The Scottish Government

An Independent Scotland

Friday, November 30, 2007

The White Paper says: For Scotland to achieve full independence, the UK Parliament must cease to have competence to legislate for Scotland and the UK Government must cease to have competence in respect of executive action in Scotland. Correspondingly, the Scottish Parliament and Scottish Government would assume the full range of competence, duties and responsibilities accorded to sovereign states under international law.

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• 611. PMK - Ayrshire

  Wednesday, May 21, 2008 22:58

  New independent financial analysis shows Scotland running a £4.4 to £6.2 Billion surplus were it independent. (Figures are based partially on an oil price c6 months out of date).

• 612. Neil Anderson - Glasgow

  Thursday, May 22, 2008 16:44

  In relation to all the postings illustrated above, I am opposed to Scotland becoming independent for the reason that I would rather see more powers devolved to Scotland.
  
  I’m proud to be Scottish as well as British and European. No one can deny the fact that we are Europeans as ways have been and always will be.
  
  However in reference to continuing the continuing the conversation I fully support the SNP in standing up for the rights of the Scottish people but I’m not convinced by the independence argument.
  
  Many nationalists argue that we will have freedom finally after being suppressed from the English. But they should stop thinking about the past and look to the future.
  
  In an increasing globalised world the autonomy and power of nation states are weakening all the time. An independent Scotland will not make a difference on an international level despite what nationalists say.
  
  However I must confess that I’m not fully opposed to independence cause but I believe that our great nation is not ready for independence.
  
  For instance in fifty years time when North Sea Oil will inevitably run out what will Scotland do if it is independent ? How will Scotland cope?
  
  In addition an independent Scotland is not going to improve or indeed tackle Scotland's shocking social and economic problems relating to crime, violence, unemployment, and poverty. In reality is an independent Scotland improve the disgraceful poverty rates that it's largest city experiences where over 41% of the population live below the poverty line.
  
  The answer is NO !!!
  
  Independence will merely magnify inequality within society where Edinburgh will be become more rich, powerful and wealthier as the capital city!!!
  
  Instead of arguing for independence we should focus on the real issues that have serious consequences for Scotland such as the issues outlined above as well as rapidly declining population where it is set to fall below the 5 million mark for the first time since the outbreak of world war two.
  
  Once we have dealt with these issues then maybe we can explore the independence debate once again in the future. Who Knows???
  

• 613. Thomas Porter - Scotland, Aberdeen

  Thursday, May 22, 2008 21:24

  613. Neil Anderson - Glasgow
  
  "An independent Scotland will not make a difference on an international level despite what nationalists say."
  
  I disagree here. As an Independent State we shall be able to say where our troops go.
  
  Instead of fighting an illegal war that has made us unpopular in the Muslim World we should put our troops into more Peacekeeping and other UN and NATO roles.
  
  Our image has been damaged because of Britain. When you here British Soldiers what do you think of? Iraq.
  
  As an Independent State we will create our own image and we will decide where our soldiers go.
  
  However, I agree with you that without the oil reserves Scotland would not cope Independent. (under current circumstances)
  
  But we have time to prepare. With oil predicted to reach $200 per barrel we need to act in our countries interest and seize our wealth before we loose it completely.
  
  An Independent Scotland would have reduced Corperate Tax by up to 50% creating every businesses dream - Low Taxed Regime.
  
  We would be boasting our current industries that are struggling heavily such as fishing and ship building.
  
  But we would also become more attractive for large businesses because their money is safe with us.
  
  Ireland has managed but Ireland did not have oil and this is where we have one huge advantage.
  
  But I will ask you shall we sit and continue as we are?
  
  Britain spends our money while we receive less back?
  
  Our Industries continue to suffer and for what?
  
  You live in Glasgow and if you know your history then you know well that your ship building industry is a huge importance and since its decline Glasgow has lost what was once great.
  
  How many gangs run Glasgow now?
  
  New opportunites need to be brought into the game that can create well paid jobs and give individuals another opportunity in life.
  
  Do you see that now? I don't but under an Independent Scotland I am confident that we as a country can be a success.
  
  And last but not least...
  
  You have no right to answer no to all that you have wrote that an Independent Scotland can not change.
  
  If you are right I would like to see evidence to back up your point.
  
  If you have no evidence to back your claims then that makes it your opinion.
  
  And your opinion does not speak for us all.
  
  ;-)
  
  

• 614. PMK - Ayrshire

  Friday, May 23, 2008 13:49

  From The Sunday TimesMay 18, 2008
  
  "A study by leading accountants shows 'black gold' would generate a £4 billion budget surplusJason Allardyce
  SOARING oil prices would give an independent Scotland a £4.4 billion budget surplus, making it one of Europe's richest countries, according to a new study.
  
  The surplus would allow Alex Salmond to maintain existing levels of public spending, while cutting corporation tax from 28% to 12.5%, reducing income tax by 5p in the pound and still having £2 billion every year to invest in a Norwegian-style oil fund to safeguard Scotland against a future decline in North Sea oil revenue.
  
  ...
  
