The case for independence is more essential than ever as the recovery from the pandemic shows independent countries taking decisive action to protect jobs and their economies, while the UK continues to lag far behind European neighbours in a range of socioeconomic league tables.
Commenting, Fiona Hyslop MSP (pictured) said:
“Scotland has a fundamentally strong economy, underpinned by healthy and diverse sectors.
“However, the country is being held back by a Westminster system that treats Scotland as an afterthought at best, and which is actively undermining our economy on a range of fronts.
“The pandemic has shown that countries around the world have had to adapt swiftly to the economic impact of the covid crisis.
“Old assumptions have been swept aside, as independent nations large and small have been able to take the interventions needed to protect jobs and their economies – steps not currently available to Scotland, which instead has seen a Tory UK Government withdraw support.
“At the same time, analysis shows that the UK lags at or near the bottom of a whole raft of socioeconomic league tables, comparing issues like pension provision, productivity and social equality.
“Meanwhile, Westminster is actively harming Scotland’s economy through policies like Brexit and the massive hit to our food and drink sector, where EU sales plummeted by around half in the first three months of 2021 to a 10-year low, while earlier this month it was revealed that Brexit is costing the whisky industry £5 million per week.
“And when it comes to our massive renewable energy potential, Westminster is imposing punitive transmission charges which unfairly penalise producers in Scotland.”
Ms Hyslop added:
“Opponents of independence will, as ever, try to exploit today’s GERS figures to support their arguments – the reality is very different.
“Whatever today’s figures show, GERS does not represent the finances of an independent Scotland – it shows the situation now under Westminster control.
“And, as we seek to recover from the economic crisis of the pandemic, it is more essential than ever that have independence to maximise our potential and to create a more prosperous and fairer society.”
