Well done to the dedicated, hard working team of Salvo activists who have worked tirelessly to expose the truth behind the so-called ‘Green’ Free ports.👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻 Thanks to the excellent Scotland Channell for helping to bring this to the attention of the Scottish public, pro Indy or not. It is in EVERYONEs interest, regardless of political affiliation to wake up to this disgraceful imposition on the sovereign people of Scotland.
Very impressed with the quality of the output from the Scotland Channel. Our media is letting us down badly. You are demonstrating what can be done with a tiny fraction of the mainstream budget. All power to you and good luck to Salvo and the Freeport campaign.
Thank you Alec for your kind comments. What the channel needs more than anything right now, is for everyone in the independence movement to watch, like and share ALL our videos to allow the channel's viewing figures to grow even faster than they are. That way we can reach more people throughout Scotland and can begin to change the unionist narrative before the 2026 elections. Also, please consider becoming a Friend of the Scotland Channel (see our website for details under the 'About' Tab) and donating to the Channel (details also on our website).
I agree, but we have to get this message to a much wider audience....the pro Independence pages should all carry this info....and we have to find ways to get this info to the NO voters, have eg a leaflet drop to every home in a freeport area, spelling out that they can have their homes etc compulsory purchased etc..
@@edwarddonnelly-l7b Leaflet drops are very expensive and time consuming. The whole basis of The Scotland Channel is to appeal to a far wider audience than just independence supporters by showing non political films as well as the documentaries and not branding ourselves as a Yes Indy Channel. The indy movement can support us by watching ALL our films, liking them, sharing them and subscribing to our channel. That will help us reach a far bigger audience so we can get the message out there.
I think that freeports are a disgrace. Indeed, I think that tax havens full stop are a disgrace, it´s one reason why I don´t like any of the main parties in the UK, Labour, the Tories or the SNP, or Reform. Labour is now part of the oligarchy and doesn´t want to do anything about Tax havens, the Tories introduced this freeport scheme, the SNP for ages have wanted to make Scotland into a tax haven and Reform, enough said.
To much power to politicians that's why we need to take it all back and share it with the people on the land for the people on the land that have lived and been born on the land. It's our phpfffekin land.
Excellent Freeport’s coverage, great to see this. If Swinney or Forbes are questioned on Freeport’s they duck and dive the truth and say how good they are for the Scottish economy which is not true.
What a disgrace that local authorities are colluding with Westminster. It makes you wonder why? Only Salvo is firmly in support of people and independence. We have to find the real supporters of Scotland's future and help them spread the message or we'll sleepwalk into even worse subordination to Westminster.
Well we've seen how trustworthy the corporations are regards the treatment of water in England and Wales. Given to then Debt Free for them to give away £80 billion to private corporate shareholders, and now the public ate being asked to pay £88 billion to sort out not having raw sewage ending up in all the fresh water of the country. Why should we trust corporations with anything that belongs to us?
Excellent video, I have had many conversations with Sara Salyers and Colette Walker of SALVO, and joined them at a few public meetings in Scotland about Scottish SEZs and Freeports. There are 18 deregulated SEZs and 2 Freeports in Scotland, the Firth of Forth Freeport is inside a 45km diameter SEZ, which cobers 705 of the City of EDinburgh. Investor-State Dispute Settlement (ISDS) is a secretive corporate justice court set up by The World Bank in 1966, it has a committee of 3 individuals, none of whom have a law degree. ISDS means foreign corporations can bypass domestic courts and the national sovereignty of any country and sue governments for billions. This happens when corporations believe their right to pollute the environment, shred workers rights, poison foods, and import faulty products, etc have been 'infringed' upon by the host country's government.
Hi there. I've got a law degree. Can you provide some links to the legislation providing for the legal consequences of freeports you and Sara have outlined? Thanks.
Sycophantic lackeys funded by Westminster. Taxed to the hilt, pocket money given back, that we then use to mitigate the policies which Westminster inflict upon our citizens. So it's a double whammy. We pay twice over.
They only exist if they do what their Corporate masters tell them to. Same here in Wales. Our Labour government (Drakeford) signed off on eight of them last year. A referendum wouldn't work as its not in the public interest.
If Scotland keeps Ownership of The Free Port without Outside Investment from Private Enterprise I'm All For it , But if Private Enterprise gets Involved Scotland should tell the Sham Labour Govt, to stick it where the Sun don't shine.
Great to see this being covered, it's incredible how little awareness there is about this travesty. I'm in the North of Ireland and from what I understand, the original plan was to turn the six counties here into one large Freeport, with a specifically defense and military industry leaning. It doesn't bear thinking about. Unification for Ireland and independence for Scotland must be the way forward.
17:22 the legal statement here might seem a bit obscure but as someone who works in international law specifically in the areas of customs and trade, she is quite correct. The legal authority of the UK to setup freeports as described is very shaky. If I know this so do the lawyers for these corporations. Even if there has been no direct conspiracy between the UK state and these corporations, they have been put in a position where they must become active in preventing the restoration of Scottish independence. Such contracts as seems to worry Ms Salyers existed at the time of the Baltic republics restoration of independence signed by the USSR. All were done away with the flick of a pen on a very short series of short notes to the same or similar corporations. Put simply the activities corporation can seek the protection of international law are basic and commercial. Everything else falls into the same classification as piracy. They struggle to engage in such activities in poor African countries even with the defacto and secret support of the governments of those countries. Which makes me believe even the quite grumbles of local councillors in a country like Scotland will be pouring cold water on the plans of corporations. They also know fine well they are claiming contracts based on "reges sunt principes" in a country where the law is "sunt principes populi". For normal people that's the difference legally between a Kingdom and a Republic. If Scottish monarchs had been the same as kings in other countries they would have been called King of Scotland not King of Scots. Scotland is not the only country with a Republican legal system but also a monarch and official title of "Kingdom of". Holland, Belgium, Denmark, Norway and a few others in the past. The concept is well understood by lawyers of international law. International corporations really don't want to be drawn into a position where they feel compelled to support political control of one country over another. For over 10 years Russia seemed permanently in control of Crimea and couldn't convince McDonalds to build a burger bar there. The future of this freeport scheme seems no more secure and permanent.
