Why can’t Scotland make all decisions over issues like energy and the economy?
Because Westminster holds power over the main economic levers that control those policies.
The effects that are clearly seen when the UK’s economy is compared to its neighbours in north west Europe – whether its wealth per head, the costs of production, investment or wages, the UK frequently languishes at the bottom of the table.
A situation that isn’t recent but has been happening for decades under both Tory and Labour Westminster governments.
And recent analysis has shown that Westminster’s economic strategy means British workers are missing out on over £10,000 a year, with UK living standards falling behind other G7 nations, as well as Australia and the Netherlands.
Is it any surprise there is a cost of living crisis and high inequality in the UK with the Westminster system. We’ve had the Brexit decision – imposed by Westminster politicians despite Scotland’s rejection – and all the economic fallout that has caused.
There has been austerity cuts imposed on Scotland despite the electorate opposing this policy. There’s the shambles of political instability of changing Tory Prime Ministers imposing policies that almost collapsed the economy. And we have Keir Starmer’s Labour party refusing to say they won’t can’t carry on with those Tory cuts.
Scottish electricity production is a particular case in point. With renewables Scotland has enormous energy wealth and resources.
Yet renewable producers in Scotland pay some of the highest transmission charges in Europe, whilst equivalent projects in England are subsidised. This cost gets passed on to bills which have been soaring. A policy imposed by Labour and carried on by the Tories.
With independence, economic and energy powers currently controlled by Westminster will be the responsibility of the Scottish Parliament and allow us to make the decisions that can grow our economy and lower energy bills.