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Why Independence? |
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What do Australia, Canada, Ireland, New Zealand and the USA all have
in common? Aside from a shared language, six things at least spring
to mind:
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Firstly, all were once colonies that were
part of the British Empire, controlled from London;
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Second, all have become independent of the UK,
with four of them doing so in the last 100 years;
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Third, all have prospered, with trend economic
growth rates in excess of those of the UK. All
currently have a higher quality of life and standard of living
than the UK - yes, even Ireland, despite its recent recession;
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Fourth, all have maintained excellent
relationships with the UK and are among our closest allies;
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Fifth, Scotland, as a nation state, predates
all of them, having effectively taken its current
mainland border after the Battle of Carham in the early 11th
century (Orkney Islands, The Outer Hebrides and Shetland Islands
were annexed or acquired as marriage dowries centuries later).
At this stage England had not yet formed from states such as
Wessex, Northumbria and Mercia.
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Sixth, and perhaps most tellingly, none have
asked to come back under London control. Independence is not
only an honourable path, it is the normal state for
the good governance of any nation state.
The primary aim of the SNP is to take Scotland
forward to Independence. This is with a view to having the tools
with which to improve the lives of all those living here. Independence means the Scottish Parliament
having full control over Scottish affairs, and the right to decide
when to share power with others. Devolution is not enough for
Scotland.
Independence would give us the same rights and the same
responsibilities as other nations. It would
give us a voice on the world stage and a direct say in international bodies
like the UN and the EU. And Independence would bring greater freedom for
individuals, families and communities, within a society built on
common interests. |
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Independence is normal for nations of Scotland's size (see example on
Norway) and a prerequisite if Scotland is ever to reach her full
potential. In today's EU, over half the member states have
populations of less than 10 million and the evidence is that small
European countries, like Finland, Denmark and Ireland, are much more
successful than large ones like the UK. On all key social and
economic indicators, small countries in the EU are outperforming the
larger ones.
Seventy percent of the new EU member states have populations
smaller than or similar to Scotland's, and most of them already have
higher rates of economic growth. many of these nations (e.g.
Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania) only became independent within the past
few decades. However, they are now poised to take every
advantage of their position in the new European marketplace, while
Scotland is in real danger of being left behind.
This is something we cannot allow to happen. reversing
Scotland's economic decline is absolutely essential if we are to
build a better future for our country. It is not just about
facts and figures, its about the people it affects. Low
economic growth means low living standards and low wages -which is
why even on the UK government's own figures, one in three Scottish
children still grows up in poverty.
To Download a short paper on Why Scotland needs Independence and
how we will get it, click here
Your
questions on Independence are answered on the SNP's National
website, here
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