It is ironic that those who advocated the creation of the devolved parliament in Edinburgh wanted one with tax raising powers.
Their view was it should have the ability tom raise funds independently, or it wouldn’t be worth the effort.
The legislature in Holyrood does indeed have tax raising powers although it has never used them.
The Scottish executive exists on a block grant from Westminster.
I have today been reliably informed from two excellent close to the action in Holyrood that Scotland’s First Minister would love to attract the glory of “the man who saved Rangers” and this can only be done with a Creditor’s Voluntary Arrangement (CVA).
That will only happen with the agreement of the major creditor in this equation, and that is HMRC.
As a long-time admirer of the political skills of Alex Salmond, I realise that all successful politicians have to be able to grasp a populist opportunity.
I doubt very much if there is anything that leaves the First Minister’s mouth in any interview that he had not thought extremely carefully about.
The position he proffered on Al Jazeera bore all the hallmarks of a “testing the water” exercise to first establish that the survival of Rangers is essential for the public interest.
The second part would be then to facilitate HMRC going along with a CVA.
This would, of course, mean that Scotland’s establishment club would not have to meet their full financial responsibilities to HMRC and to the British state.
The First Minister would then be hailed as the man who prevented the liquidation of Rangers.
Now I fully understand that Mr Craig Whyte may harbour a somewhat cavalier attitude to the paying of taxes, but not someone whose job it is to deploy those monies in the public interest.
megz
Glasgow labour have done a deal with the orange order to help them cling to power. they are going to give them parades for votes. so i hope if you voted for loyalist, britnat labour then when you are stuck behind many orange walks this year you will maybe think of giving your vote to someone else.
http://www.heraldscotland.com/politics/opinion/council-chief-citys-parade-plan-is-flawed.17535913
May 9, 2012 at 9:32 am
charley farley
I heard at the weekend that Sinn Fein had offered to campaign on behalf of a YES vote for for Independence and the SNP politely and firmly told them to butt out….I’m sure any positve impact/vote buying of Eck saving RFC and courting favour with their fans would be off-set by any adverse publicity by being supported provided by Sinn Fein.
February 21, 2012 at 1:36 pm
margaret
i wish Salmond hadn’t said what he did because I truly believe in independence. I wish all my fellow Celtic fans did too, rather than voting unionist and wishing to stay british =(
February 21, 2012 at 11:59 am
Fisiani
I hear that The Billy Boys was being belted out in chorus upon chorus of venomous bigotry.
So Long, Farewell, Auf Wieder……..Goodbye
February 19, 2012 at 3:30 am
keith
The big decision makers in the HMRC based south of the border, may tell mr salmond where to go
February 18, 2012 at 11:28 am
Adrian
I’ve never understood the attraction of Alex Salmond. One of the most brazen self serving politicians I have ever listened to. He makes my skin crawl and it comes as no surprise that he would chuck legal process and what is right out the window if he personally would benefit from it.
The man has no integrity. I trust him as much as I trust Tony Blair or Gordon Brown.
Oh, and btw, the irony that he would step in to save Rangers, a team whose support despises him politically. As I say, no integrity.
February 18, 2012 at 10:42 am
Ignoranceisnodefence
Another irony in Mr Salmond’ statements over the past few days….Claiming that Celtic (or Scottish football) could not survive without Rangers….is this rhetoric not somewhat similar to what Westminster and pro unionists have been telling us about Scotland having full independence?
Still, at least we can be assured that should independence be gained there will be no need to pay our taxes in full as we will have the backing of himself and his party to pay what we want….or, maybe not, they may introduce separate tax codes for one religion and another for those of Irish Catholic backgrounds.
February 18, 2012 at 10:33 am
KevinD
Interersting piece in the Financial Times this morning. It talks about the use of EBTs in football, and more generally in the financial sector, to reward high performing staff. Apparently the City is worried if Rangers lose their case with HMRC. I think those who suggest HMRC will make an example of Rangers might be in for a little disappointment. HH
February 18, 2012 at 9:40 am
buddy morrisey
Harold Macmillan’s response to a journalist when asked what is most likely to blow governments off course. “Events, dear boy events!”
Mr Salmond doesn’t do details. He’s had one failed retraction with his “misunderstanding.” There will be more to come. He has now courted Donald Trump, Rupert Murdoch, David Murray each of which have have come back to bite him.
After his summit last year, Mr Salmond committed the police, the SFA, the SPL, Celtic and Rangers to operate the rules of football rigorously and fairly.
