how scotland can thrive as an independent country HEN was the successive decades it’s been “We in Scotland are not the message and reevaluate who the world does – run its own first time you used to convince Scots that genetically programmed to make we are as a nation, and what we affairs, make its own decisions, heard that we’re not fit for self-governance. political decisions” will know. are capable of – and what more direct its own path. Scotland couldn’t Deployed in various forms at What a nonsense statement could be achieved will full After all, what is the make it as an various times, the message has – and how ridiculous the idea control over our future. alternative? To remain in a Windependent country? been absorbed by many Scots that Scotland is unique among Today The National sets out dis-United Kingdom where the It’s hard to remember a time – as anyone who witnessed all countries of the world in not why we’re Big Enough, Rich government is crumbling as before that message, that then-Labour leader Johann being able to go it alone. Enough, Smart Enough to do quickly as the parliament it is propaganda, and over Lamont declaring in 2014 that Which is why it’s time to reset what almost every other nation in supposed to lead. 2 WWW.THENATIONAL.SCOT / @SCOTNATIONAL WWW.THENATIONAL.SCOT / @SCOTNATIONAL 3 SCOTLAND SCOTLAND ... NATURAL IN NUMBERS AND BEYOND CAPITAL SCOTLAND is increasingly looking to the stars. Glasgow builds more satellites than any European competitor and 5.4m almost 20% of the UK’s space MORE than five million people sector jobs are based in live in Scotland – that’s more ENOUGH Scotland. than the populations of ! The number of space already independent states Is Scotland too SMALL to be companies headquartered Iceland, Jamaica, Malta, San here has grown by 25% since the Office for Marino and Ireland. an independent country? A NORMAL 2016, and, according to the UK National Statistics Department for International (ONS) found fish Trade, Scotland’s space sector capture in Scotland’s COUNTRY will be worth up to £4bn by waters increased by Of course not! Here’s why more than two thirds Scotland had a GDP of £178.6 billion 2030 as companies like Clyde Space, which specialises in from 2003-16 and OWERING hills, with “rising income inequality” and in 2018, placing us 20th in Europe. small devices, and data firm accounts for 70% of the huge skies, high “the erosion of hope”. Ecometrica continue to UK total, while timber rises, big And while the Scottish push the boundaries of what production – which is business and Government is doing what it can Scotland also has the 28th largest is possible. around 60% of the UK huge ambition with its powers – recently extended population in Europe, ahead of total – almost doubled – Scotland is after a sair fecht – Westminster Norway, Ireland and Croatia. between 1997 and 2017. home to all of retains the key controls that could these and more. allow us to increase our population The geography and boost our economy. Scotland and demography are undeniable – Gaining the gift to decide who RENEWABLE ENERGY Scotland has a smaller land mass lives and works in Scotland could 1345 AS many as 17,700 people work Tand lower population than its help bring new blood to rural SCOTLAND has stunning in the green power sector, which scenery, attracting hundreds nearest neighbour. communities, close skills gaps and Norway DID YOU of thousands of visitors to the At around 80,000 sq km to help staff key sectors like agriculture turned over a total of £5.5bn in Highlands each year – the England’s total of more than and social care. 2017. largest mountain in the British 130,000, and at 5.4 million people But London leaders won’t allow Our renewables expertise KNOW Isles, Ben Nevis, stands at to the almost 57m living in England, the Scottish Parliament the chance is now at work in more than it’s not hard to see why the “too to make that choice. And the Tory Ireland 70 countries as firms enter into The coastline ? 1345m above sea level. wee” myth has persisted. Government’s policy to slash projects in places including of Argyll & Bute But, in terms of governance, immigration – a policy which does Burundi, Canada, Mozambique constitution and the economy, not serve Scotland – will be rolled and Taiwan, according to is longer than the maths doesn’t add up – and out here, regardless of the predicted Croatia industry body Scottish the coastline Scotland’s size relative to that of harm. Renewables. England is one of the key reasons Unless, of course, we do what so of France! 90% why it should be independent. many other modern nations have RIVERS, lochs, canals and What the population imbalance done and embrace independence. ponds in Scotland contain does add up to is a democratic That’s what Singapore has done, 90% of the UK’s freshwater. deficit that denies Scotland a say on and Ireland, and Malta – three very the most basic of matters at a UK different countries with populations level. around the same size or smaller than some small success stories Take Brexit, one of the most Scotland, and all of which were once outrageous examples of this deficit ruled by London. in action. With thriving industries, diverse Voters in every single one of the populations and strong national Iceland: country’s 32 local authority areas identities, no-one could look at these delivered a Remain majority, with states – all major tourism draws – HOME to one of the world’s oldest surviving more than 60% of people declaring and say they’d be better British. parliaments, Iceland has a population of fewer than their wish to remain within the If they can do it, why 359,000 – that’s around the same as North European Union’s family of nations. not Scotland? Lanarkshire. But now the country is being Trying telling them they’re too small and see dragged from the EU against its will where it gets