Before the 2014 independence referendum lots of Scottish companies went on record saying that if Scotland voted YES they would pull out of Scotland. My friend is the Manager of the World Trade Centre in Dubai and she was showing me around. I was astonished at how many of these Scottish companies had set up offshore companies long, long, long before the referendum and some of them even had factories in Dubai Freeport. Sadly Scots fell for the fear.
The thing is the corporate entities in the Freeports are being given leases by the UK government of 25 years. Can you imagine what a bottomed out hollowed out state Scotland will be in with all the assets stored in off shore tax havens across the world. British Overseas Territories of British Virgin Is, Cayman Is, and Bermuda, are the top three in the world, but Gibraltar, Jersey, Guernsey, and Isle of Man also provide a version of this. We will be ready to become the Heilan Theme Park that the Westminster thinks we are already. Flamigoes in Loch Lomond will be the very least of our worries by then.
The bit that is also not noted is that the rates corporatikns will not be paying to local authorities, driving them to bankruptcy. This necessitates the increase in rates to be taken from the people living in a local authority area, and also schemes such as LEZ and ULEZ to bring in revenue. This will impact on the services available to the people and the choices they can make. This will undermine local democracy.
Sadly most folk are still unaware of this and parrot the usual "that's a conspiracy theory' line as an easy way out of feeling into the dire consequences of the matter.
I'm not saying this to be pro or anti independence, but the SNP are backing this as well. Many of the neoliberal ills of Westminster are just as bad in Scotland.
They inflicted free ports because they knew they could get away with it. We should be asking why we in Scotland look so fragile, and can be ignored politically.
Very troubling, looking at a local freeport plan they look to take legal control of existing road rail and industry as well as ports and oil pipelines, all in the name of green energy and job creation. We Scots built all this and too ceed control to scammers who want to profit and control all the important locations. Its absolutely absurd, submit a plan for a freeport and get legal control of half central Scotland, simply submitting a plan give one private company so much control what a effin scam.
This is nothing new. Sullom Voe oil terminal in Shetland, the largest oil terminal in Europe has neve paid Shetland Islands Council one 1/2 penny in rent or rates on the publicly owned land, compulsorily purchased by the local authorities with tax payers money, they occupy. Free ports are just another rip off of the people of Scotland.
The former and current Australian governments have been criticized for acquiescing in the Chinese company Landbridge owning a 99-year lease on Darwin Port, the commercial operation in Darwin Harbour.
@@emmaearnshaw3282 However, the special economic zones in other EU countries have been set up differently to those being set up in Scotland, they are not the same.
@@emmaearnshaw3282 EU SEZ's are set up in a very different manner and are more regulated. The SEZ's being set up and/or proposed in Scotland, England and Wales are very different and much more dangerous, due to their autonomy. Hence Starmer reluctance to even discuss re-entry to the EU. It is one or the other at the minute and they are choosing to go with the SEZ's. Regardless of anyone's views on the EU, this should be highly concerning to everyone.
Sarah is absolutely right. Just remember that Mary Stuart is always called Queen of Scots and not of ScotLAND. So, any British king or queen, who all descended in part from the Scottish Stuart Kings and Queens, from James VI and I down to the current Charles , don't own the land or, I suppose the shore of Scotland and are the King or Queen of Scots.
The basis of all politics . only those on the ground have a vote . no remote control . Occupy the land . do not allow any superior power from outside the place . no outside police . No Corporate Security
Stena received European tax payer money to move their Stranraer port north of cairnryan. As part of the deal they had to run more efficient modern ferries. Fast forward, Stena now save money on fuel as the government paid to move their port. The journey times are no better as the new ferries are gone Nd Stena save money by running the old ones slower. Stranraer is dying and Stena have held on to the land round the perimeter of the harbour and have blocked a regeneration project to build a marina in Stranraer and help the local economy. They are even talks about ending the coastal trains at girvan. 🔱 Time we jailed these narcissistic greedy corporate suits
If all this comes as a surprise to learn, then you will be utterly shocked when you read up about the City of London, Vatican City, and Washington D.C..........😂😂
The pay in the freeports will have to be paid below £25,000 otherwise the corporates will have to pay more NIC. If the salaries are kept below this they don't pay Secondary Class 1 NIC. So there is an incentive for tge salaries of workers not to be higher than £25,000. This is not high paying jobs.
The refinery is privately owned by Ineos & PetroChina and is shutting due to not being able to compete with others globally It has nothing to do with the UK Government
Yes all above I agree to but independence would b easier ones become republic then independence otherwise we don't have the mussel or power to stand monarchy by our self's, but republic first then independence I personally think would b more doable wi less damage to those seeking this.
@@stuartjackson8091 I think the real issue is whether you think Scots should run Scotland or the government of England. I moved here from London nearly 30 years ago and consider myself a Scot. I believe only Scots, resident in Scotland, and that includes new Scots like me who have lived here for more than 10 years, should decide their future, not the government of another country.
@TheScotlandChannel not sure when there's half a million English people here that already directed yesterday to no with there vote, I lived in Canada for years and know the process of colonisation, civic nationalism is a con, It may have been relevant 40 years ago but looking at Ukraine amongst many other places it has just become a form of pragmatic defeat Scots need agency in there own affairs not reliant on English paternalism, I support native rights in Canada, my daughter is part native, but I realise on the grand scheme of things it's up to them in there own country all I can and should do is be accommodating.
Need independence then we will have our own ports and if the land is sovereign to the people of Scotland England has no right opening free ports in Scotland
No it's not, it's the existing owners, a Chinese company and Jim the Man Utd shareholder. They deliberately ran it down. The SNP haven't helped. They've sat on their arsed and done nothing.
Its free port not free land, streets or anything free...how are people not kicking political arse..its pathetic...if an area of a port has specific rules thdn thats do able but not half of Scotland's industrial land...
