Vision: Scotland can be a fairer, greener, healthier, more prosperous and more peaceful country
WHY SCOTLAND MUST BECOME INDEPENDENT
- To control our own future: The only way to guarantee that the people of Scotland, and their Scottish Government, will make our own decisions on our future.
- To become a more democratic country: The only way to guarantee that Scotland gets the Government (and policies) it votes for. Much of UK policy acts AGAINST Scottish interests.
- To become a more international country: The only way to guarantee Scotland remains in Europe.
- To become a more peaceful country: The only way to rid Scotland of nuclear weapons (if we wish).
- To avoid the Tory ideological pursuit of austerity.
- The only way to give Scotland control over and benefit from public spending: no more excess UK spending on Trident, defence, foreign wars, London infrastructure (Crossrail, sewerage, Tube refurbishment, 3rd Heathrow runway), HS2, Olympics, House of Lords, UK Government agencies, extravagant foreign embassies etc.
- To invest in Scotland’s needs, to meet our unique country (e.g. Highlands and Islands)
- To make best use of our resources: food, fish, water, renewable energy, oil & gas, timber etc
- To become a fairer society: The only way to build our country in a way that benefits those living here.
- To become a healthier country: The only way to ensure our Health Service is public & adequately funded.
- To become a greener country: The best way to protect our country against fracking & climate change.
- To obtain a stronger financial system: The only way to avoid the UK’s National Debt bringing the whole financial system down – Scotland has only recently obtained limited borrowing powers, virtually all debt has been incurred by the UK Treasury.
- To obtain full control of taxation: current devolution only gives limited powers , with huge gaps – 1 of 5 major UK taxes will be partially devolved; 5 of around 20 minor taxes will be devolved.
Scotland is a country with an embarrassment of economic advantages that any small to medium-sized independent country would give their left arm for: just look at similar-sized populations to Scotland:
Norway owns half the oil in the North Sea, 30% of their GDP is reliant on oil. Norway established its own oil company, Statoil. They have an oil fund that Westminster refused for Scotland.
Denmark would love to have whisky – a national drink which exports £4 billion per annum – £125 per second, generating £1 billion in taxes. 38 bottles were shipped overseas each second. 99 million cases (12 70cl bottles at 40% vol) were exported worldwide. Laid end to end they would stretch about 30,000kms – or about six times the distance between Edinburgh and New York. More than 10,000 people are directly employed in the whisky industry and over 40,000 jobs across the UK are supported by the industry. There are 115 distilleries spread throughout Scotland – many in economically deprived areas. Scotch Whisky accounts for around a quarter of UK food and drink exports. Whisky is sold in around 200 markets worldwide. Scotch Whisky sells three times its nearest rival whisky. More whisky is sold in one month in France than Cognac in a year.
Belgium would love to have such a tourist attraction as the Edinburgh Festival and Fringe, the world’s largest arts festival attracting 500,000 visitors and adding £313million to Scotland’s economy, never mind the beauty of wild Scotland or golf tourism. We welcome 15 million tourists every year, generating £4.7 billion revenue.
Ireland would kill to have Scotland’s online gaming industry which has grown over 600 percent – Grand Theft Auto, the world’s best-selling game is made in Scotland and industry experts claim the gaming sector could grow to be worth more to Scottish economy than oil ever was. Latest figures show £67.6 million revenue p.a.
Sweden would like to match Scotland educationally. Scotland according to the ONS is the best educated country in Europe, we have 45% who have experienced university degrees and further education. Tuition is free to Scottish and EU students. In 2015, Scotland had 5 of the world’s top 200 higher education institutions – more per head of population than any other country in the world except Luxembourg.
Finland must be massively envious that Scotland possesses 25% of Europe’s tidal, 10% of Europe’s wave energy and 25% of Europe’s offshore wind resource potential – renewable energy that doesn’t pollute and won’t run out.
Scotland is rich in resources. With just 8.3% of the UK population, it has the following share of UK resources:
- 32% Land area 61% Sea area 90% Surface freshwater
- 96% North Sea oil and NGL production 60% North Sea natural gas production
- 85% Hydroelectric production 26% renewable wind, wave, solar production
- 60% Open cast coal production 53% Timber production
- 66% Seafish Landings 15% Cereal production
- 18% Beef herd 29% Sheep herd (breeding flock)
In reserves, we have…
- 24 billion barrels of recoverable oil and gas (worth over £1 trillion)
- Potential Clyde basin oil and gas
- 86% Coal reserves at sites not yet in production
- Gold – Beinn Chùirn in production. Towie gold field, found by Aberdeen University.
- £300 billion of fund assets under management
Scotland is rich in industry. We have a…
- £61.3 billion energy industry £26.9 billion retail sector
- £13.4 billion oil and gas industry £11.3 billion food and drink industry (incl fishing)
- £10.9 billion financial & business services industry £8.9 billion tourism industry
- £6.9 billion construction industry £6.5 billion creative industry
- £4.6 billion chemicals industry £3.2 billion spirits industry
- £3.2 billion electronics industry £2.1 billion life sciences industry
- £1.7 billion aerospace industry £1.4 billion shipbuilding industry
- £1.1 billion textile industry £1 billion forestry industry
There are very few countries in the WORLD that rival Scotland’s resources per head and in such rich diversity. We absolutely, unequivocally can be an EXTREMELY successful independent country!
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