February 18, 2012 at 9:25 am
Ralf
To be honest I think why politicians are worried and anxiious about the Rangers situation, is that its fear, Glasgow city council are trying everythng to help also, its fear that anarchy could happen on the streets, fans are bad enough losing a single match, can you imagine their team being forced out altogether, its a frightening prospect of trouble and anarchy happening , politicians are thinking along these lines, want Rangers to survive for the sake of peace.
February 18, 2012 at 8:38 am
Franc
Stuart….thanks very much,great link that will be kept.
Strongly worded e-mail on its way!
February 18, 2012 at 7:40 am
Fisiani
It will be interesting to observe what happens at Ibrox on what could be their last game of the season prior to liquidation. Will the theme be a solid “No surrender”?
Will the Famine Song be belted out with more ferocity than ever before? Will the terraces be dripping with sectarian bile?
I will rise at 4am in New Zealand to watch the game on computer with the volume cranked up.
They do not care about Eufa. They do not care about the SPL or SFA. It will surely be a final act of defiance.
However when an ostrich sticks its head in the sand you can see more of its bum than its brain.
February 18, 2012 at 7:17 am
Dev
At the end of the day they are all politicians and you have to look into your heart and think – do you vote for the establishment ‘union’ or not ? I never have and never will vote for any pro union politician. This is important to me and I have no fear of a free Scotland despite all the negative stuff going around. In this case as a country we can walk alone.
February 17, 2012 at 11:15 pm
VVV Venlo
No way I’m voting for independence now. I’m going to stand shoulder-to-shoulder with the Ibrox Unionists and help Scotland remain part of Tory Britain forever.
February 17, 2012 at 10:04 pm
portbhoy
the bear is wounded.listen to the battle hyms that will be sung tomorrow at ibrox,by the sizable majority.
February 17, 2012 at 9:12 pm
TheBlackKnight
http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/blog/2012/feb/17/scotland-media-rangers
Phil (and others) In case you missed it!! Please circulate, email , tweet, trend!!
February 17, 2012 at 9:01 pm
Bhoy67
Being a fellow buisness man it’s hard to survive in this current climate there is always going to be an element of evasion but to the scale our fellow friends took this to is ridiculous.politicans could Possibaly seize this opportunity to enhance there status,hopefully good old common sense will prevail.bottom line we should all pay if you want to live and eat in this country ..
February 17, 2012 at 8:43 pm
Paddy
Maybe big eck could tell us which hospital he wants to close to let a bunch of cheats get away with it – how many nurses, doctors, police and firemen would £50 mil pay for?
February 17, 2012 at 7:56 pm
Lone_Wanderer
First of all we geth the Alex Salmond spiel about how this great club should not die.
Then David Cameron gets in on the act.
Then Shona Robinson.
And now Hugh Roberstson who I am surprised knows anything sporting is going on outside London with the Olympics coming up talking about this “Great British Institution”!
Did someone say there was maybe an Independence vote coming in the near future and a lot of “Unionist” votes up for grabs!
February 17, 2012 at 7:40 pm
John Burns
An Independent Protestant Scotland is not in our interests – Read your history from the famine influx, through the 1920s/30s – and up to the discrimination of today. All the vested interests are ‘waiting in the wings’ and will infiltrate any Scottish Independent Government, under assumed guises, to reclaim Scotland as a Protestant country.
Be careful what you wish for!!!!
February 18, 2012 at 8:54 am
Lone_Wanderer
John, who says I am wishing for an independent Scotland. If I do it will be for my own personal reasons and nothing to do with football/religion or whatever.
The point I was making above was how both sides of the argument are clambering to be seen not wanting Rangers to fold as there are a lot of votes up for grabs.
For the record I am Scottish born and bred and a Protestant to hoot, however my football allegiance lies with Celtic.
I have no real interest in the history of the famine etc., as I believe football and religion have got nothing to do with each other, it is just a sad fact that it happens in our little part of the world!
February 18, 2012 at 1:28 pm
droid
John Burns, I have to take issue wih your statment about an independent Protestant Scotland.
This would be a very fine thing indeed as it was such people who helped give Eire it’s independence over a century and a half of struggle against imperialism.
SNP No.1 in my heart, hope I can play my part!
February 18, 2012 at 7:59 pm
Fritz Agrandoldteam
Phil, do you honestly believe that the First Minister would want to save that focus of biggoted unionism?
