THE MESSAGE FOR THE PRIVILEGED FROM THE VERY PRIVILEGED OF ETON

David Cameron has called upon Scots to stay in UK while warning that there is still difficult work ahead when it comes to repairing the economy.

He says cutting immigration, cutting the welfare bill, protecting the economy and raising school standards are also priorities in 2014.

The Eton toff prime minister said 2014 was an historic year because of the vote on Scottish independence, which could "change our country forever".

"Our family of nations is at its best when we work together with shared interest and common purpose," he said. "This year, let the message go out from England, Wales and Northern Ireland to everyone in Scotland … we want you to stay – and together we can build an even stronger United Kingdom for our children and grandchildren."

What tosh. What utter complete tosh!

We have a very limited number of shared interests. And the problems which England faces, are not necessarily the same problems faced by the Celtic nations in the union.

I don’t think anyone would deny that immigration is a problem in parts of England. And with Ukip snipping at his ankles Cameron must be seen to be tough on foreigners and tough on the causes of foreigners, hence the rushed legislation regarding the Bulgarians and Romanians who gain full EU rights today. But not explaining Lynton Crosby or the governor of the Bank of England! Australian and Canadian in turn.

Scotland, on the other hand, has a very different problem. Years of failing to educate people for the jobs market of the 21^st century together with an aging population, has left us with an acute shortage of young people with relevant skills. Both Labour and SNP governments in Edinburgh had been dealing with this by encouraging people to settle in Scotland after university for a period of at least two years, so that Scotland could get the benefit of the skills they had developed and to help to redress the imbalance of young and old. It is a system similar to that run by the Republic of Ireland.

Teresa May, however, cared not much for our problems and banned the scheme, although there should have been no need for it to happen. The beneficiaries all had work visas that were valid only north of the border and National Insurance numbers that were only valid in Scotland. But then, as the Home Office itself was employing illegal immigrants as cleaners we wouldn't expect Tessy to be up to speed with that kind of thing.

More welfare cuts are on the agenda. Well, Osborne said that we couldn't afford a welfare state, didn't he? But what the hell they are going to cut without killing off even more of our sick, old and weak, I can't imagine.  

Of course I agree with his desire to raise school standards, but as that is something over which he has responsibility in England alone, his plans there are (thankfully) nothing to do with us.

Cameron emphasised the coalition's determination to stick to austerity and continue "vital work on the deficit".

"It's a New Year – and for Britain there can only be one New Year’s resolution – to stick to the long-term plan that is turning our country around," he said. "When we came to office, our economy was on its knees. Three and a half years later, we are turning a corner." 

I wish I knew which corner it was!

"The plan is working. That's why this year, 2014, we are not just going to stick to the plan – we are going to redouble our efforts to deliver every part of it, to benefit the whole country and secure a better future for everyone."

I can’t help but wonder just how much benefit is being felt by the millions of people who are struggling to pay ever increasing rents, electricity, gas and food bills, or now living on the streets because of the Bedroom Tax, or queuing at food banks after work to feed their kids, and just how much better a future he thinks they are looking forward to.

Highlighting the progress made in 2013 as the country returned to growth, he said there remains "difficult work" ahead to protect the economy for the long term and keep mortgage rates low.

Cameron also hinted there would be more help for “hard working families up and down the country who play by the rules” by cutting income taxes and freezing fuel duty".

Oh these hard working families up and down the country...what would politicians do without them?

In the meantime, of course, I'm always delighted to hear Mr Cameron telling us Scots what to do. We need an Eton and Oxford man to do that for us. Heaven only knows what we should do without him.