India National Insurance Deal is not what they say it is
Right now, Farage and the right-wing press are stirring up outrage — claiming the UK is giving Indian workers 'special tax breaks.'
But here's the truth: This is NOT a tax break for all Indian workers. It's a standard exemption for a small group of seconded workers — people temporarily sent to the UK by their company, usually for just a few years.
They don't pay National Insurance twice — once here and once at home. That's it. And guess what? British workers posted abroad get the same deal.
We've had this arrangement with the US, Japan, and others for years. No headlines then. No outrage. But now it's India, they want you angry. They want you divided.
Indian workers will still pay the same tax the rest of us do. This isn't about fairness. It's about fear. It's about blaming migrants instead of confronting the real problem.
Many thanks,
Andrew Nutt,
Bargoed
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The Herald Scotland
an hour ago
- The Herald Scotland
Tributes to athlete and Black Watch officer who served in the Troubles
Died: April 9, 2025 Lt/Col Andrew Ogilvy-Wedderburn, who has died aged 72, had a distinguished career with the Black Watch, was an Olympic bobsledder, a marksman and an all-round athlete. He was a formidable officer, respected and admired by both fellow officers and the men he commanded. He served in Northern Ireland during the Troubles, was present at the hand-over of Hong Kong and was in charge of the British Contingent of the Tripartite Guard of Honour during President Reagan's visit to Berlin in 1987. Andrew John Alexander Ogilvy-Wedderburn was born in Fareham, Hampshire. His father, Sir John, the 6th baronet, served in the Royal Navy and his mother was Elizabeth Katharine Cox. He succeeded to the baronetcy in 1977 on the death of his father. The baronetcy is an ancient title which was created in 1704, but forfeited in 1746 when Sir John Wedderburn was accused of high treason for supporting Charles Edward Stuart and executed in London. It was restored in 1803 for Sir David Wedderburn, a noted Scottish Tory politician. Ogilvy-Wedderburn was brought up at naval bases where his father served principally in Malta and Helensburgh; then in 1960 the family moved to Perthshire. He attended Gordonstoun and, after Mons Officer Cadet Training Unit, he joined the Black Watch in 1971 on a Short Service Commission. He became a Regular in 1975 and saw service in Northen Ireland during some of the most fraught years of the Troubles. But his service and devotion to The Black Watch (the Royal Highland Regiment) saw no bounds. His career involved such important commissions as adjutant, company commander, chief of staff and ultimately commanding officer of 1st Battalion. He upheld the history and traditions of the regiment with real pride. He served in Derry during the protracted and bloodiest of the Troubles and was officer in charge of the British Contingent of the Tripartite Guard of Honour during President Reagan's visit to Berlin in 1987. The ceremony was the highly sensitive and diplomatic visit by the President: he concluded his speech dramatically, 'Mr Gorbachev, tear down this wall.' In 1995 Ogilvy-Wedderburn received the Queen's Commendation for Valuable Service. Read more Jim Prime, widely admired keyboard lynchpin of Deacon Blue | The Herald Sea captain who oversaw dramatic launches and rescues dies | The Herald Tributes to senior figure in fire service whose great love was piping | The Herald Lt/Col Tim Coles spoke warmly of his time in The Black Watch with Ogilvy-Wedderburn. 'I served with Andrew throughout our time in 'The Watch' which for me was since 1974 when we were platoon commanders. In Ireland we saw service mainly in West Belfast and County Downe. 'We had to be watchful everywhere and we were always on our guard. Andrew always looked out for other people and helped wherever and whenever he could. The Jocks and brother officers adored and admired him.' In 1993 Ogilvy-Wedderburn (Ogg Webb, as he was affectionately known in the Battalion and Oggy by fellow officers) was received at Clarence House by the late Queen Elizabeth The Queen Mother, Colonel-in-Chief, The Black Watch, upon becoming Commanding Officer of the Regiment. But Ogilvy-Wedderburn also pursued a remarkable career in sports. His excelled in bobsleigh trials and races at the highest level. His passion for the sport dated from the early Seventies when he travelled in an old van to compete in bobsleigh competitions in the Alps. He was in the team that won the British Bobsleigh Championship in 1976-77 and competed at the Winter Olympics at Innsbruck in 1976 and at Lake Placid, New York State, in 1980 when he