Comments on Scottish Unionist: SNP minister wants positive discrimination for Sco...

Edinburgh is experiencing negative house price gro...

2008-09-04T16:42:00.000+01:00

Edinburgh is experiencing negative house price growth, BSH.

It is quite amusing these two stories, obviously t...

2008-09-04T08:38:00.000+01:00

It is quite amusing these two stories, obviously the government needs to be seen to be doing 'something' about the housing market. Personally I will benefit from the stamp duty cut as I am buying my first house in December, which is great for me and all that.

But I don't think it will make any difference to the areas suffering house devaluation, South-west, Central and South-east England and the cities in the country. But at least something is being done.

I also don't grudge the English buyers their loans, after all as their house prices are higher they will need the funds.

Yes, actually. You'll find no double standards her...

2008-09-02T20:29:00.000+01:00

Yes, actually. You'll find no double standards here.

And presumably you will criticise the move as stro...

2008-09-02T20:10:00.000+01:00

And presumably you will criticise the move as strongly as if had been a SNP policy.....? ;-)

Yes, I saw that. Obviously Stewart Maxwell, if his...

2008-09-02T19:29:00.000+01:00

Yes, I saw that. Obviously Stewart Maxwell, if his "logic" is consistent, would support it.

Or would he object to on the basis that Scotland is being treated "unfairly"?

Decisions, decisions...

Scotland was exempted from the 30% interest...

2008-09-02T19:14:00.000+01:00

Scotland was exempted from the 30% interest-free shared equity scheme ("HomeBuy Direct") also launched today - but only in England.

So, to rephrase your article title... "Labour minister achieves positive discrimination for English".

BSH

I don't accept your reasoning, but let'...

2008-09-02T19:02:00.000+01:00

BSH

I don't accept your reasoning, but let's suppose for a moment that I did.

So do you think that Scotland should have been excluded from the stamp duty holiday announced today? After all, the move was intended to stimulate a market which - according to you - is actually fairly robust!

Well done for using the proper form of "tidbit" an...

2008-09-02T13:33:00.000+01:00

Well done for using the proper form of "tidbit" and not the more common (and wrong) "titbit".

Also, you're dead right about Stewart's comments. But that's the problem with nationalism, particularly the Scottish form: you start by saying Scotland should have different rules and end by saying different cities/communties/streets should have different rules. Freedom for Shetland, anyone?

1. Scotland has a significantly more robust housin...

2008-09-01T23:01:00.000+01:00

1. Scotland has a significantly more robust housing market than the rest of the UK due to the unique system.

2. The average Scottish house price has risen 5% in the past year. Across England and Wales it has fallen 10%.

3. The average earnings of Scottish citizens is below that of the rest of the UK so find it difficult to find initial house deposits.

4. Economist pointing out that Scotland is a 'low risk investment' for banks to invest capital during a bear market is not discrimination, its business sense.

You point out that a notion which if taken to its logical conclusion would result in different products being offered in different cities, neighbourhoods or even different streets!

This is already the norm! You clearly know very little about finance or indeed mortgages! Do you own a house?