Over on OurKingdom blog I assess the IIPR’s report on the Barnett Formula, Fair Shares. The thread argues that IPPR replacement proposals have flaws and extra tax powers should be considered for Northern Ireland in the future review. Whatever the principles that should be used to distribute the UK tax take, the report outlines the practical politics of money and the Union. Practical politics which suggest it will be Alex Salmond and the SNP who will be determine whether Barnett is replaced.
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Thanks for this FD – the biggest problem with Barnett is its complexity which conceals abject unfairness. All the expenditure on the Olympics (for which all our “peripheral” lottery income has been raped) is classed as UK wide and thus outside Barnett. An absolute scandal – astonished that Celtic politicians have not made more fuss about this.