You might want to read : “who owns Scotland” before you start suppressing strategic investment… from which we the people gain Sweet FA. Factual research suggests that 750,000 acres of the country is owned in overseas tax havens, while separate RoS data suggests property in Scotland worth £2.9bn is owned by offshore companies…. Best get involved with this burach first eh ? Grangemouth is finished…
It’s fine to talk about “ radical reform “ and “ independence “ ( and in principle I agree ) - BUT what are your solutions to, for example, poverty, malnutrition, homelessness, healthcare, addiction, crime, unemployment, environmental protection and all manner of other issues affecting the people of Scotland ALL of which cost money?
Money being poured into the pockets of private shareholders like in the case of private water companies in England, train companies and even the NHS - See our documentary in April - is money that would be better spent in financing the frontline services. Studies show that reducing poverty, a result of austerity over which Scotland has no control as part of the UK, improves health outcomes and reduces demand on health services like the NHS. More austerity coupled with private involvement in the NHS is a disaster for health outcomes and costs way more than the alternative, an alternative that can only be achieved through independence.
@ money laundering through private companies ( water, rail, sectors of the NHS and NGOs ) is a proven west minister strategy. Their 10B pledge for so called “ green initiatives” in third world countries is yet further proof of the “ business as usual “ practice of centralised government. - Not sure what that has to do directly with free ports in Scotland mind you ?
A somewhat one sided perspective. - Other than job opportunities ( and accepting that corporate profiteering is likely a major factor in the set up of free ports ) what are the other benefits to Scotland of having free port areas? - If, as you report, workers rights are compromised to their disadvantage, where are your witnesses prepared to testify as to the poor working conditions within free ports ? IMHO bureaucracy is a major contributing factor to lack of economic efficiency. - There are far too many ( and too high ) taxes and far too much needless regulation to run businesses efficiently in Scotland for everyone’s benefit. - Rather than attack free ports, corporations who take advantage of the benefits of free ports should be held to a much higher degree of compliance when it comes to giving back to the communities, the environments, the heritage and the social welfare of the regional areas in which these ports exist.
Thank you for taking time to comment. Mainstream media gives you a one-sided narrative all the time in favour of a Union that does not work for Scotland or in favour of Freeports which, for the reasons outlined in the film, generally don't work for ordinary people or communities only large corporations. We make no apology for putting a side of the argument not covered elsewhere to create a small contribution to balance. As a businessman myself, I am all for enterprise, but there is a huge difference between the way SMEs are treated and how huge corporations are treated. Pro-business policies usually mean giving more money to huge multi-million dollar corporations in terms of low taxes or less regulation, not things available to your average small business which are the real backbone of the economy.
@ yes I get all that and completely agree re the imbalance of distribution within systems so obviously geared to favour large corporate interests. - That said, is being biased in the opposite direction not just playing the same game? PS I gave up MSM as a source of “ news / information “ many, many years ago now.
If you want to build a warehouse in a Freeport in England, you have to go through a full local authority planning application process. Have you any evidence that Scotland is different.
Falkirk Council's Cllr Brian Forbes has confirmed this to be the case in his interview which is shown in the film John. Which Freeports in England have to apply for planning permission?
I do not think he is correct. A planning application I am doing in a English freeport requires a full Environment Impact Analysis, a planning performance agreement a pre planning application process, consultation with the public, consultation with the roads authority and consultation with Highways England. There is no quick or easy route because it is in a freeport. This film looks like scaremongering or a completely different interpretation to the rules being applied in England.
Scotland needs out of its union with England it only benefits one member & it’s not the Scot’s . Why do we need permission from England to hold Indy ref 2 ?, are we actually a colony because if it’s a union then both should be equal & not one country holding all the power that’s not an equal union. Please deliver Indy 2 , Scottish independence, maybe President Trump can help given his mother was Scottish .
Firstly, it's a decision for Scots to make, not for England to make on behalf of Scots. Secondly, every country of the EU remains an independent, sovereign state and each benefits from the single market which was worth £100 billion a year to the UK before it left. That means we are now £100 billion a year worse off. Scotland has part of the UK, has no say as Brexit proved.
@TheScotlandChannel I'm not a Scot but I've lived here for most of my life so my opinion does matter, i never said it was England's choice, I don't believe Brexit was negotiated well and I see it as a failed opportunity to regain our sovereignty according to this, from my understanding, the sovereign status ultimately comes from the fact you have the right too leave the union. Understandable if you don't want to read but I will paste it below, I put this emoji 👉 next to the bit that I feel is relevant to my opinion, it seems to me it is contradictory EU member states retain their sovereignty even after joining the union. Sovereignty is the full right and power of a governing body over itself, without any interference from outside sources. EU member states can voluntarily delegate some or all of their powers to the EU institutions, but they can reclaim these powers if they choose to leave the union. This ability to withdraw from the union and regain their delegated powers is what maintains their sovereignty. The European Union operates under a system known as “supranationalism,” where member states share some of their sovereignty in certain aspects of government. 👉 This means that while member states can make decisions independently in areas not covered by EU treaties, they also agree to be bound by collective decisions made by EU institutions in areas where they have shared sovereignty. This arrangement does not diminish their sovereignty but rather allows for coordinated action in specific policy areas. In summary, EU member states are sovereign, and their membership in the union does not negate their sovereign status. They retain the ability to reclaim their delegated powers and can leave the union if they so choose.
@ I am not Scottish by birth either and of course, you are entitled to your views obviously. However, to suggest that the EU is like the UK is misleading and one of the reasons put forward by the Leavers during the Brexit campaign for leaving the EU was to get "independence" when England calling itself the UK already had independence, it was still a sovereign state with the power of veto over all EU proposed policies and laws, something Scotland does not have in the UK. If the UK really did not support EU legislation, it could have vetoed it. The fact did not in 98% of cases shows that the reason for leaving was for something entirely different, something people like Farage will never tell you.
Do SALVO have a 5 year, forward looking, feasibility study showing in finite detail ALL of the pros and cons of the free port concept w.r.t. to impact on Scotland? - 90% of this video is negatively biased commentary from those with direct vested interests. An independent feasibility study would be of far more benefit when it comes to an evaluation of the relevant arguments.