crewed as brakeman. In his youth he had played rugby for Panmure and he was also a remarkable shot. Ogilvy-Wedderburn lead the 1st Battalion Black Watch Sniper Team which won the School of Infantry Shield at Bisley and won the Army Sniper Shield in 1979. In retirement he became a passionate gardener and a devoted environmentalist campaigning to preserve the wildlife of his beloved Perthshire. Lt/Col Tim Coles told The Herald, 'After retiring from active service, he was appointed director of the Scottish Army Benevolent Fund and later commander of recruiting in Scotland. Throughout his career he was absolutely loyal, disciplined and vigilant about procedures. Andrew was one hell of a man.' His duties on behalf of the Scottish Army Benevolent Fund were considerable and he devoted his energies to raising funds with his accustomed zeal. He travelled widely in Scotland but was particularly proud to accept a cheque from the local Ballumbie Primary School, Dundee for their efforts to raise funds for Help for Heroes. L/Col Sir Andrew Ogilvy-Wedderburn married first, in 1984, Gillian Adderley; the marriage was dissolved in 2014. He married, secondly, Fiona (Fi) Beaton, who survives him with a daughter and two sons from his first marriage. Another son died in infancy. His son Peter (born 1987) succeeds in the baronetcy. Alasdair Steven At The Herald, we carry obituaries of notable people from the worlds of business, politics, arts and sport but sometimes we miss people who have led extraordinary lives. That's where you come in. If you know someone who deserves an obituary, please consider telling us about their lives. Contact
Scotsman
3 hours ago
- Scotsman
How Edinburgh helped decide Britain's relationship with Europe 50 years ago
Britain's vote to leave the European Union in 2016 - nine years ago this month - was a close-run thing and came as a shock whose repercussions are still being felt today. Sign up to our daily newsletter Sign up Thank you for signing up! Did you know with a Digital Subscription to Edinburgh News, you can get unlimited access to the website including our premium content, as well as benefiting from fewer ads, loyalty rewards and much more. Learn More Sorry, there seem to be some issues. Please try again later. Submitting... But it was a different story in the UK's first ever national referendum in 1975, when voters decisively backed British membership of what was then known as the European Economic Community (EEC) or Common Market. While the Brexit result - 52 per cent to 48 in favour of Leave - reflected a divided nation and forced the departure of Tory prime minister David Cameron, the vote 50 year ago was 67 per cent to 33 to stay in and represented a convincing victory for Labour's Harold Wilson. Prime Minister Harold Wilson goingto vote on referendum day 1975, accompanied by his wife Mary. Picture: Keystone/Getty Images. | Getty Images Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad He had called the referendum, held on Thursday June 5, 1975, to allow the British people the say they had not been given when Ted Heath's Tory government took the country into the EEC without any ballot on January 1, 1973. Labour had made a manifesto pledge to renegotiate the UK's terms of membership and then hold a referendum to decide whether Britain remained in. It was also a way to deal with the internal tensions inside the Labour party, where there were passionate pro-Europeans as well as fierce critics of "the Market". There was much debate about the rights and wrongs of holding a referendum. Opponents called it "un-British", "a constitutional monstrosity" and incompatible with parliamentary government. But supporters pointed out referendums had been used in Northern Ireland and the Commonwealth and recalled that Ted Heath had promised he would take Britain into the EEC with "the full-hearted consent of the British people". The ballot paper in the 1975 referendum asked people to vote Yes or No to staying in the EEC | x Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Talks with Europe, led by Harold Wilson and Foreign Secretary James Callaghan, did not achieve the "fundamental renegotiation" they had wanted. But they did secure a partial refund of Britain's inflated financial contribution to the EEC. They were also helped by a change of leadership in both France and Germany, rising world food prices which closed the gap with those in Europe and support from Commonwealth countries for Britain staying in. The campaign saw politicians from different parties co-operating - with varying degrees of enthusiasm - on each side of the debate. There were two umbrella organisations - Britain in Europe running the Yes campaign and the National Referendum Campaign