Barnett Formula may be unfair, hints Labour MP

David Taylor MP (North West Leicestershire, Labour) makes a valid point:

The hon. Gentleman has just said that Scotland has suffered unnecessarily because of its association with the UK, and earlier in his speech he acted as John the Baptist for the messiah from Banff and Buchan. However, does he not recognise the effect of the Barnett formula on 5 million people in Scotland and on a similar number of people in the east midlands of England—similar demographically, geographically and in all sorts of ways? Public sector spend in Scotland is 20 per cent. or more greater than that of the east midlands. That should not be allowed to continue, and when the hon. Gentleman gets independence, he will have to cut the supply of southern taxpayers' money.

What David Taylor doesn't specify is whether he is in favour of cutting the supply of "southern taxpayers' money" irrespective of whether Scotland is independent. Are we to believe that the formula is a bribe?