Scotland could have had free ports years ago and made a fortune but snp said no they also rejected billions from Westminster to up grade our roads saying we will do our own roads totally stupid
Free ports were shutdown by the Tories. They became a haven for criminals. They don't create new jobs, they move existing jobs. They are above the law. They're useless and absolutely no benefit to the economy.
It breaks my heart to see what has, and is being done to Scotland, but I will never abandon Scotland because despite everything, independence is an inevitability and there is nowhere else I would rather be.
@@TheScotlandChannel I'd love to see independence for Scotland but until we're free of the international banking mafia we will never know true freedom.. Other nations who tried to break away from that mob have been laid siege to, and it takes a very clued up population with a strong spirit to ride that storm.. Not to mention very wise leaders who won't compromise and betray the people.. We're almost at the point where Governments are no more than civil servants in relation to the corporatists.
@@scottyoung7579 I agree to a large extent. If we outlaw commercial lobbying and have a constitution and system that really works for the people, then we should be able to counter many of the problems seen by compliant and corrupt governments like the one in London.
Well, Scotland is richer than most of England (apart from maybe London, Manchester, Oxford and Cambridge). Freeports are a terrible idea and they are no good for deprived communities, what you´ll find is that supermarkets etc will move out of the deprived areas, into the freeports, because of the tax incentives, reducing local employment etc even further. The irony is the people in this video, can´t see that this is what Scottish independence will do to places like Newcastle.
@@Commonsense-u1h I'm far from happy with these freeports. However, I have a problem with the last part of your comment. Our independence is our will. Newcastle is England's problem.
It's not a basket case except for the fact it's owned by foreign multinationals , but what you think is a good idea will lead to the aras permanently left in the hands of multi nationals. Please tell us what's actually hysterical about it, it seems like they are just exposing the bare facts t 23:41 hat commutes and private individuals have just got sold out, you don't think the mass immigration and creation of Freeport's aren't connected. You're living in cloud cuckoo land if you think their creation is in any way positive, I guess if you ever cut a branch of a tree you'd think sitting on the end of the branch was the best place to do it.
This is pretty shocking stuff. Everything you claim for the Freeports is untrue. There’s no suspension of ANY UK or Scottish laws just tax incentives to encourage companies to set up manufacturing. I’m surprised UA-cam allows you to post such inaccurate material.
If you go and look at the legislature around this, consequently you'll find that you're completely full of shite. You do understand there's an internet thing where you can get free access to all the legal stuff you could want to research. Or, not, in your case. Carry on, Jim. We look forward to your retraction.
@@anarchords1905 please provide a link to this ‘legislation’ because the UK Government website says the complete opposite of what this film claims, without any evidence.
You are confusing the old type of tax breaks Freeport's. These are owned by overseas corporation. Not just in Scotland. They are taking over prime profit making areas. Resulting in loss of tax to local councils. The security is provided by the corporation. The corporation profits go overseas. The wages need looking into. Can they pay less than national minimum. Can they reduce safety standards.. Many questions. The rich Tories have their financial interest invested so concern that the people working and living in these free ports.
The media keep making tabloid meat out of the situation at Ferguson marine without understanding that not only have we built two new ferries using a Scottish workforce but we've built the infrastructure and trained the workforce needed to build large ferries in Scotland. You can have a whinge about it but who has done more for Scotland, the media or the shipyard?
Well done to the dedicated, hard working team of Salvo activists who have worked tirelessly to expose the truth behind the so-called ‘Green’ Free ports.👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻 Thanks to the excellent Scotland Channell for helping to bring this to the attention of the Scottish public, pro Indy or not. It is in EVERYONEs interest, regardless of political affiliation to wake up to this disgraceful imposition on the sovereign people of Scotland.
Sara Salyers is absolutely right! Independence for Scotland and Liberation for Scots is our aim!
Thank you Sara Salyers for putting it so clearly. All success to your efforts.
This is terrifying and must be stopped immediately.
its false
Vote Reform 🇬🇧 sold out by the SNP and Conservatives
Very impressed with the quality of the output from the Scotland Channel. Our media is letting us down badly. You are demonstrating what can be done with a tiny fraction of the mainstream budget. All power to you and good luck to Salvo and the Freeport campaign.
Thank you Alec for your kind comments. What the channel needs more than anything right now, is for everyone in the independence movement to watch, like and share ALL our videos to allow the channel's viewing figures to grow even faster than they are. That way we can reach more people throughout Scotland and can begin to change the unionist narrative before the 2026 elections. Also, please consider becoming a Friend of the Scotland Channel (see our website for details under the 'About' Tab) and donating to the Channel (details also on our website).
I agree, but we have to get this message to a much wider audience....the pro Independence pages should all carry this info....and we have to find ways to get this info to the NO voters, have eg a leaflet drop to every home in a freeport area, spelling out that they can have their homes etc compulsory purchased etc..
@@edwarddonnelly-l7b Leaflet drops are very expensive and time consuming. The whole basis of The Scotland Channel is to appeal to a far wider audience than just independence supporters by showing non political films as well as the documentaries and not branding ourselves as a Yes Indy Channel. The indy movement can support us by watching ALL our films, liking them, sharing them and subscribing to our channel. That will help us reach a far bigger audience so we can get the message out there.
pity its full of inaccuracies
@@roybennett206 Name them.
Well done for also putting this out! Git them telt tae ram it!
Salvo is worth supporting!
Jim🏴🙂
I think that freeports are a disgrace. Indeed, I think that tax havens full stop are a disgrace, it´s one reason why I don´t like any of the main parties in the UK, Labour, the Tories or the SNP, or Reform.
Labour is now part of the oligarchy and doesn´t want to do anything about Tax havens, the Tories introduced this freeport scheme, the SNP for ages have wanted to make Scotland into a tax haven and Reform, enough said.
Good for you. Continue to be be happy getting your money stolen off you by criminal governments.
To much power to politicians that's why we need to take it all back and share it with the people on the land for the people on the land that have lived and been born on the land. It's our phpfffekin land.
