NI Corporation Tax Is A Verdict Coming Soon?

Later today David Cameron will meet with Peter Robinson and Martin McGuinness. Amongst the things they will discuss will be devolving Corporation Tax to the North. In the United Kingdom Corporation Tax will be cut to 20% by 2015 according to George Osborne. However in the Irish Republic the Corporation Tax rate is only 12.5% allowing it to attract 35,000 new jobs in the last year alone through foreign direct investment. Of course if the North can get Corporation Tax devolved from Westminster how long will it be before Alex Salmond the First Minister of Scotland is asking for it as well. A cut in the block grant to the North would also have to happen so the Treasury in London could recover its money. Unemployment in the North is 8.5%. And more than 26% of the workforce are employed in the public sector. So on devolving NI Corporation Tax is a verdict coming soon? Update: the British Government have told the Press Association no decision will be made on Corporation Tax until the Autumn of 2014.

Internet Poll Result

Do you think Scotland will vote for Independence? Yes 50% No 35% To close to call 7% Don't know 7% Total votes 14

Scottish Independence Referendum Date Announced

Thursday the 18TH Of September 2014 is the date for the Scottish Independence referendum. The Scottish First Minister Alex Salmond has told the Scottish Parliament.

Who Do You Believe?

It seems that some people are very confused over press reform a Royal Charter and whether or not it is statutory underpinned by legislation. Harriet Harman, shadow culture secretary "[The amendment] specifically won't mention this charter because the idea is we want to have that effect without it actually mentioning press regulation in law. Of course there is only one charter that has got these provisions so it actually enables us not to actually be legislating for this in the House of Commons or House of Lords but it has a legal underpinning effect." Ed Miliband "What we've agreed is essentially the royal charter that Nick Clegg and I published on Friday; it will be underpinned by statute." Nick Clegg "In effect what we're doing is adopting the so-called royal charter plus in full that we published last Friday. That's underpinned by legislation." Maria Miller, culture secretary "What we're talking about here is simply reiterating the fact that there can be no change to the charter as we move forward. I mean, this is already incorporated into the charter and has been from the beginning … this is not statutory underpinning." David Cameron "It's not statutory underpinning. What it is is simply a clause that says 'politicians can't fiddle with this', so it takes it further away from politicians." Grant Shapps, Conservative party chair Told the BBC's World at One that the deal was "exactly the opposite" of statutory underpinning.

Only A Bit Of Fun

As some of the more observant of you might have noticed I am currently running a opinion poll on Scottish Independence on this Blog.This is only a bit of fun but if it proves to be popular then there may be other opinion polls in the future. So do feel free to vote on this important issue as you will see there are four options. The most important poll regarding Scottish Independence is of course the referendum which is being held next year.

A Generous Nation

A Ipsos Mori poll which was released today found Scottish households with incomes of less than £150,000 gave away an average of £356 last year. Yet Londoners donated almost £100 less - £268 - despite earning 25 per cent more than the Scots. Overall Scotland is the most generous nation in the UK on average, followed by Wales on £328 and England on £285. So Scottish people are far more generous than the English no real surprises there the Scots are well known as a kind and charitable people. And the poll also proves the old saying that those who have the least always give the most.

Liar Liar

Chris Huhne the former cabinet minister has been sent to jail for eight Months for perverting the course of justice. His former wife Vicky Pryce received a sentence of eight Months in prison for the same offence.