THE CHARGES AGAINST WESTMINSTER — THE FULL EVIDENCE

What it was:

That £398,085 10s figure is the payment - known in history as The Equivalent.

When England and Scotland negotiated Act of Union 1706-1707, England had national debt of about £18 million from wars with France. Scotland had almost no national debt, but was bankrupt after Darien - attempt to build Scottish colony in Panama.

Company of Scotland raised £400,000 — about a fifth of all the wealth of Scotland. Some accounts say a quarter of Scottish capital lost. King William III on advice of English East India Company persuades Dutch and English investors to pull out, bans Jamaica and Barbados from selling food or medicine to starving Scots in Panama. Scotland goes bust.

The deal: If Scotland agreed to take on share of England's debt and dissolve its Parliament, England would pay Scotland £398,085 10s as compensation. Written into Article 15 of Treaty of Union.

How it was split:

• £232,884 5s - to pay off all of Scotland's own debts and to compensate investors who lost money in Darien Company • £165,201 5s - to be kept as capital stock to help Scottish trade grow within new British economy 

It was shipped up in 12 wagons of gold coin in August 1707 to Edinburgh Castle. 58.6% of total was paid out to shareholders and creditors of Company of Scotland.

How much it was worth:

In 1707 £398,085 10s was about 4% of entire Scottish and English GDP at time. Only about 1 million people in Scotland.

• ~£100 million in today's money inflation • As share of wages: over £1 billion today • As share of whole economy: £10-15 billion today 

Enough to buy a Parliament.

The secret bribes:

Separate secret payments of about £20,000 paid by English treasury to key Scottish commissioners and peers to get deal through Scottish Parliament — £20,000 dispatched, £12,325 more than 60% distributed to Boyle and Duke of Queensbury. Robert Burns later called it "bought and sold for English gold" and "a parcel of rogues."

Verdict: Whether bailout or bribe, result same — Parliament ended, sovereignty sold for 4% of GDP.

21 May 1988, General Assembly, The Mound, Edinburgh. Thatcher gives Sermon on the Mound — theological basis for her style of capitalism. Moderator presents her with church reports on housing and poverty.

Campaign for Scottish Assembly drafts Claim of Right for Scotland 1988 — declaring sovereignty of Scottish people. Signed by all then-serving Labour and Liberal Democrat MPs exception Tam Dalyell, plus leaders of church and faith groups, STUC, Lib Dems, Green Party, representatives of civic Scotland.

"We, gathered as representatives of Scotland, hereby acknowledge the sovereign right of the Scottish people to determine form of government best suited to their needs" and "sovereignty of people of Scotland".

Constitutional Convention first meets 30 March 1989, Canon Kenyon Wright as Executive Chairman, reaffirms Claim of Right. Will of Scottish people was sovereign.

Westminster didn't offer devolution — Scotland demanded it.

11 Sept 1997: 74.3% Yes to Parliament, 63.5% Yes to tax-varying powers.

Scotland Act 1998: Reserved matters set out in Schedule 5. Aspects of Constitution reserved — Union of Kingdoms of Scotland and England. Westminster keeps defence, foreign affairs, immigration, constitution, broadcasting, energy, social security, currency, fiscal and monetary policy. Everything else devolved.

Westminster designed it so Scotland could never legally leave without Westminster permission.

January 1974 Conservative government commissions McCrone report, Prof Gavin McCrone, Chief Economic Adviser Scottish Office, 18-page report.

He writes: oil gives independent Scotland large tax surplus to "quite embarrassing degree", country "as rich as Switzerland", one of strongest currencies in Europe.

Labour government classified it Top Secret. Kept out of sight for over 30 years until FOI 2005.

Denis Healey, Chancellor 1974-79, admitted: "I think we did underplay the value of oil to country because of threat of nationalism".

While report lay in vaults, £300 billion oil tax revenue flowed from Scotland to Treasury.

Norway built £1.4 trillion wealth fund — £250k per Norwegian. Scotland got told we were subsidy junkies dependent on Barnett.

Scotland voted 62% to remain in EU, with all 32 council areas returning majority for remaining. Scotland split 62/38 with no single Council area voting Leave. Every one of 32 council areas voted to stay.

UK as whole voted 51.9% Leave. Scotland faces prospect being taken out of EU against our will. Erasmus gone, freedom of movement gone, £16bn export market barriers.

INTERNAL MARKET ACT 2020

UK Internal Market Act 2020 received royal assent 17 Dec 2020. It completely overrides devolution settlement by reserving subsidy control and giving UK ministers powers to spend directly in devolved areas without oversight.

Scottish Government: perhaps single most significant threat to devolution settlements established over quarter century ago. Passed without consent of Scottish Parliament. Introduces far-reaching constraint, enables UK Government to extend powers beyond Scotland Act 1998 and bypass Scottish Government.

First Minister: plans "riding roughshod over powers", bill "abomination which would cripple devolution".

If Holyrood bans something, Westminster can override to force UK market.

23 Nov 2022 Supreme Court UKSC 31: Reference by Lord Advocate confirms holding second referendum outside Scottish Parliament competence — cannot legislate without Westminster consent.

17 Jan 2023 Section 35 Order: Gender Recognition Reform Bill passed 22 Dec 2022 — Alister Jack prevents Bill from Royal Assent. This is first time section 35 veto power used to block Bill since devolution. On 17 Jan 2023 Secretary made order under section 35 Scotland Act 1998 — effect block Royal Assent — first time since advent of devolution — first time power exercised. Bill passed 86-39, Westminster vetoed.

They took country with almost no national debt, bankrupted by Darien England helped sink, made us take share of England's £18m war debt, dissolved Parliament, shipped 12 wagons gold £398,085 10s to Edinburgh Castle — £232,884 5s to pay Darien debts and £165,201 5s as capital stock — worth 4% GDP then, £100m inflation, £1bn+ wages, £10-15bn economy share today — plus £20k secret bribes — parcel of rogues, bought and sold for English gold.

Then hid report 1974 saying as rich as Switzerland with embarrassing surplus while £300bn flowed to London. Crashed RBS £2.4tn double UK GDP, £45.5bn biggest bailout, moved to London. 62% Remain all 32 councils, dragged out. Internal Market Act completely overrides devolution. Section 35 first time ever 17 Jan 2023. Supreme Court says cannot ask without permission.

That is not working for Scotland. That is same trick 1707 — pay elite, veto people.

Does Westminster work for Scotland... NO.