Excellent Freeport’s coverage, great to see this. If Swinney or Forbes are questioned on Freeport’s they duck and dive the truth and say how good they are for the Scottish economy which is not true.
the more i hear about these, the more horrifying they are.
What a disgrace that local authorities are colluding with Westminster. It makes you wonder why? Only Salvo is firmly in support of people and independence. We have to find the real supporters of Scotland's future and help them spread the message or we'll sleepwalk into even worse subordination to Westminster.
PEOPLE PAID BLOOD MONEY FROM WESTMINSTER WILL COLLUDE
Well we've seen how trustworthy the corporations are regards the treatment of water in England and Wales. Given to then Debt Free for them to give away £80 billion to private corporate shareholders, and now the public ate being asked to pay £88 billion to sort out not having raw sewage ending up in all the fresh water of the country. Why should we trust corporations with anything that belongs to us?
We shouldn't
Excellent video, I have had many conversations with Sara Salyers and Colette Walker of SALVO, and joined them at a few public meetings in Scotland about Scottish SEZs and Freeports. There are 18 deregulated SEZs and 2 Freeports in Scotland, the Firth of Forth Freeport is inside a 45km diameter SEZ, which cobers 705 of the City of EDinburgh. Investor-State Dispute Settlement (ISDS) is a secretive corporate justice court set up by The World Bank in 1966, it has a committee of 3 individuals, none of whom have a law degree. ISDS means foreign corporations can bypass domestic courts and the national sovereignty of any country and sue governments for billions. This happens when corporations believe their right to pollute the environment, shred workers rights, poison foods, and import faulty products, etc have been 'infringed' upon by the host country's government.
Hi there. I've got a law degree. Can you provide some links to the legislation providing for the legal consequences of freeports you and Sara have outlined? Thanks.
Why did the SNP Government agree to these Freeports?
Something of this national importance should have been put to a national referendum..
Because this SNP is doing what this U.K. Government want. Careers are more important than Scottish Independence.
Sycophantic lackeys funded by Westminster. Taxed to the hilt, pocket money given back, that we then use to mitigate the policies which Westminster inflict upon our citizens. So it's a double whammy. We pay twice over.
They only exist if they do what their Corporate masters tell them to. Same here in Wales. Our Labour government (Drakeford) signed off on eight of them last year. A referendum wouldn't work as its not in the public interest.
LOOKING FOR BLAME WILL NOT HELP! JUST CAUSE DIVISION! FOOLED BY WESTMINSTER(LESLIE EVANS) TO CAUSE A RIFT BETWEEN NICOLA AND ALEX!!
bribed
If Scotland keeps Ownership of The Free Port without Outside Investment from Private Enterprise I'm All For it , But if Private Enterprise gets Involved Scotland should tell the Sham Labour Govt, to stick it where the Sun don't shine.
Great to see this being covered, it's incredible how little awareness there is about this travesty. I'm in the North of Ireland and from what I understand, the original plan was to turn the six counties here into one large Freeport, with a specifically defense and military industry leaning. It doesn't bear thinking about. Unification for Ireland and independence for Scotland must be the way forward.
17:22 the legal statement here might seem a bit obscure but as someone who works in international law specifically in the areas of customs and trade, she is quite correct. The legal authority of the UK to setup freeports as described is very shaky. If I know this so do the lawyers for these corporations. Even if there has been no direct conspiracy between the UK state and these corporations, they have been put in a position where they must become active in preventing the restoration of Scottish independence. Such contracts as seems to worry Ms Salyers existed at the time of the Baltic republics restoration of independence signed by the USSR. All were done away with the flick of a pen on a very short series of short notes to the same or similar corporations.
Put simply the activities corporation can seek the protection of international law are basic and commercial. Everything else falls into the same classification as piracy. They struggle to engage in such activities in poor African countries even with the defacto and secret support of the governments of those countries. Which makes me believe even the quite grumbles of local councillors in a country like Scotland will be pouring cold water on the plans of corporations. They also know fine well they are claiming contracts based on "reges sunt principes" in a country where the law is "sunt principes populi". For normal people that's the difference legally between a Kingdom and a Republic. If Scottish monarchs had been the same as kings in other countries they would have been called King of Scotland not King of Scots. Scotland is not the only country with a Republican legal system but also a monarch and official title of "Kingdom of". Holland, Belgium, Denmark, Norway and a few others in the past. The concept is well understood by lawyers of international law.
International corporations really don't want to be drawn into a position where they feel compelled to support political control of one country over another. For over 10 years Russia seemed permanently in control of Crimea and couldn't convince McDonalds to build a burger bar there. The future of this freeport scheme seems no more secure and permanent.
Thank you 100%👍🏴
Before the 2014 independence referendum lots of Scottish companies went on record saying that if Scotland voted YES they would pull out of Scotland.
My friend is the Manager of the World Trade Centre in Dubai and she was showing me around. I was astonished at how many of these Scottish companies had set up offshore companies long, long, long before the referendum and some of them even had factories in Dubai Freeport.
Sadly Scots fell for the fear.
Well they literally are. Sick assholes.
What contracts is Sara talking about?
The thing is the corporate entities in the Freeports are being given leases by the UK government of 25 years. Can you imagine what a bottomed out hollowed out state Scotland will be in with all the assets stored in off shore tax havens across the world. British Overseas Territories of British Virgin Is, Cayman Is, and Bermuda, are the top three in the world, but Gibraltar, Jersey, Guernsey, and Isle of Man also provide a version of this. We will be ready to become the Heilan Theme Park that the Westminster thinks we are already. Flamigoes in Loch Lomond will be the very least of our worries by then.
Colonies within a colony. Strongholds, fortifications.
The bit that is also not noted is that the rates corporatikns will not be paying to local authorities, driving them to bankruptcy. This necessitates the increase in rates to be taken from the people living in a local authority area, and also schemes such as LEZ and ULEZ to bring in revenue. This will impact on the services available to the people and the choices they can make. This will undermine local democracy.
WEF Stakeholder Capitalism
Sadly most folk are still unaware of this and parrot the usual "that's a conspiracy theory' line as an easy way out of feeling into the dire consequences of the matter.
