>The SNP will demand that Scots are “properly compensated” for their pensions contributions if they succeed in their bid to break up the UK, the party’s leader at Westminster has said.
>
>Ian Blackford has spent almost a fortnight trying to untangle a cross-border row triggered by his claim that the UK government would pay the state pensions of an independent Scotland.
>
>He was backed by Nicola Sturgeon, the first minister, and Kate Forbes, the Scottish finance secretary, before the nationalists rolled back in the face of criticism from Guy Opperman, the UK pensions minister, and pensions experts.
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>Blackford had previously insisted his comments were “misrepresented” and yesterday clarified the SNP’s position that an independent Scottish government would pay Scottish pensions but he expects this to be funded through UK government “compensation”.
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>He told Sky News: “One of the things that we will do when we become independent is we will take responsibility for pensions in Scotland and we will use our taxes overseas to make sure that pensioners are looked after and of course, what we want to make sure is our pensioners get a better deal.
>
>“We’ve just seen the removal of the triple lock for example so we will take our responsibilities. But of course, in these negotiations, we want to make sure that when we’re talking about assets and liabilities, we will be properly compensated for the contribution that people have made in anticipation of a pension. But let me be absolutely crystal clear: pensions in Scotland will be the responsibility of the Scottish government. We will look after our pensioners.”
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>Blackford’s latest comments come on the back of a visit to Scotland by Boris Johnson, the prime minister, to promote his levelling-up agenda to spread more prosperity beyond the south of England.
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>Johnson visited Rosyth as a deal was announced between the Scottish and UK governments which will lead to the creation of two “green freeports”.
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>Blackford told Sky News: “This is prime minister who is not going to meet his own Scottish Conservative leader. Even the Scottish Conservatives want Boris Johnson to go. I hope this is his farewell tour, he is a man who is deeply unpopular up here.”
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>Iain Stewart, a Scotland Office minister, said Johnson’s failure to meet Scottish Conservative MSPs may have been because “diaries didn’t align up”.
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>Stephen Kerr, the Conservative chief whip at Holyrood, said: “As the SNP’s lies over pensions in a separated Scotland continue, it’s worth remembering that Sturgeon, Blackford and the rest of them have nice pensions and won’t be relying on the state pension.”
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>Sir Keir Starmer, the Labour leader, said: “Almost every time the prime minister crosses the border into Scotland he makes the case for the Union harder. We do have a duty to make a strong case for Union.”
Bit embarrassing to see so many politicians fail to understand how pensions work. You don’t pay NI contributions into your own pension pot, you’re paying the pensions of today’s elderly in the increasingly fruitless hope the system will still be there when we retire.
“We’ll build the greatest pension system in the world and we’ll make the UK pay for it!”.
So he wants to take away all the working age taxpayers who actually fund those pensions, and have England, Wales and NI pay it for them? Mental. This is the kind of whiney exceptionalism that passes for mainstream political discourse in Scotland these days, sadly.
Even the Brexiteers didn’t go as low as this
If you’ve paid national insurance, then you are entitled to a pension. I really don’t see what the issue is.
If, and is a big if, it will happen, it seems reasonable. That’s already the case for EU citizens that worked in UK. Can’t see why it shouldn’t happen with Scotland.
7 comments
>The SNP will demand that Scots are “properly compensated” for their pensions contributions if they succeed in their bid to break up the UK, the party’s leader at Westminster has said.
>
>Ian Blackford has spent almost a fortnight trying to untangle a cross-border row triggered by his claim that the UK government would pay the state pensions of an independent Scotland.
>
>He was backed by Nicola Sturgeon, the first minister, and Kate Forbes, the Scottish finance secretary, before the nationalists rolled back in the face of criticism from Guy Opperman, the UK pensions minister, and pensions experts.
>
>Blackford had previously insisted his comments were “misrepresented” and yesterday clarified the SNP’s position that an independent Scottish government would pay Scottish pensions but he expects this to be funded through UK government “compensation”.
>
>He told Sky News: “One of the things that we will do when we become independent is we will take responsibility for pensions in Scotland and we will use our taxes overseas to make sure that pensioners are looked after and of course, what we want to make sure is our pensioners get a better deal.
>
>“We’ve just seen the removal of the triple lock for example so we will take our responsibilities. But of course, in these negotiations, we want to make sure that when we’re talking about assets and liabilities, we will be properly compensated for the contribution that people have made in anticipation of a pension. But let me be absolutely crystal clear: pensions in Scotland will be the responsibility of the Scottish government. We will look after our pensioners.”
>
>Blackford’s latest comments come on the back of a visit to Scotland by Boris Johnson, the prime minister, to promote his levelling-up agenda to spread more prosperity beyond the south of England.
>
>Johnson visited Rosyth as a deal was announced between the Scottish and UK governments which will lead to the creation of two “green freeports”.
>
>Blackford told Sky News: “This is prime minister who is not going to meet his own Scottish Conservative leader. Even the Scottish Conservatives want Boris Johnson to go. I hope this is his farewell tour, he is a man who is deeply unpopular up here.”
>
>Iain Stewart, a Scotland Office minister, said Johnson’s failure to meet Scottish Conservative MSPs may have been because “diaries didn’t align up”.
>
>Stephen Kerr, the Conservative chief whip at Holyrood, said: “As the SNP’s lies over pensions in a separated Scotland continue, it’s worth remembering that Sturgeon, Blackford and the rest of them have nice pensions and won’t be relying on the state pension.”
>
>Sir Keir Starmer, the Labour leader, said: “Almost every time the prime minister crosses the border into Scotland he makes the case for the Union harder. We do have a duty to make a strong case for Union.”
Bit embarrassing to see so many politicians fail to understand how pensions work. You don’t pay NI contributions into your own pension pot, you’re paying the pensions of today’s elderly in the increasingly fruitless hope the system will still be there when we retire.
“We’ll build the greatest pension system in the world and we’ll make the UK pay for it!”.
So he wants to take away all the working age taxpayers who actually fund those pensions, and have England, Wales and NI pay it for them? Mental. This is the kind of whiney exceptionalism that passes for mainstream political discourse in Scotland these days, sadly.
Even the Brexiteers didn’t go as low as this
If you’ve paid national insurance, then you are entitled to a pension. I really don’t see what the issue is.
If, and is a big if, it will happen, it seems reasonable. That’s already the case for EU citizens that worked in UK. Can’t see why it shouldn’t happen with Scotland.