- Blueprint for fairer, stronger, greener Scotland
published
Independence is essential to build a fairer, stronger, greener
Scotland, First Minister said as she launched the
Scottish Government’s independence economy prospectus.
The First Minister said the paper, Building a New Scotland: A
stronger economy with independence, sets out plans to make the
economy work for everyone and forge a different path to the
Brexit based UK economic model that, as outlined in the first
paper, is poorer and more unequal than comparable independent
countries.
It includes:
- re-joining the European Union (EU) to benefit from, and
contribute to, the vast European Single Market, helping to forge
a different path to the UK system
- a redesigned energy market that aims to provide secure and
reliable low cost energy
- retaining free movement of people, without a passport, across
the UK and Ireland, with trade borders implemented smoothly
- using the pound sterling, until the time is right to move to
a Scottish pound
- up to £20 billion in major infrastructure investment through
the Building a New Scotland Fund, including investment in more
energy-efficient homes, greener transport, better digital and
mobile connectivity, and more affordable housing
- using full powers over employment law to help improve pay and
working conditions for people across Scotland, including
introducing a minimum wage with a single rate for all age groups
and stronger access to flexible working
- a plan for better industrial relations through a social
partnership approach involving business and unions
- a migration policy tailored to Scotland’s needs and designed
to boost the working population
The paper outlines the new institutions that would be set up to
manage the Scottish economy, including an independent Scottish
Central Bank and a new Debt Management Office. Credible and
responsible fiscal rules on borrowing and other key measures will
be independently assessed by an enhanced Scottish Fiscal
Commission.
Speaking as the paper was published, First Minister said:
“The UK economy is fundamentally on the wrong path and there is
no real alternative on offer within the Westminster system.
“The establishment consensus on Brexit - despite the harm it is
causing - illustrates that.
“For Scotland, not being independent means we are being dragged
down the wrong path too: one people in Scotland did not vote for.
“To build a more stable, sustainable economy - with fairness and
human wellbeing at heart - independence is therefore essential.
“That is the fundamental point we make in this paper.
Independence is not an abstract argument separate from people’s
daily lives.
“It has at its heart the ambition - and crucially, it equips us
with the essential tools - to build a fairer, wealthier, greener,
happier country.”
Background
Building a New Scotland: A
stronger economy with independence
Building a New Scotland
series
This is the latest in a series of papers that will form a
prospectus to enable people to make an informed choice about
Scotland’s future before any referendum on independence takes
place.
The first paper in the
series was published on 14 June and presents evidence of the
stronger economic and social performance, relative to the UK, of
10 independent countries across Europe that are comparable to
Scotland.
Further papers in the Building a New Scotland series are to
follow in the coming months, including a paper that will detail
provisions around social security and pensions and a more
detailed paper on Scotland’s relationship with the EU.
