THE reaction to Jim Murphy's plan to fund extra nurses with Scotland's share of a mansion tax shows he has hit a nerve.

Boris Johnson said it was "mugging" the south east of England and even some Labour MPs have criticised it.

They think it is unfair that cash from a tax on the rich mostly concentrated in one part of the UK should be used to fund something essential, like nurses, in another part of the UK.

Have they forgotten about the pooling and sharing of resources argument that was ubiquitous in the referendum?

Are the blind to the fact that for 40 year oil revenues has mostly flowed from Scotland to be used for public spending across the UK.

It is ok and necessary for surplus electricity from Scotland to be used to keep the lights on the England.

And Mr Johnson has advocated taking surplus water from Scotland and the north to nourish the manicured lawns of the south east where they have to endure hosepipe bans.

The Tories were happy to impose the bedroom tax on Scotland even though it came about due to extortionately high rents in London and the south east, the same problem that led to the benefits cap. The cash going not into the pockets of benefit claimants but those of private landlords, some of who might live in a property liable the mansion tax.

If we leave the politicking of Mr Murphy's first election pledge aside we get to the truth of the matter.

He may well be starting a public spending auction with the SNP over who can promise the most nurses, teachers and college places and he might be making a show of standing up to the London elite with a swagger.

What the reaction shows is that Tories don't want to pay more tax to pay for improved public services.

That and they still think London and the rich subsidises the rest of the country instead of it being the other way round.

Everyone has to pay their fare share.

Remember the list of celebrities and public figures who urged Scotland to "stay with us"?

Many of them will qualify for a mansion tax if Labour wins in May. So let's see the m put their money where their mouth is.

People like Boris Johnson are trying to turn it into a Scotland v England issue for electoral purposes, when in fact it is rich v poor have s v have nots.

Instead of asking 'why should taxes raised from the rich in the south be used to fund nurses in Scotland? People all over England should be demanding it is also used to fund nurses there too.