Ukip’s Deputy leader Paul Nuttall needs to stop fuelling English resentment by using Scotland as a political football over how Scots spend their block grant, Scots don’t get ‘freebies’ we just spend our money differently

Dear All

Ukip needs to grow up from being a party of protest.

The name Ukip means United Kingdom Independence Party, so it is rather poor politics by them to engage in demands for an English parliament when one already exist and is called Westminster.

To fuel the grievance culture, Ukip has highlighted that there is widespread resentment south of the Border over Scottish-only “freebies”.

They are talking about things like prescription charges and tuition.

But lets us be clear, the “free prescriptions” aren’t free and neither is tuition, the cost is met by the taxpayers through taxation.

The policies adopted in Scotland are political choices made from the grant Scotland gets from Westminster.

Ukip wants into power in the UK beyond councilor level; they have had a very good Euro election result, their problem is that their network isn’t very well developed as the mainstream parties on the ground.

As to their notion that there needs to be a shift in the political balance of power after a referendum No vote, to appease English concerns.

That is a total no starter, there is no justification for another tier of government model on the Scottish Parliament in England.

Westminster will not allow it as it would weaken their authority.

Ukip deputy leader Paul Nuttall said:

“People are increasingly fed up with the Scots getting free prescriptions and university tuition fees and their MPs voting on laws that only apply to England.”

Nuttall added:

“The majority want a new English parliament dealing with English matters. It is plainly unfair that both Scottish and Welsh MPs can vote on English-only legislation but English MPs can have no say in Scotland and Wales. There clearly needs to a re-balancing of power – and sooner rather than later.”

It is absolute nonsense to spend the best part of a billion pounds because some people are unhappy that a few Scots have the same voting rights as English MPs.

Would an English Holyrood have the same problems of the Scottish one in terms of quality?

I believe it would, Holyrood is very much seen as a second class institution when compared with Westminster.

To be blunt, Holyrood as more than its fair share of cretins right across the chamber and political divide!

Eddie Bone, from the Campaign for an English Parliament, said

“English resentment” was being openly expressed across the country on issues such as higher public spending in Scotland.

The reason for higher public spending is an acknowledgment of the problems that Scotland faces but those problems also exist in the North East of England and Westminster also address that problem with higher cash allocations.

Eddie Bone added:

“If and when the Scots ‘bottle it’ on 18 September and vote no, they will see a stronger English voice because the people of England have had enough of Scottish self-indulgence.”

For a guy who wants an English Parliament, he expresses himself rather poorly and stupidly.

Canon Kenyon Wright warned last week that the Scottish Parliament could be “undermined” after a No vote and that cuts under the Barnett formula funding system, affecting the NHS and social security, could be undertaken as an act of “revenge”.

After a No Vote, there will be no acts of “revenge”, Westminster has had a wakeup call; they will be keen to let sleeping dogs lie.

And let’s face it only an idiot kicks over the hornets’ nest.

I don’t think David Cameron is that stupid!

Ukip need to stop doing student union politics, abandon grudge and grievance; sorted their party out; yes, identify problems and offer real solutions. Or just as 2014 was a good year, they might find 2015 will be a disaster of epic proportions.

Nigel Farge needs to tell his deputy to shut up and stop using the language of a crank!

Yours sincerely

George Laird

The Campaign for Human Rights at Glasgow University