We had our chance. Until we realise that the average Scot is weak we will be stuck with the English.
I'm not saying this to be pro or anti independence, but the SNP are backing this as well. Many of the neoliberal ills of Westminster are just as bad in Scotland.
I knew freeports were bad, but it didn't realise their size was so massive tho, it's good to see this movement.
Scotland doesn't need these rip off zones 🏴
Nor does Wales
They are also "gifting" the labour force too. In their homes.
Free ports are Westminster’s way of circumventing the policies and laws passed by the Scottish government holding control in Westminster.
the rights to this will be going to blackrock
They inflicted free ports because they knew they could get away with it.
We should be asking why we in Scotland look so fragile, and can be ignored politically.
Very troubling, looking at a local freeport plan they look to take legal control of existing road rail and industry as well as ports and oil pipelines, all in the name of green energy and job creation. We Scots built all this and too ceed control to scammers who want to profit and control all the important locations. Its absolutely absurd, submit a plan for a freeport and get legal control of half central Scotland, simply submitting a plan give one private company so much control what a effin scam.
This is nothing new. Sullom Voe oil terminal in Shetland, the largest oil terminal in Europe has neve paid Shetland Islands Council one 1/2 penny in rent or rates on the publicly owned land, compulsorily purchased by the local authorities with tax payers money, they occupy. Free ports are just another rip off of the people of Scotland.
therealrobertbirchall while london museum got a 50 million donation from bp.
Well said Salvo, and Sara Salyers!
Well done yoons... your vote in 2014 has sold your own country and your own future down the swanny.
7:10 follow the money 18:55 organic documents and she is quite right... this is absolute corruption.
The former and current Australian governments have been criticized for acquiescing in the Chinese company Landbridge owning a 99-year lease on Darwin Port, the commercial operation in Darwin Harbour.
Also, prevents re-entry to EU.
no it doesn`t
Not so, the EU is covered in Special economic zones, as is the rest of the world.
@@emmaearnshaw3282 However, the special economic zones in other EU countries have been set up differently to those being set up in Scotland, they are not the same.
If that’s true then at least there’s one positive thing about them.
@@emmaearnshaw3282 EU SEZ's are set up in a very different manner and are more regulated. The SEZ's being set up and/or proposed in Scotland, England and Wales are very different and much more dangerous, due to their autonomy. Hence Starmer reluctance to even discuss re-entry to the EU. It is one or the other at the minute and they are choosing to go with the SEZ's. Regardless of anyone's views on the EU, this should be highly concerning to everyone.
Sarah is absolutely right. Just remember that Mary Stuart is always called Queen of Scots and not of ScotLAND. So, any British king or queen, who all descended in part from the Scottish Stuart Kings and Queens, from James VI and I down to the current Charles , don't own the land or, I suppose the shore of Scotland and are the King or Queen of Scots.
Keep the WEF and EU out of Scotland!
Freeforall for the rich ,DONT LET IT HAPPEN.
The basis of all politics . only those on the ground have a vote . no remote control . Occupy the land . do not allow any superior power from outside the place . no outside police . No Corporate Security
Who aloud this to happen this is against the law !
The owners of these areas have control of the planning application. Fracking anyone ??
what a horrible idea!! Are these councillors INSANE?
How can this possibly be allowed to happen!?!?!?
Not theirs to sell. To the barricades comrades asap.
This angers me so much
🏴😡🏴
Remember the gigantic explosion at beruit port ,God knows what else for in these ports
Stena received European tax payer money to move their Stranraer port north of cairnryan. As part of the deal they had to run more efficient modern ferries. Fast forward, Stena now save money on fuel as the government paid to move their port. The journey times are no better as the new ferries are gone Nd Stena save money by running the old ones slower. Stranraer is dying and Stena have held on to the land round the perimeter of the harbour and have blocked a regeneration project to build a marina in Stranraer and help the local economy. They are even talks about ending the coastal trains at girvan.
🔱 Time we jailed these narcissistic greedy corporate suits
Jeez, and I always choose Stena when travelling from NI as I thought P&O were the scoundrels. I guess they're all as bad as each other.
Marx was right we must get rid of the rentier class asap.
If all this comes as a surprise to learn, then you will be utterly shocked when you read up about the City of London, Vatican City, and Washington D.C..........😂😂
The pay in the freeports will have to be paid below £25,000 otherwise the corporates will have to pay more NIC. If the salaries are kept below this they don't pay Secondary Class 1 NIC. So there is an incentive for tge salaries of workers not to be higher than £25,000. This is not high paying jobs.
The corporates will be largely exempt from the normal laws of the state.
And what good has oil and gas done for Scotland? None it's just made Scotland a Yankee fiefdom.
I thought that we had Freeports before and David Cameron put a end to them around 2012 as they were not working.
Drill drill drill sell nothing except what we produce
The refinery is privately owned by Ineos & PetroChina and is shutting due to not being able to compete with others globally
It has nothing to do with the UK Government
Jobs were coming to invergodon anyway.
Need hooses
Why does this evil scam surprise me ??
Yes all above I agree to but independence would b easier ones become republic then independence otherwise we don't have the mussel or power to stand monarchy by our self's, but republic first then independence I personally think would b more doable wi less damage to those seeking this.
Aye for independence
"We own the land" Aye right
In theory, but then it depends on who you define as a Scot, someone from here or a guy that moved up from London a week ago.
@@stuartjackson8091 I think the real issue is whether you think Scots should run Scotland or the government of England. I moved here from London nearly 30 years ago and consider myself a Scot. I believe only Scots, resident in Scotland, and that includes new Scots like me who have lived here for more than 10 years, should decide their future, not the government of another country.
@TheScotlandChannel not sure when there's half a million English people here that already directed yesterday to no with there vote, I lived in Canada for years and know the process of colonisation, civic nationalism is a con, It may have been relevant 40 years ago but looking at Ukraine amongst many other places it has just become a form of pragmatic defeat Scots need agency in there own affairs not reliant on English paternalism, I support native rights in Canada, my daughter is part native, but I realise on the grand scheme of things it's up to them in there own country all I can and should do is be accommodating.
