Did you vote NO in the 2014 Scottish Referendum?

noWere you persuaded to vote NO because you were believed the Vow would be delivered? Even Gordon Brown doesn’t believe “the most powerful devolved parliament in the world” was delivered.

Were you persuaded to vote NO because you believed that Scotland would be thrown out of the European Union? Instead, the UK is dragging Scotland out of Europe against its will.

Were you persuaded to vote NO because you believed that the oil and gas was about to run out, or that the Scottish economy was too dependent on oil and gas revenue? In the event, it was the No campaign’s promises of oil “boom” that proved to be wrong.

Were you persuaded to vote NO because you believed that Scotland would suffer job losses? In the event, there have been massive job losses in oil and gas, HMRC, B&Q, Tesco Bank, Longannet, shipbuilding. Steel jobs were only saved by the intervention of the Scottish Government.

Were you persuaded to vote NO because you were worried about your state pension? Millions of us, particularly Women, have been hard hit with pension reforms since the Referendum.

Were you persuaded to vote NO because you believed that the UK economy was strong? It must have come as a shock to find that the “profligate” Labour Government, having seen off the 2008 financial crash but at the cost of a £960 billion National Debt, was followed by an “austerity” Tory Government who would nearly double the National Debt to £1,764 billion.

Were you persuaded to vote NO because you were led to believe that taxes would rise? No taxes have risen. New powers to increase income tax aren’t yet in effect . The 9-year freeze on council tax will end in 2017 – but it has been growing at 3% per annum in England and Wales for those 9 years.

Were you persuaded to vote NO because you believed that Scotland would lose on renewables?

– the promises of billions in renewable funding were slashed after the No vote.

Were you persuaded to vote NO because you were led to believe that we would lose the pound?

– after the No vote, it was admitted that the plan to use the pound was “totally feasible”.

Were you persuaded to vote NO because you thought independence was too risky?

– the risk now looks greater if we stay in the UK after Brexit.

Were you persuaded to vote NO because you believed that NHS Scotland would be under threat?

– NHS satisfaction levels have increased from 40% in 2005 (under Labour) to 90% in 2016.

Did you vote NO because you don’t like Police Scotland? Compare them to England & Wales.

 Did you vote NO but did you expect the government in Westminster to decide to spend over £200bn on a weapon which can never be used?

– This affects the ability of the UK to defend itself as there is not enough money left for conventional forces and the equipment they need. The British armed forces have already been run down to the lowest level for many years. Scotland has suffered the deepest military cuts.

– We risk an accident, or becoming a target, as a result of our nuclear weapons.

– An independent Scotland would not have nuclear weapons nor a worldwide military presence. As a small peaceful country we would have sufficient conventional forces for our own defence and to be able to help our friends and allies if they were attacked. We would have small patrol boats to defend our coasts and support our fishing fleet and a small Scottish-based air force.

– This would save money which could then be spent on other priorities.

– The Trident base could be used as a much needed naval base for the West coast. Moreover, without the MoD restrictions, we would be able to exploit oil reserves in the Fifth of Clyde which would be an easier and less dangerous process than exploring west of Shetland.

The Wee Black Book gives an update on what was promised, and what happened thereafter.

Perhaps it’s time to think again.

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