The Scottish Government

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."

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.

;-)

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???

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).

Independence is th future of Scotland
Labour and Conservative created the demand for theyu were not listening to what people in the nation were and are saying
Scotland can afford Independence for the simple reason that currently vast sums are put into projects planned without public approval money which would be channelled into peoples priorities and opened to the people in Scotland to back.Unionists had every opportunity to prove their policies and did not.
When did Labour ever open na forum to the people of the nation ?

Reply to 554: John Tennant

Hello John - I note that you can see no benefit for Scotland in obtaining independence - just cost. Apparently being part of the UK is cost free then is it ?

Curious that you appear to be unaware of the vast oil revenue surplus paid by Scotland to the UK currently.

Does the UK have some unique accounting abilities that Scotland doesn't? Your argument only makes sense if you believe that your fellow Scots are truly incompetent financially - not fit to run a sweetie shop, never mind their own government.

Fine you are welcome to your opinion. Funny though, when Scots become part of the UK government, they are then apparently supremely capable of running the UK economy - messrs Brown and Darling etc? Does 'being British' suddenly boost their skills or confidence or something?

Thankfully an increasing number of Scots want full independence - perhaps a majority, judging by the latest opinion polls.

I can only surmise that they have a little more national self-belief and self-respect than you appear to have.

Arabest

An independent republic taking its place at the teable in Europe.

A nation built on the idea of a democratic civic society that repudiates any built on ethnicity. Culture being seen as something not exclusive abnd dynamic

We are alomost there.

Responsibility and possibilty!

607. Thomas Porter - Scotland, Aberdeen

Thomas I thank you for your comment. I'm sure an independant Scotland would stand up in the EU but what I want to know is, how effectively? How much power would be handed over to the EU or indeed taken back? Would an independant Scotland automatically become part of the EU? Would we use the Euro as our currency? I get really sick and tired of the EU imposing laws on Scotland / the UK when we should really be making our own laws. For instance, being forced to buy fruit and vegetables in kilos rather than pounds, my works vans having their speed reduced from 60mph to 56mph, forcing Royal Mail (the company I work for) to open up to competition from various companies from within the UK and from the rest of the EU but preventing Royal Mail from operating in other member states. I could go on and on! Some of the laws dictated to us I totally agree with but why not let us make our own laws?

606. James Gibson - Dreghorn, Irvine

An Independent Scotland can stand up for Scotland in The European Union.

;-)

I am all for independance for Scotland, BUT, I don't see the point of becoming independant from the UK only to become part of what is effectively the USE (United States Of Europe). I am sick to death of the infernal EU dictating to us how to live our lives and what laws we should make. As far as I'm concrened the sooner the EU ceases to be and lets each individual country rule themselves the better.