  Maurice Fitzpatrick, an accountant with Grant Thornton, who has examined the economics of an independent Scotland for the past decade, said: “There is no doubt about it. The figures point to a very rosy picture.”
  
  He added that the report, commissioned by The Sunday Times, may have underestimated the Scottish surplus because the calculations assume that Scotland would receive 82.5% of North Sea oil revenues. Salmond, however, is demanding a 95% share, which would raise Scotland's budget surplus to an estimated £6.2 billion."

• 615. Dougie Dubh - Aberdeen

  Saturday, May 24, 2008 12:24

  A Note to David Cameron:
  
  You used your latest flying visit to Scotland yesterday to again misrepresent and attack the legitimate and essential aspiration of Scottish independence as ‘the ugly stain of separatism’.
  
  Despite our growing accustomed to such negative and poisonous language from the unionist camp, it scarcely befits a would-be-statesman – and one who seeks to govern us at that – to deploy the politics of hateful prejudice upon Scotland’s fresh, popular and empowering administration, or its compelling aspirations for our country’s democratic future.
  
  Mr Cameron, Scottish democracy is a matter for the Scottish people – which is in sharp and principled contrast to your own party’s inherently middle-English ethics, and your plans to impose them in all parts of this ‘United Kingdom’.
  
  Whatever the self-indulgent ‘feel-good factor’ resulting from your by-election victory over Labour, Scotland is enjoying her own ‘feel-good factor’ of considerably greater substance and significance.
  Adopting your own theme, the ugliest and most indelible political stain on the memory of the Scottish people is the one left by the callous and invidious legacy of Thatcherism - and your party’s trustworthiness and popularity will find itself justly continuing to struggle to attain a distant third place in any foreseeable Scottish election.
  
  You presume the right to govern Scotland ‘with respect’. That scenario requires two fundamental factors:
  
   Your effective demonstration of that notional ‘respect’.
  
   The mandate, or consent, of the Scottish people.
  
  On all available evidence, and by the manner and means of your Tory predecessors, you will certainly not be governing with either.
  

• 616. iain maclean - thurso

  Saturday, May 24, 2008 14:59

  thanks to the SNP for this forum to begin with. in the future this is where the true policies of scotland will be made.
  
  we cannot deny or soverinty. we gave birth to many of the worlds greatest ideas, inventions, thinkers, and warriors. our history is rich with a feeling of indivdualilty and patriotism. we are recognised and respected the world over as a people of our own.
  so why not a country of our own!!
  
  independence is the only way forward to be truly free to make our own decions on our future. north sea oil will subsidise the econemey for the first few years until new industrys are set up and begin to flourish. ( renewables nuclear dumping embryo research) and being free of th EU we can finaly ditch the dredded human rights act and sort out our communitys police prisons and schools.
  
  respect brought back to the authories
  safety brought back to the community
  disipline brought back to the schoolyard
  prosperity brought back to the economey
  punishment brought to the crinimals
  labour brought to the idle
  good honest values brought back to life.
  

• 617. david mccallum - taynuilt

  Sunday, May 25, 2008 21:40

  I cant understand why so many still seem to think that membership of this one sided union is still so important to us in Scotland. It looks increasingly worse for labour every week now as more evidence of incompetance emerges. Soon your precious union will once again be run by people who us scott's dont vote for and who do not give a dam for us. If we dont elect them but they rule us then that's what's commonly known as a dictatorship (in my understanding). I'd like someone to enlighten me as to how being dictated to by others is better than electing your own leaders. Why does freedom and democracy not seem to matter to so many of our own people? The uk govenment is spending billions of our money forceably imposing democracy abroad, some of our people are dying for this cause, surely it must be important?

• 618. david mccallum - taynuilt

  Sunday, May 25, 2008 21:58

  In answer to Neil Anderson's point about our population decline. Before the imposed act of union our poplulation was far higher than after (the clearances). there was problems in Scotland back then however such as the english blockade of our trade to name but one. You point out the disgraceful poverty levels in what was the empires second city and your right to. However even Wendy bringiton could not convincingly blame the snp for that. That would be labours legacy. (last time i checked they were still a unionist party) so in FIFTY odd years the main unionist party delivered did they then eh? How can we then hope that AFTER the economic boom that they will do anything for us. Maybe your feeling flush but im certainly not.

• 619. Craig Hunter - Glasgow

  Monday, May 26, 2008 10:21

  I believe so far the SNP have done a excellent job with governing Scotland. I would love to see an independant Scotland free to make her own decisions and not ruled by westminster.

• 620. Michelle - Dundee

  Tuesday, May 27, 2008 12:44

  I think a lot of people fear independence because we have been told for years and years that we are so heavily subsidised by England, that we wouldn't be able to manage on our own and that we are much better off financially under the status quo. This is rubbish. The Scottish people need to be shown the other side of the argument, like what our resourses are and what benefits could come about with independence. The public needs to be shown clearly what our country could be like in 20 years time under independence. With facts and figures to back it up. If the real fear of independence is the myth that we can't survuve then we need to dispell that myth.

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