A WEEK of evidence has proven independence would deliver the best deal for Scotland, according to Finance Secretary Shona Robison.
The Cabinet Secretary said that taking financial and economic powers into Scotland’s hands was necessary for the nation to meet its potential.
Robison cited “a week littered by evidence of Westminster failure”.
The SNP cited three examples of the [[Westminster]] status quo not working, saying: “The cross-party Scottish Affairs Committee report recognising that Scotland’s finances remain largely dictated by the UK Government’s spending decisions, irrespective of the impact on Scottish public services.
“The committee also noted that current restrictions on capital borrowing constrain the Scottish Government’s ability to manage fiscal shocks.
“Labour Chancellor Rachel Reeves was described as ‘channelling Margaret Thatcher’ and doubled down on her fiscal rules which are choking off investment.
“Inflation jumped to 3.6%, with an increase in food prices a main driver as the UK Labour Government continues to fail families struggling with the cost of living.”
Robison made the case that independence could best deliver for Scotland on the back of this evidence.
She said: “Scotland is one of the wealthiest parts of the UK, with the highest GDP per capita of any of the UK’s nations or regions, other than London and the South East.
“But under the Westminster status quo, our ability to use that wealth for the benefit of communities here is seriously undermined and too many people are struggling to make ends meet.
“With even a Westminster committee now recognising that the current economic arrangements don’t work for Scotland, it could not be clearer that we need a new approach.
“But the UK Labour Government has absolutely no solutions to fix it – instead, last week we got a Labour Chancellor being described as channelling Margaret Thatcher. They are doubling down on the same economic agenda that has failed Scotland for decades.
“The reality is that Britain is fundamentally broken. Scotland was promised change by Labour – instead we have been given the same tired economic policies, and efforts to balance the books on the backs of the most vulnerable.
“We have learned that you cannot trust a word Labour say before an election – and that if Scotland is to create an economy that works for everyone, the only way we can do so is as an independent country.
“By taking economic powers into our own hands, we can tailor policy to Scotland’s needs and ensure our vast wealth delivers tangible benefits for people – including lower energy bills and support with the cost of living.
“A nation as rich as Scotland should not be forced to rely on scraps from the UK Government’s table.
“Independence would deliver the best deal for Scotland – providing control over all public spending decisions, as well as the full fiscal powers necessary to unlock Scotland’s great economic potential.”
