Sir Tom Farmer (founder of Kwik-Fit) was in the news recently saying that he did not want Scotland to separate from the dis-United Kingdom. However this has not stopped him writing the SNP the odd £100,000 cheque as well as publicly endorsing them at Election Time.
Bill Sabab
Sir Tom Farmer is a successful businessman and this schizophrenic behaviour clearly cannot simply be dismissed as mental illness. Business is all about investing so as to maximise the returns. So if Sir Tom does not believe in the aims of the Party he is supporting financially and also publicly endorsing, then what is his purpose in doing so?
There is only one plausible answer.
Blackmail.
The more that Scotland threatens to leave the Union, the more (English) largesse the British throw at them to get them to stay. Tony Blair quite openly admitted that “If we want to keep the UK together, the Barnett Formula is a small price to pay”.
Free Medical Prescriptions – but not if you’re English. Free Student Tuition Fees – but not if you’re English. Free Hospital Parking – but not if you’re English. Free road travel with no toll roads and bridges – but not if you’re English. Free national travel for pensioners, including peak time travel – but not if you’re English. Free long term care support for the elderly infirm – but not if you’re English. The list goes on – it’s really quite remarkable what a “small price” can pay for!
So here’s a new definition of the Union: Blackmailing the British at the expense of the English.
Ultimately there is only one way to deal with Blackmailers. Stand up to them. Scrap the Barnett Formula and all other special transfers. The other nations should get the exact same per capita funding as is allowed the English, and no more. This would actually still be a subsidy because the English pay more tax, but it would be a reasonable and equitable subsidy, unlike the tax leeching taking place now.
And let’s find out if Tony Blair was right.