co-ordinating the No side. There was some debate among politicians on the issue of democracy and loss of sovereignty. But polls consistently found the topics which voters were interested in were food prices and jobs. Leading Labour anti-Marketeer Barbara Castle made a well-publicised shopping trip to Brussels to show prices were higher inside the Common Market. But in retaliation, the pro-EEC campaign sent one of their members to Norway - which had voted against joining - to prove that shopping was even more expensive outside. Barbara Castle and helpers display a variety of goods purchased in London and Brussels to support their claim that prices were higher inside the EEC. Picture: Keystone/Getty Images | Getty Images Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad The Evening News organised its own shopping expedition, running a competition to choose two shoppers and sending them to Amsterdam as guests of the Dutch Dairy Board. "I must admit I was quite shocked to see that most of their food in tins and packets with well-known brand names were twice or three times more expensive than in Scotland," said Mrs Ella Daniel, 31, from Cortorphine. "But their fruit and vegetables were about the same price or cheaper and much nicer and fresher looking, They also have a greater selection. Alcohol is also cheaper." Mrs Kathy Urquhart, 60, from Kingsknowe, said: "The Dutch also have a generally higher standard of living with bigger wages than here. But we were told they do pay a lot of income tax and have a lot of deductions for their various social benefits." Both women said despite the prices, they still planned to vote to stay in. The Trades Union Congress formally backed a vote to leave the EEC, though some key union figures backed Yes. And an Economist poll found 95 per cent of businesses favoured staying in. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad The week before the vote, the Evening News reported how Peter Balfour, chairman of Scottish & Newcastle breweries, warned that leaving the Common Market would result in the loss of jobs for some of the company's employees in Edinburgh. Waverley Vintners, based in Holyrood Road and responsible for the group's wine and beer exports, would be worst hit, he said. William Reilly, chairman of the shop stewards' committee at S&N, branded the warning "a form of political blackmail". And Robin Cook, then Labour MP for Edinburgh Central, criticised employers for trying to influence the votes of workers. He cited one constituent who received a letter from her employer urging her to vote in favour of the EEC. "She was even invited to draw this advice to the attention of her family - the whole family would be voting according to the wishes of the boss. I am sure many workers will respond with some degree of sceptical indignation." Liberal David Steel in June 1975. He described Scottish anti-Marketeers as the "most narrow, inward-looking, xenophobic forces which Scotland could muster". | TSPL Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad David Steel, then Liberal chief whip, described Scotland's anti-Marketeers as the "most narrow, inward-looking, xenophobic forces which Scotland could muster". And he rejected claims that EEC membership would obstruct plans for devolution in Scotland and Wales. Malcolm Rifkind, Conservative MP for Edinburgh Pentlands, argued that if there was a Yes vote to stay in the EEC, Edinburgh should become the centre of administration for the European Regional Fund. In an open letter to constituents he said: "In our two years of membership there have already been major benefits in Edinburgh and the Lothian Region. More than £1,500,000 of grants and loans have been made available and the regional fund will ensure continuing benefits." But Leith Labour MP Ronald King Murray, who was the Lord Advocate, told a press conference he would be voting No because he was concerned about the loss of parliamentary power and because the principal aims of the founding treaty were economic rather than social or human. Newly-elected Conservative leader Margaret Thatcher with 'Keep Britain in Europe' campaigners the day before voting in the EEC P. Floyd/Daily Express/| Getty Images Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad The Yes campaign in favour of staying in the EEC had a lead in the opinion polls throughout the campaign. The leaders of the three main parties all wanted a Yes vote - including Maragret Thatcher, who had taken over as Tory leader just a few months earlier. But Scotland was the part of the UK where seemed to be most chance of a No vote. The SNP argued for leaving, though its slogan opposed membership "on anyone else's terms" and at least some leading figures would have supported separate Scottish membership. There had been a big debate about whether there should be one national count in London of all the votes from across the UK. Some feared problems if it was clear that Scotland or Wales had reached a different conclusion from the rest of the country. Winnie Ewing and the SNP campaigned against Britain staying in the Common Market. | TSPL But in the end, the counts were held at county level in England and regional level in Scotland and all parts of the UK voted Yes, except for Shetland and the Western Isles. