Views, Visions and Values.

Friday, 3 January 2014

Break Out of Mediocrity

Break Out of Mediocrity

Shirley Arnold

Scottish independence would be economic disaster, finance experts warn just as the SNP say the economy is key battleground , Daily Mail

Businesses and academics warn country would be plunged into turmoil
Scotland would join the list of impoverished European countries
Another says there would be 'utter panic' if voters back independence

By ALAN RODEN

PUBLISHED: 12:16, 3 January 2014 | UPDATED: 12:41, 3 January 2014

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Finance experts, academics and business leaders have raised fears that independence would destroy the economy, hit investment and force companies to migrate to England.

In an unprecedented survey that will prove devastating for the SNP, analysts believe a Yes vote in the referendum could lead to the loss of thousands of jobs and plunge the country into turmoil.

One finance insider suggested Scotland would be added to the list of impoverished European countries left on their knees. Another said there would be 'utter panic' among finance firms and several warned of a 'disaster' for Scotland.

Setback: The vision of independence set out by Alex Salmond and Nicola Sturgeon risks the Scottish economy and would see businesses flee to England, experts warn

Alex Salmond's separatist vision was dismissed as 'economically incoherent'; there were warnings that 'skilled labour' would leave; and creating a new border would cut gross domestic product (GDP) by as much as 3 per cent.

The findings are particularly humiliating for Deputy First Minister Nicola Sturgeon, who yesterday predicted the economy would be the key battleground in the referendum campaign.

The Financial Times asked a number of high-profile economists and eminent university professors to examine the impact of a Nationalist victory in September.

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In a daunting verdict, 27 respondents said it would hurt the Scottish economy and the rest of the UK.

Only four people who took part in the survey said a Yes vote could have a positive impact.

Former Chancellor Alistair Darling, who is leading the pro-Union Better Together campaign, said the findings prove that the 'risks involved in leaving the UK are massive'.

But a spokesman for the Yes Scotland campaign insisted separation would 'encourage growth and increase employment'.

Referendum: Voters in Scotland will have their saying on leaving the UK this autumn

FARMERS WANT TO STAY IN UK

Farmers are overwhelmingly set to reject independence, according to a survey.

Scots Lib Dem MEP George Lyon received 2,000 replies to a study he conducted, with 72 per cent of respondents supporting the Union.

Three-quarters of farmers expressed concern about the impact separation could have on EU agricultural subsidies.

Four-fifths said uncertainty over currency would harm their businesses, while 72 per cent feared separation would make it difficult to sell produce in the rest of the UK.

Mr Lyon said: 'Everyone wants to see a thriving Scottish rural economy, but if you look at the real positives we get from the UK market, from our place in Europe and our trade links overseas, our farmers can achieve more as part of the UK family.

'Scotland's place in the EU is not only vital for farmers, but also for jobs and growth.' But Rural Affairs Secretary Richard Lochhead has claimed farmers would have been handed an extra £1billion in European subsidies if Scotland were separate.

Philip Rush of Japanese finance giant Nomura launched a stinging attack on the SNP vision. 'Higher taxes on income would push many wealthy individuals and some companies they work for south of the Border, harming Scotland's economy,' he said. 'A fate similar to the secular stagnation in productivity seen in parts of Europe's socialist south may await.'

Ruth Porter of the Policy Exchange think-tank was similarly dismissive, saying: 'The raft of economically incoherent policies being proposed by Alex Salmond would be disastrous for Scotland.' Gavyn Davies of Fulcrum Asset Management described a Yes vote as an 'unmitigated disaster for Scotland' as did Stephen King, chief economist at HSBC bank.

One of the main results of an SNP victory in the referendum would be the loss of companies - and jobs - to England, several experts said.

Keith Wade, chief economist of asset management firm Schroders, commented: 'When combined with the considerable uncertainty over whether Scotland can remain in the EU, Scottish business would start to head south.'

David Owen, chief European financial economist with investment firm Jeffries, said: 'Scotland is likely to see an ongoing loss of business as it migrates south of the Border.'

Andrew Hilton of the Centre for the Study of Financial Innovation warned: 'If there were a Yes vote there would be utter panic - with the Scottish fund managers heading for the Border in droves.'

Neville Hill of Credit Suisse bank said: 'The flow of direct and portfolio investment, as well as some bank deposits, south of the Border would provide Scotland with a nasty negative monetary shock.'

Many of those taking part in the survey said uncertainty would devastate the economy.

James Knightley of banking giant ING said: 'I think the uncertainty will be damaging for everyone ... it is going to make a lot of foreign companies think twice about investing in the UK.'

Melanie Baker of Morgan Stanley warned of 'increased uncertainty for businesses and markets'.

Brian Hilliard of French banker Société Générale said: 'It would create major uncertainty about the viability of the country as an economic unit. Growth would be hurt.'

