News22 mins ago
So Red Nicola Is Going To Seize Lairds' Lands For The Masses.....
22 Answers
Here beginneth the socialist revolution.
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Which legal system is going to object to this stripping of one's assets?
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Which legal system is going to object to this stripping of one's assets?
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Just 432 people own half the land in Scotland. And most of them do not live there. Politically it is a no brainer to change that.
The only problem is if people have to sell the land below market value, but thete is no indication that will happen.
The reason or excuse for the 'land grab' is that the current ownership is hampering economic development. As the SNP rule the roost in Scotland, and have a good representation in the Westminster Paliament, this is the perfect time for them to change this anomoly.
I do not own a vast estate in Scotland, so it is easy for me to back land reform. i would be interested to hear the arguments against this initiative as from my pint of view there will be a few hundred losers, and millions of winners.
The only problem is if people have to sell the land below market value, but thete is no indication that will happen.
The reason or excuse for the 'land grab' is that the current ownership is hampering economic development. As the SNP rule the roost in Scotland, and have a good representation in the Westminster Paliament, this is the perfect time for them to change this anomoly.
I do not own a vast estate in Scotland, so it is easy for me to back land reform. i would be interested to hear the arguments against this initiative as from my pint of view there will be a few hundred losers, and millions of winners.
//there will be a few hundred losers, and millions of winners. //
Unless the land is developed badly of course.
And what does "half of the privately-owned land in Scotland is controlled by 432 people" actually mean. Anyone who owns a house owns the land (if the equivalent of freehold surely? So are there only 432 homeowners in Scotland? I knew they were tight - but thats going a bit far !
Unless the land is developed badly of course.
And what does "half of the privately-owned land in Scotland is controlled by 432 people" actually mean. Anyone who owns a house owns the land (if the equivalent of freehold surely? So are there only 432 homeowners in Scotland? I knew they were tight - but thats going a bit far !
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My comment was made following a news report last night from one of the Scottish Islands where former Tenants of the Laird had just had their land taken off them that had been in their family for over 100 years. One of the Tenants described the 'Highland Clearance. In this case Lairds were taking back land from the tenanted farmers -maybe on the understanding that they are going to be paid handsomely for compulsory purchase under the proposed Land Reforms?
Far from "paying them handsomely", I think the Scottish government should adopt what might be called the Billy Connolly Protocol as regards dealing with the lairds.
He once did a routine in which he said he was fishing a remote highland trout-stream when a tweedy gent appeared and asked him what on earth he thought he was doing. The man didn’t seem happy with Billy’s response and pointed out that the land and river were HIS.
“How did it become yours?” asked Billy.
“It was passed down to me by my ancestors,” he replied.
“Well, how did THEY get it?” Billy continued.
“They fought for it,” was the response.
“OK, get yer jaicket aff,” said Billy, “and I’ll fight YOU for it!”
Anyone who is genuinely interested in this situation should read a book called "The Poor Had No Lawyers" by Andy Wightman published by Birlinn Ltd. Its sub-title is "Who Owns Scotland and How They Got it".
The brief answer to the last four words there is, "They stole it." They achieved this by being the government by dint of their being the aristocrats and thus the people who made the laws and controlled the judges who administered them.
Does that ring any bells regarding today's situation involving the current government and their attitude to councils and housing associations?
He once did a routine in which he said he was fishing a remote highland trout-stream when a tweedy gent appeared and asked him what on earth he thought he was doing. The man didn’t seem happy with Billy’s response and pointed out that the land and river were HIS.
“How did it become yours?” asked Billy.
“It was passed down to me by my ancestors,” he replied.
“Well, how did THEY get it?” Billy continued.
“They fought for it,” was the response.
“OK, get yer jaicket aff,” said Billy, “and I’ll fight YOU for it!”
Anyone who is genuinely interested in this situation should read a book called "The Poor Had No Lawyers" by Andy Wightman published by Birlinn Ltd. Its sub-title is "Who Owns Scotland and How They Got it".
The brief answer to the last four words there is, "They stole it." They achieved this by being the government by dint of their being the aristocrats and thus the people who made the laws and controlled the judges who administered them.
Does that ring any bells regarding today's situation involving the current government and their attitude to councils and housing associations?
And now this
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They will be homeless before you know it
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They will be homeless before you know it
I suspect that much of that land won't be useful for much other than shooting over or maybe keeping certain breeds of sheep or wild hill ponies. It is rough and stony land without useful road access or energy and utility infrastructure. I have no opinion over who has the right to own it but I do scent the politics of envy creeping in here. I am not scots, nor a landowner apart from my home and small garden.
Thanks for your kind comment, WR.
Yes, Woofgang, you've got your "home and small garden" and Princess Diana's brother, the 9th Earl Spencer - for instance - has Althorp House and some 13,000 acres of prime English soil!
It doesn't have to be envy that makes one see that comparison as somewhat unfair, surely! Let's face it, the English aristocracy gobbled up England on exactly the same basis as the Scottish aristocracy gobbled up Scotland.
Certainly, the first thing the Scottish government ought to do is scrap the tax-breaks John Major gave the lairds as regards allowing huntin’, shootin’ and fishin’ estates to pay no business rates. On what conceivable grounds can they be seen as not “businesses”, given what they rake in for their owners?
Go for it, Nicola!
Yes, Woofgang, you've got your "home and small garden" and Princess Diana's brother, the 9th Earl Spencer - for instance - has Althorp House and some 13,000 acres of prime English soil!
It doesn't have to be envy that makes one see that comparison as somewhat unfair, surely! Let's face it, the English aristocracy gobbled up England on exactly the same basis as the Scottish aristocracy gobbled up Scotland.
Certainly, the first thing the Scottish government ought to do is scrap the tax-breaks John Major gave the lairds as regards allowing huntin’, shootin’ and fishin’ estates to pay no business rates. On what conceivable grounds can they be seen as not “businesses”, given what they rake in for their owners?
Go for it, Nicola!
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