February 17, 2012 at 7:21 pm
p skelton
this is a football morality issue and the first minister
should be ashamed of these comments when the public sector
has been savaged – how the health service education and social welfare of this country would benefit from this Tax.
He is out of order – perhaps it would be better to stay within a Devo. govt. instead of an Edinburgh Stormont
February 17, 2012 at 7:18 pm
Fritz Agrandoldteam
You really shouldn’t listen to your Labour pals. They have been complicit with all the biggotry that is allowed in Scotland.
February 17, 2012 at 6:45 pm
Gary
Salmond has spent the past 5 years carefully nursing the Catholic vote. He’s been popping up at Papal visits, Cathedral re-openings, and any other events of note in the Catholic calendar. He’ll be there shmoozing with Cardinals, Archbishops, and the great and the good of the Catholic establishment. It was working! Much of the traditional Catholic Labour vote was defecting to the Nationalist agenda. Then after all that careful work procuring the RC vote, he blows the lot in one ill advised Aljazeera interview. Bang goes the Catholic vote Mr Salmond, and, likely, along with it your chance of an independent Scotland.
February 17, 2012 at 6:44 pm
TheBlackKnight
Gary, Celtic have a large Catholic support with the roots of that formed in Scotland by Irish and Scots Catholics.
Celtic is not an exclusive club. It is not a Catholic club. Not all of it’s support is Catholic, nor is every Catholic a Celtic supporter.
Just to be clear, I don’t think it is the Catholic or Celtic vote he may have lost. But he has certainly scored an own goal by his foolish misinformed and misplaced comments.
That from a republican and nationalist!
February 17, 2012 at 10:22 pm
Stewart
Disgust at Salmond’s actions?? What are they? Salmond has no influence over HMRC. There is absolutely no evidence at all in Paul’s speculating.We all know that some sort of deal will be done between HMRC and Rangers. If people are lining up Salmond as a fall-guy they will just be laughed at.
February 17, 2012 at 6:41 pm
Martin Gray
TBK / Phil, either way if big bill goes for HMRC rfc can’t pay, and go into liquidation, if HMRC lose appeal then HMRC re appeal and rfc have to pay 49 mil into escrow account (until HMRC finally give up) but rfc can’t pay this either so go into liquidation, or have I got the wrong end of the stick ?
February 17, 2012 at 6:06 pm
TheBlackKnight
Pretty much bang on Martin. Unless they win the tax case, or a horrendous abuse of political power sees a pennies in the pound deal or a genuine billionaire comes in and pays whatever liabilities are due.
February 17, 2012 at 10:25 pm
Stuart
If you wish to write to your local MP or MSP (one of them is bound to SNP) and register your anger/disgust at Salmond’s action you can do so through the write to them website:
http://www.writetothem.com/
February 17, 2012 at 5:34 pm
Davybhoy
Stuart…..
That’s a very handy site…even for matters not relating to football!!
Thanks
February 17, 2012 at 6:39 pm
Paul B
Thanks for the website Stuart, emailed my local SNP tonight, complaining about Mr Salmond’s actions.
February 17, 2012 at 7:14 pm
TheBlackKnight
Can we see a change in direction, with a ‘tempering’ of comments?
Perhaps, and this is just a perhaps, the ‘powers that be’ may be in a position to influence decision making on the current liabilities. This will prove to the electorate (of the blue persuasion) that they tried their best to mitigate the possible outcome.
However, whilst this political posturing is going on, no-one as yet knows the outcome of the “big tax case”. The FTT(tax) outcome has still to be determined.
The Administrators themselves confessed that the “quantum” has yet to be determined.
That to me suggests they know a figure is due, they just don’t know how much and may try to delay matters as long as possible to push all the liabilities into one basket.
That said, with pressure from HMRC, could we see a very quick “double-dip”? (CVA agreed, out of administration, big bill hits – assuming it is BIG!, back into administration, followed very quickly by liquidation)
February 17, 2012 at 5:08 pm
Baz
State sponsored tax evasion!!! Only in scotland
February 17, 2012 at 4:20 pm
David
Exactly my thoughts…and one other…for the first time I pondered whether it was a good idea voting for independence in the referendum. Salmond may be gambling on picking up some establishment votes with this move, but these will now be at the expense of a suspicious demographic he had been previously courting, the west of Scotland, Celtic minded, previously Labour minded, and with Catholic roots. They may turn off him now.
February 17, 2012 at 7:19 pm