1 Scotland would officially be one of the worlds richest countries - ranked 6th in the OECD compared to the UKs 16th place. We have 24billion barrels of oil remaining in the North Sea, according to industry body Oil and Gas UK. Thats £1.5trillion in todays prices - half as much in value as has been taken out. 2 We also have around 25 per cent of Europes potential offshore wind and tidal energy - and a tenth of Europes wave power. An extra 45 per cent of renewable energy was generated in Scotland last year, according to the UK Department of Energy. Its more than we need and can be exported for cash. 3 Other countries want to invest here. The recent Ernst & Young UK Attractiveness Survey highlighted Scotlands leading position in the UK for job creation from international investment. With independence, we can make the country even more attractive to these employers. 4 Independence will allow us to keep services such as the NHS and the welfare state. In England they are being privatised and cut. Benefits are being taken from the needy and the Scottish Parliament cant stop that under present powers. 5 Scotland has five of the top 200 universities in the world. We also punch well above our weight in the number of research papers they produce. It means our historic reputation as a well educated nation is flourishing. We give our universities one of the best packages of support in Europe, with no fees for students from Scotland. With independence we can do even more. 6 Well have more money in our pockets. If we got back what we sent south in tax, official figures show every Scot would have £510 more a year. The only tax the Scottish Government controls just now is council tax, and its frozen under the SNP. Imagine if we controlled fuel duty, national insurance, VAT and income tax. 7 Our government would be more streamlined. Scotland, like Denmark, New Zealand, Norway and Finland, is a goldilocks country - not too big and not too small. The UK wastes money on bloated institutions bogged down by bureaucracy - look at HMRC, the tax authority. Its gone from one calamity to another. The rich get away with evasion while the rest are overcharged. 8 Mobiles would work and wed all get high-speed broadband. Telecommunications are controlled in London. Westminster auctions licences to phone companies but only demands 90 per cent coverage of the UK. This means notspots in much of Scotland. Broadband is patchy too, and it doesnt help that Scotlands capital budget has been cut by a third by the Tories. 9 Our culture would get a boost. Wed have control over broadcasting and more high-quality programmes could be made here. Our news would no longer look hand-knitted compared with well funded UK offerings. We could export high-quality drama and our young bands would have a platform on the radio. 10 Imagine the goodwill. Scotland is held in high regard around the world - by those who know us. But being buried in brand Britain means sometimes we dont get to shine as we should. Independence would generate global interest. We would be the new kid on the block - young, modern, and happening.
Posted on: Tue, 18 Mar 2014 22:08:38 +0000
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