posted by Hibrandenburg
Is it not based on the wish for Scotland to be independent?Quote:
Originally Posted by greenginger
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I reckon that if any SNP leader started banging on like Trump does then they'd lose practically all their support.Quote:
Originally Posted by greenginger
Maybe Alba could soak up the dozen or so nutters who would be into both post-Truth charlatanism and Scottish independence by appointing a Trumpian leader?
I expect that it's a factor. SNP MSPs clearly have more integrity than Scottish Labour and Scottish Tories combined.Quote:
Originally Posted by greenginger
Mine was :greengrinQuote:
Originally Posted by greenginger
Exactly , that’s the SNP base sole concern.Quote:
Originally Posted by Kato
Bit like the 60’s when it was said Labour supports would vote for a “ pig in a red muffler “. :greengrin
He is lying then, apart from murders and serious road accidents I have never seen tents being put up in the garden of folks who have been investigated by police Scotland, or is it only Sturgeon and her husband that get that treatment, why was no tents put in Colin Beattie garden when it was searched.?Quote:
Originally Posted by jamie_1875
Unless they get a guilty conviction eventually the I can see Police Scotland facing civil action from Murrel and Sturgeon. The whole thing was a complete media circus.Quote:
Originally Posted by silverhibee
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Quote:
Originally Posted by silverhibee
You (Silver) must think they are all part of the grand plot.Quote:
Originally Posted by jamie_1875
There was no suggestion of French diplomats buried in his garden?Quote:
Originally Posted by silverhibee
:cb
I am sure if they were sorting through all their personal possssions in the garden with the media filming it then as he has stated they would be accused of not doing enough to protect their privacy and people would be saying they were doing it deliberately. I guess they could have boxed everything up and taken it away, but he says it was their also in the interests of "justice" so maybe the search has to be done there and then. I still think the simplest explanation is likely to be the truth.Quote:
Originally Posted by silverhibee
If he is lying then on whose orders and direction seeing as he was the most senior police officer in Scotland?
You wouldn’t just do the search inside the house? I know they don’t exactly have a mansion but it looks big enough to set up inside?Quote:
Originally Posted by jamie_1875
It’s a supposed white collar crime so what exactly could they be looking for that required the tents? Surely all you are looking for is paperwork?
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It was reported that Murrell was buying personal items using company funds, again this was reported so the simple explanation is they were looking for these personal items in amongst all their other personal items.Quote:
Originally Posted by Ozyhibby
Most people's houses get absolutely wrecked in a house search, maybe they thought she deserved better. Notice police Scotland this week getting frustrated with the crown office. The two top dogs in the crown office are in the SNP cabinet, which won't help the SNP cover up conspiracy nuttersQuote:
Originally Posted by Ozyhibby
David Kennedy, general secretary of the Scottish Police Federation, said: "The police investigation, as far as we are concerned, has been completed. It's frustrating for the police officers involved that they're continually getting the blame for dragging their heels.
They have done all they can and it's now down to the Crown Office. We need the Crown Office to make a decision one way or the other.
For the public to move on, they need to know what's going to happen. It would be a good thing for the people of Scotland to know where things stand and where it's going to lead, rather than have all this speculation."
Another senior source suggested the length of time Branchform is taking "reflects badly on us". They said the force has "done everything we can possibly do," and that a "charging decision has to be made".
They added: "It is frustrating because the assumptions are that the police have not done their job, or are dragging their feet, or this is political and so on and so forth. We simply don't know what's going on at the Crown Office."
https://www.scottishdailyexpress.co.uk/news/politics/operation-branchform-latest-police-fed-34474695
Boo hoo. £2m spent on the investigation and they are whining that the crown office are struggling to find a charge?Quote:
Originally Posted by Stairway 2 7
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Reported by whom?Quote:
Originally Posted by jamie_1875
Don’t forget the Tetley tea bags that were in a see through evidence bag.Quote:
Originally Posted by Kato
https://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/news/scottish-news/snp-funds-investigation-sees-amazon-29972677Quote:
Originally Posted by CropleyWasGod
Thanks.Quote:
Originally Posted by jamie_1875
I don't see anything there that says Murrell was buying personal items using party funds. It might be the conclusion the writer wants to imply, but that's up to the reader to interpret, no?
As has been said, if there were specific items that the Police were looking for, a house search would have been sufficient.
Personally, I'd always start in the loft. I've seen enough cop dramas to know that's where it's at.