Ray Barrell of Brunel University in London warned that independence 'is the introduction of a new border. That is likely to reduce Scottish GDP by 3 per cent, and English GDP by 1 per cent'.

Alistair Darling, leading the Better Together campaign against independence, said the findings prove that the 'risks involved in leaving the UK are massive'

An independent Scotland's reliance on oil was also highlighted, with Philip Shaw of financier Investec predicting 'overall it will be on a slow growth path'.

But despite the strong warnings Miss Sturgeon said yesterday: ‘I firmly believe who wins the economic argument will win the referendum.

‘Scotland can more than afford to be independent, something that even the No campaign agrees with. We need the powers over the economy to get faster and more sustainable growth into the economy for the long term.’

A spokesman for Yes Scotland added: ‘The greatest uncertainty for business as well as the country as a whole stems from a ‘No’ vote. With ‘Yes’, we can tailor policies to suit our own needs and priorities, thereby encouraging growth and increasing employment.’

Views, Visions and Values.: The Church, God's Agent of Change and Transforma...

Views, Visions and Values.: The Church, God's Agent of Change and Transforma...: We, the Church are the visible representation of God ’ s Kingdom Rule and Reign here on Earth, we are his messengers of hope, lov...

Words for The Wise, Living to Please God, 1 Thessalonians 4 NIV

1 Thessalonians 4

New International Version - UK (NIVUK)

Living to please God

4 As for other matters, brothers and sisters, we instructed you how to live in order to please God, as in fact you are living. Now we ask you and urge you in the Lord Jesus to do this more and more. 2 For you know what instructions we gave you by the authority of the Lord Jesus.

3 It is God’s will that you should be sanctified: that you should avoid sexual immorality; 4 that each of you should learn to control your own body[a] in a way that is holy and honourable, 5 not in passionate lust like the pagans, who do not know God; 6 and that in this matter no one should wrong or take advantage of a brother or sister.[b] The Lord will punish all those who commit such sins, as we told you and warned you before. 7 For God did not call us to be impure, but to live a holy life. 8 Therefore, anyone who rejects this instruction does not reject a human being but God, the very God who gives you his Holy Spirit.

9 Now about your love for one another we do not need to write to you, for you yourselves have been taught by God to love each other. 10 And in fact, you do love all of God’s family throughout Macedonia. Yet we urge you, brothers and sisters, to do so more and more, 11 and to make it your ambition to lead a quiet life: you should mind your own business and work with your hands, just as we told you, 12 so that your daily life may win the respect of outsiders and so that you will not be dependent on anybody.

Believers who have died

13 Brothers and sisters, we do not want you to be uninformed about those who sleep in death, so that you do not grieve like the rest of mankind, who have no hope. 14 For we believe that Jesus died and rose again, and so we believe that God will bring with Jesus those who have fallen asleep in him. 15 According to the Lord’s word, we tell you that we who are still alive, who are left until the coming of the Lord, will certainly not precede those who have fallen asleep. 16 For the Lord himself will come down from heaven, with a loud command, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet call of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first. 17 After that, we who are still alive and are left will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And so we will be with the Lord for ever. 18 Therefore encourage one another with these words.

Footnotes:

1 Thessalonians 4:4 Or learn to live with your own wife; or learn to acquire a wife

1 Thessalonians 4:6 The Greek word for brother or sister (adelphos) refers here to a believer, whether man or woman, as part of God’s family.

The Bible Panorama

1 Thessalonians 4

V 1–2: INCREASE AND INSTRUCTION Their spiritual lives should increase continually and abundantly. They should remember Christ’s commandments received through Paul and his Christian colleagues.

V 3–8: SANCTIFICATION AND SEX God’s will is to have a holy people in contrast to the unregenerate Gentiles. This means that sexual immorality has no place whatsoever in the life of any believer. Adultery and lustful passion is out. To reject this clean and holy teaching is to reject God and His Holy Spirit.

V 9–12: LOVE AND LIVING Heavenly love towards each other must predominate. As it increases, it will produce a quiet, industrious, ordered life. This will ensure that they have a good testimony to those outside and that their needs are met by their daily work.

V 13–18: COMFORT AND COMING Some suggested to the Thessalonians that Christians who had died had missed the blessing of Christ’s second coming. Paul teaches them that, when Christ comes, those who have died physically will be raised with a resurrection body first and be reunited with Christ in the air. Christ will bring their redeemed souls with Him, so there will also be another reunion—that of the body and soul of the believer. Then those who are alive physically will join that blessed reunion with their returned Lord of glory. This is, of course, a great comfort. The Christian who has died and the Christian who is alive both have their future gloriously secured in Jesus Christ. Those who died trusting Christ only fell ‘asleep’ in death, and awoke immediately in His eternal presence. Now they will be given a resurrection body also when Christ brings them back with Him.

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