@@TheScotlandChannelI would say 20 years of residence before one is allowed to vote on anything.
@@KizzieWiz So you are implying that you have to be twenty years old to have a vote.
state within a state!!? corpratocracy?? .. a place to employ an house cheep immigrant labor?? eg sweat shops??
There are lots of poor communities in the Forth Valley
Madness
Why spoil this extremely good and informative piece with the back ground noise (music)
Need independence then we will have our own ports and if the land is sovereign to the people of Scotland England has no right opening free ports in Scotland
Did the snp allowing this .Backhanders again
Also grange mouth is closing thanks to snp
No it's not, it's the existing owners, a Chinese company and Jim the Man Utd shareholder. They deliberately ran it down. The SNP haven't helped. They've sat on their arsed and done nothing.
Give them not an inch,
We need two things for that to happen James. Independence and a government that will stand up for Scotland.
Beyond the pale.
Its free port not free land, streets or anything free...how are people not kicking political arse..its pathetic...if an area of a port has specific rules thdn thats do able but not half of Scotland's industrial land...
Another British fallacy!
You might want to read : “who owns Scotland” before you start suppressing strategic investment… from which we the people gain Sweet FA.
Factual research suggests that 750,000 acres of the country is owned in overseas tax havens, while separate RoS data suggests property in Scotland worth £2.9bn is owned by offshore companies….
Best get involved with this burach first eh ?
Grangemouth is finished…
Euan Stainbank MP has nothing to say about this whatsoever.
It’s fine to talk about “ radical reform “ and “ independence “ ( and in principle I agree ) - BUT what are your solutions to, for example, poverty, malnutrition, homelessness, healthcare, addiction, crime, unemployment, environmental protection and all manner of other issues affecting the people of Scotland ALL of which cost money?
Money being poured into the pockets of private shareholders like in the case of private water companies in England, train companies and even the NHS - See our documentary in April - is money that would be better spent in financing the frontline services. Studies show that reducing poverty, a result of austerity over which Scotland has no control as part of the UK, improves health outcomes and reduces demand on health services like the NHS. More austerity coupled with private involvement in the NHS is a disaster for health outcomes and costs way more than the alternative, an alternative that can only be achieved through independence.
@ money laundering through private companies ( water, rail, sectors of the NHS and NGOs ) is a proven west minister strategy. Their 10B pledge for so called “ green initiatives” in third world countries is yet further proof of the “ business as usual “ practice of centralised government. - Not sure what that has to do directly with free ports in Scotland mind you ?
A somewhat one sided perspective. - Other than job opportunities ( and accepting that corporate profiteering is likely a major factor in the set up of free ports ) what are the other benefits to Scotland of having free port areas? - If, as you report, workers rights are compromised to their disadvantage, where are your witnesses prepared to testify as to the poor working conditions within free ports ? IMHO bureaucracy is a major contributing factor to lack of economic efficiency. - There are far too many ( and too high ) taxes and far too much needless regulation to run businesses efficiently in Scotland for everyone’s benefit. - Rather than attack free ports, corporations who take advantage of the benefits of free ports should be held to a much higher degree of compliance when it comes to giving back to the communities, the environments, the heritage and the social welfare of the regional areas in which these ports exist.
Thank you for taking time to comment. Mainstream media gives you a one-sided narrative all the time in favour of a Union that does not work for Scotland or in favour of Freeports which, for the reasons outlined in the film, generally don't work for ordinary people or communities only large corporations. We make no apology for putting a side of the argument not covered elsewhere to create a small contribution to balance. As a businessman myself, I am all for enterprise, but there is a huge difference between the way SMEs are treated and how huge corporations are treated. Pro-business policies usually mean giving more money to huge multi-million dollar corporations in terms of low taxes or less regulation, not things available to your average small business which are the real backbone of the economy.
@ yes I get all that and completely agree re the imbalance of distribution within systems so obviously geared to favour large corporate interests. - That said, is being biased in the opposite direction not just playing the same game?
PS I gave up MSM as a source of “ news / information “ many, many years ago now.
If you want to build a warehouse in a Freeport in England, you have to go through a full local authority planning application process. Have you any evidence that Scotland is different.
Falkirk Council's Cllr Brian Forbes has confirmed this to be the case in his interview which is shown in the film John. Which Freeports in England have to apply for planning permission?
I do not think he is correct. A planning application I am doing in a English freeport requires a full Environment Impact Analysis, a planning performance agreement a pre planning application process, consultation with the public, consultation with the roads authority and consultation with Highways England. There is no quick or easy route because it is in a freeport. This film looks like scaremongering or a completely different interpretation to the rules being applied in England.
8.41 minutes in , the speaker call the Firth of Forth, the Forth of Ferth.... Oops !
The English call it the third cos they canny see where the fourth road bridge is
@@ThePetetosh Firth means "Arm of the sea" Just to let everyone know !
Scotland needs out of its union with England it only benefits one member & it’s not the Scot’s . Why do we need permission from England to hold Indy ref 2 ?, are we actually a colony because if it’s a union then both should be equal & not one country holding all the power that’s not an equal union. Please deliver Indy 2 , Scottish independence, maybe President Trump can help given his mother was Scottish .
I dont understand why scots want independence but also want to be part of the EU, because that isnt independence in ny opinion
Firstly, it's a decision for Scots to make, not for England to make on behalf of Scots. Secondly, every country of the EU remains an independent, sovereign state and each benefits from the single market which was worth £100 billion a year to the UK before it left. That means we are now £100 billion a year worse off. Scotland has part of the UK, has no say as Brexit proved.
@TheScotlandChannel I'm not a Scot but I've lived here for most of my life so my opinion does matter, i never said it was England's choice, I don't believe Brexit was negotiated well and I see it as a failed opportunity to regain our sovereignty according to this, from my understanding, the sovereign status ultimately comes from the fact you have the right too leave the union. Understandable if you don't want to read but I will paste it below, I put this emoji 👉 next to the bit that I feel is relevant to my opinion, it seems to me it is contradictory
EU member states retain their sovereignty even after joining the union. Sovereignty is the full right and power of a governing body over itself, without any interference from outside sources. EU member states can voluntarily delegate some or all of their powers to the EU institutions, but they can reclaim these powers if they choose to leave the union. This ability to withdraw from the union and regain their delegated powers is what maintains their sovereignty.