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad All the counts were held the next morning. The Lothian count took place at the Meadowbank sports centre and revealed a 59.5 per cent vote for staying in - 208,133 votes for Yes to 141,456 for No. That was slightly above the Scottish average Yes vote of 58.4 per cent, but well behind the Borders, the most enthusiastic Scottish region for Yes with 72.3 per cent. The Evening News carried the result of the referendum just hours after the counting of votes finished on 6 June 1975. | TSPL An academic study of the referendum published six months afterwards concluded that the Yes vote to stay in was "unequivocal but also unenthusiastic". "Support for membership was wide, but it did not run deep. The referendum was not a vote cast for new departures initiatives, it was a vote for the status quo." When parliament met after the referendum, an MP asked Harold Wilson for an assurance he would not repeat this 'constitutional experiment'. Wilson replied: 'I can certainly give the Right Honourable Member the assurance he seeks.' But 40 years later, another prime minister took a different view and got a very different result.
Scottish Sun
10 hours ago
- Scottish Sun
RAF drone wiped out an IS jihadi on a motorbike after tracking him through Syria
The unmanned aircraft began tailing the motorcycle-riding fighter in Sarmada, near the border with Turkey DRONE STRIKE RAF drone wiped out an IS jihadi on a motorbike after tracking him through Syria Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) AN RAF drone wiped out an IS jihadi on a motorbike after tracking him through Syria, The Sun on Sunday can reveal. The Islamist terrorist was taken out by a Hellfire missile fired from the £24million Reaper drone. Sign up for Scottish Sun newsletter Sign up 3 3 Tyrant Bashar Al-Assad fled to Moscow after rebel forces swept to power in Syria Credit: Alamy The unmanned aircraft began tailing the motorcycle-riding fighter in Sarmada, near the border with Turkey, after intelligence identified him as a 'known member' of IS. The Ministry of Defence told The Sun on Sunday in a statement: 'The Reaper's crew carefully tracked the terrorist on his motorcycle. "Having checked that there were no signs of civilians nearby who might be placed at risk, [they] conducted a successful engagement, striking the motorcycle and eliminating the terrorist.' Sources added the remotely-operated drone's crew were 'extremely careful' to wait for a 'gap' during the trailing of the terrorist. The took him out when no other traffic or pedestrians were within a clear radius of him. It is understood they had been monitoring him for 'some time' before firing the Hellfire missile at him. The June 10 strike was the second RAF drone hit on an IS member in Syria this year. In February — three months after tyrant Bashar Al-Assad fled to Moscow and rebel forces swept to power — another British drone pilot killed a member of the death cult in Aleppo. The UK has been fighting IS, also called Daesh, since 2014. The operation, codenamed Shader, saw the RAF conducting air strikes against the terror group in Iraq and later Syria. I fought ISIS in Syria & I know bloodthirsty thugs are plotting comeback after fall of Assad - Europe must be ready, says Brit fighter It has become one of the RAF's biggest operations in the last 25 years, with British pilots flying more than 10,000 sorties and striking more than 1,400 targets. UK jets have carried out a fifth of all air strikes by coalition forces, equivalent to the contribution by US pilots. Last year, former Defence Secretary Ben Wallace revealed that an IS terrorist had to be taken out by an RAF drone — because human rights laws prevented the SAS from seizing him. The Islamist, who was making biological weapons, was among several killed after snatch operations were ruled out. He was eliminated in a Hellfire missile blitz in 2022. Mr Wallace said lawyers told him the European Convention on Human Rights made it illegal to hand over any suspects to Syria due to the risk of torture. But they could also not be taken to Britain because there was no extradition treaty with the Assad regime.
