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scottish independence white paper on welfare reform
I have produced a blog on the white papers proposals on welfare here. would be interested to hear views on the suggestions from other advisers though.
http://www.enable.org.uk/blog/Lists/Posts/Post.aspx?ID=147
Has anyone considered what the implications for the benefits system in England & Wales, and the NI system, might be if Scotland does gain independence?
I think the whole concept of Welfare Reform will be looked at if Scotland gains it’s independence, however I expect the thinking is to get rid of the awful changes, before completely rethinking the whole system.
Has anyone considered what the implications for the benefits system in England & Wales, and the NI system, might be if Scotland does gain independence?
I suppose it depends on what figures you believe about Scotland’s contribution (or lack of) to the finances of the UK.
A major factor would be that without Scottish MP’s it is difficult to see anything other than a Conservative Majority at Westminster. This would be a significant factor in this area but it also makes it difficult to fully consider what would happen to the welfare state if Scotland votes yes.
A major factor would be that without Scottish MP’s it is difficult to see anything other than a Conservative Majority at Westminster. This would be a significant factor in this area but it also makes it difficult to fully consider what would happen to the welfare state if Scotland votes yes.
It’s not just the impact of the Midlothian question to consider. What impact might independence have in the short term on the popularity of UKIP (and other small parties)? If Scotland were to gain independence but retain/attain EU membership then the EU provisions may ensure that there is little difference in the respective benefit systems as applied to residents / nationals of the four countries of what was the UK. But if there is a referendum in2017 and E,W & NI vote to leave the EU the prospect of significant ‘benefit tourism’ from E,W & NI into Scotland might raise its head on the assumption that a future Tory majority in E&W at least would mean the development of a significantly different benefit system compared to Scotland. And what difference might develope in other aspects of the welfare state (health, education, social care etc)?
A major factor would be that without Scottish MP’s it is difficult to see anything other than a Conservative Majority at Westminster. This would be a significant factor in this area but it also makes it difficult to fully consider what would happen to the welfare state if Scotland votes yes.
It’s not just the impact of the Midlothian question to consider. What impact might independence have in the short term on the popularity of UKIP (and other small parties)? If Scotland were to gain independence but retain/attain EU membership then the EU provisions may ensure that there is little difference in the respective benefit systems as applied to residents / nationals of the four countries of what was the UK. But if there is a referendum in2017 and E,W & NI vote to leave the EU the prospect of significant ‘benefit tourism’ from E,W & NI into Scotland might raise its head on the assumption that a future Tory majority in E&W at least would mean the development of a significantly different benefit system compared to Scotland. And what difference might develope in other aspects of the welfare state (health, education, social care etc)?
I have never seen that type of benefit tourism raised as an issue raised in Ireland where people can move pretty easily from Donegal into Derry for example (no expert on the irish benefit system so cant tell you in what way you would look to be moving but I would imagine one pays more in lots of cases than the other).
lots of variables that could change that in a Scotland/uk scenario but I still cant see it being a major issue.
A major factor would be that without Scottish MP’s it is difficult to see anything other than a Conservative Majority at Westminster. This would be a significant factor in this area but it also makes it difficult to fully consider what would happen to the welfare state if Scotland votes yes.
Outwith the 1945 Government the UK has had permanent conservative Governments. The future of the wlafre state looks bleak regardless of who controls Westminster, neither of the two main parties are particularly keen on keeping it. One of (the many) positives of a YES vote in Scotland would be to allow rUK voters to see a democractic and fairer system in operation in Scotland