The European Union operates under a system known as “supranationalism,” where member states share some of their sovereignty in certain aspects of government. 👉 This means that while member states can make decisions independently in areas not covered by EU treaties, they also agree to be bound by collective decisions made by EU institutions in areas where they have shared sovereignty. This arrangement does not diminish their sovereignty but rather allows for coordinated action in specific policy areas.
In summary, EU member states are sovereign, and their membership in the union does not negate their sovereign status. They retain the ability to reclaim their delegated powers and can leave the union if they so choose.
@ I am not Scottish by birth either and of course, you are entitled to your views obviously. However, to suggest that the EU is like the UK is misleading and one of the reasons put forward by the Leavers during the Brexit campaign for leaving the EU was to get "independence" when England calling itself the UK already had independence, it was still a sovereign state with the power of veto over all EU proposed policies and laws, something Scotland does not have in the UK. If the UK really did not support EU legislation, it could have vetoed it. The fact did not in 98% of cases shows that the reason for leaving was for something entirely different, something people like Farage will never tell you.
Do SALVO have a 5 year, forward looking, feasibility study showing in finite detail ALL of the pros and cons of the free port concept w.r.t. to impact on Scotland? - 90% of this video is negatively biased commentary from those with direct vested interests. An independent feasibility study would be of far more benefit when it comes to an evaluation of the relevant arguments.
LOL SCOATLAND already bought/sold because of SNP.
Thatchers paradise !
Market forces " rule !
They are not great they are terrible in every way for Scotland.
Scotland could have had free ports years ago and made a fortune but snp said no they also rejected billions from Westminster to up grade our roads saying we will do our own roads totally stupid
Free ports were shutdown by the Tories. They became a haven for criminals. They don't create new jobs, they move existing jobs. They are above the law. They're useless and absolutely no benefit to the economy.
Just one more reason for me to leave Scotland under westminster rule. I given up on this place, my advice to others is get out while you can.
It breaks my heart to see what has, and is being done to Scotland, but I will never abandon Scotland because despite everything, independence is an inevitability and there is nowhere else I would rather be.
@@TheScotlandChannel I'd love to see independence for Scotland but until we're free of the international banking mafia we will never know true freedom.. Other nations who tried to break away from that mob have been laid siege to, and it takes a very clued up population with a strong spirit to ride that storm.. Not to mention very wise leaders who won't compromise and betray the people.. We're almost at the point where Governments are no more than civil servants in relation to the corporatists.
@@scottyoung7579 I agree to a large extent. If we outlaw commercial lobbying and have a constitution and system that really works for the people, then we should be able to counter many of the problems seen by compliant and corrupt governments like the one in London.
Things would be worse if you got independence. You wouldn't have the English to subsidise Scotland any more.
Shit talker
ChefEarthenware since when in history has England subsided a whole country. Maybe we should ask their ex colonies about it.
@@user-rs5gp1dh8u It's referred to as the Barnett Formula. Unsurprisingly, the Scots maintain that it isn't true.
Scotland’s economy is a total basket case. So why not give it a punt. The tone of this piece is hysterical
Well, Scotland is richer than most of England (apart from maybe London, Manchester, Oxford and Cambridge). Freeports are a terrible idea and they are no good for deprived communities, what you´ll find is that supermarkets etc will move out of the deprived areas, into the freeports, because of the tax incentives, reducing local employment etc even further.
The irony is the people in this video, can´t see that this is what Scottish independence will do to places like Newcastle.
@@Commonsense-u1h I'm far from happy with these freeports. However, I have a problem with the last part of your comment. Our independence is our will. Newcastle is England's problem.
It's not a basket case except for the fact it's owned by foreign multinationals , but what you think is a good idea will lead to the aras permanently left in the hands of multi nationals. Please tell us what's actually hysterical about it, it seems like they are just exposing the bare facts t 23:41 hat commutes and private individuals have just got sold out, you don't think the mass immigration and creation of Freeport's aren't connected. You're living in cloud cuckoo land if you think their creation is in any way positive, I guess if you ever cut a branch of a tree you'd think sitting on the end of the branch was the best place to do it.
@@leannan070 why, why are Geordies worth less than Scots? Please tell me what's so different about Newcastle and Glasgow?
@@Commonsense-u1hThe difference is they are in separate countries, if you can't understand that then there's no point in further discussion
This is pretty shocking stuff. Everything you claim for the Freeports is untrue. There’s no suspension of ANY UK or Scottish laws just tax incentives to encourage companies to set up manufacturing. I’m surprised UA-cam allows you to post such inaccurate material.
If you go and look at the legislature around this, consequently you'll find that you're completely full of shite. You do understand there's an internet thing where you can get free access to all the legal stuff you could want to research. Or, not, in your case.
Carry on, Jim. We look forward to your retraction.
James carpenter get lost English troll
@@anarchords1905 please provide a link to this ‘legislation’ because the UK Government website says the complete opposite of what this film claims, without any evidence.
You are confusing the old type of tax breaks Freeport's. These are owned by overseas corporation. Not just in Scotland. They are taking over prime profit making areas. Resulting in loss of tax to local councils. The security is provided by the corporation. The corporation profits go overseas. The wages need looking into. Can they pay less than national minimum. Can they reduce safety standards.. Many questions. The rich Tories have their financial interest invested so concern that the people working and living in these free ports.
@@caterthun4853 I’m not confusing anything. There’s not a scrap of evidence for what this film is claiming.
The media keep making tabloid meat out of the situation at Ferguson marine without understanding that not only have we built two new ferries using a Scottish workforce but we've built the infrastructure and trained the workforce needed to build large ferries in Scotland. You can have a whinge about it but who has done more for Scotland, the media or the shipyard?
Who is to blame? SNP or UK Government? Backhander to Nicola, Humza and Johnny?
This is shocking!