you. The country gained its as a result of a strong Leave vote in independence from Denmark in 1944 and returned England and Wales, which delivered its – and the world’s – first directly elected female an overall 52% Leave majority for president in 1980. the UK as a whole. Famed for its unique geography, it counts tourism 170Scotland is proud to be home That referendum was called by as a major part of its economy, with seafood and David Cameron, the leader of a DID YOU aluminium also among the top sectors. to a diverse population. More than 170 languages are government Scotland did not choose spoken across the country, and did not want. including Gaelic, Scots, In fact, Scotland has not voted for a Tory government for more than KNOW British Sign Language and many more. half a century. And that democratic deficit has Scotland hasn’t Singapore: cost lives. In a 2017 report, NHS Health Scotland said Thatcher’s ? THIS south-east Asian city-state is a global financial social and economic policies in voted for a Tory hub that is home to 5.6 million people. 14.3m the 1980s are responsible for the The former British colony, which became Plenty people travel to and premature deaths of hundreds of govt for more than independent in 1965, is a confident “tiger” economy from Scotland every year. working-class Scottish men. which promotes entrepreneurship and is ranked the In 2018, our busiest airport The report said drug-related half a century! best for human capital development in the World – Edinburgh – served deaths in recent years are linked to Bank Human Capital Index. 14.3 million customers and long-term substance use by males Leaders there invest heavily in education to 157 destinations. from working-class populations who, keep the economy competitive. due to London’s decisions, were left 4 WWW.THENATIONAL.SCOT / @SCOTNATIONAL WWW.THENATIONAL.SCOT / @SCOTNATIONAL 5 Forget Avengers or Is Scotland too POOR to be SCOTLAND Avatar – Grand Theft WEALTHY Auto is the biggest an independent country? IN NUMBERS selling entertainment NATION Of course not! Here’s why Norway’s oil fund is worth product in history. more than one TRILLION Rockstar North, the ICH in natural and kept from the public for dollars … meanwhile, the resources and 30 years – told how the discovery UK has refused to keep team behind the human capital, of North Sea oil had “completely any revenue for future generations. But there are 1.5bn Scotland is the overturned the traditional economic franchise, are based still 11.9 billion barrels of Scotland’s natural water birthplace of the arguments used against Scottish oil left in the North Sea – resource has a huge value. As in Edinburgh. industrial nationalism” and predicted that an and new fields are being of 2014, lochs alone were revolution and a independent Scotland would amass discovered all the time. estimated to contribute hotbed of “embarrassing” wealth from oil. between around £1.4bn and entrepreneurship which has That was in 1974, this is 2019, and £1.5bn a year to our economy. contributed massive amounts of while an estimated 11.9bn barrels Skyscanner was founded in Edinburgh – and R the flight-checking website was sold for wealth to the UK economy – just remain untapped, Scotland is leading £1.4 BILLION three years ago. DID YOU ask the oil and gas sector. the way in the UK renewables sector. Of course, the North Sea’s Aside from fuel, Scotland’s FESTIVALS... fortunes have ebbed and flowed in international exports rose to £32.4bn Film and TV production contributes £100 million to KNOW THINK the World Cup draws a crowd? Edinburgh’s festivals recent years as the price of crude in 2017, recording the highest annual Scotland’s economy – and that is set to rocket in the Scotland was the are bigger, according to official figures. wavered. But even when the growth rate since 2011. coming years. ? More than 4.5 million people attended the capital’s bill-per-barrel dropped, our oil- Meanwhile, exports to the rest only country of the cultural festivals in 2015, taking in world-class and rich neighbour Norway of the UK brought in another UK with a surplus in cutting-edge performances by poets, playwrights, and generated more than £48.9bn that year thanks to More than 4.5 million people attend Edinburgh’s cultural festivals – from all over the world. traded goods in 2017 puppeteers. Comedy, contemporary dance, classical £29 thousand demand for the service music – it’s all on offer every year, right here in Scotland, million in and financial sectors. and audiences travel from around the globe to be a part of revenues during Far from resting it. The city’s festivals include not only summer events, but a period when on oil and gas, also its renowned Hogmanay celebrations. the UK lost DID YOU Scotland has a These events not only educate and entertain locals and £23m. diverse economy visitors alike, but they also showcase Scotland as a So, KNOW with particular RICHEST MAN destination and cultural powerhouse. what’s the ? strengths in Scotland, which has 4.7bn TOP OF difference? manufacturing Scotch whisky is beloved Policy. As 8.4% of the UK’S and food and around the world, which is why IN THE WORLD well as taxing population, has at drink – you its export value grew by 7.8% multinationals won’t see DUNFERMLINE-BORN industrialist Andrew last year to reach £4.7bn. THE GAME least 34% of its total like Shell natural wealth anti-independence Carnegie’s name has become a byword for FROM Lemmings to Grand ...& FILMS at the same voices repeat that. wealth, business and philanthropy. Theft Auto, and Minecraft to FILM and TV production spending hit almost £100 million time the UK was Without full control At the peak of his wealth, the steel tycoon Red Dead Redemption, in 2017. The country has played its part in everything giving them rebates, over our finances, had a fortune equivalent to more than twice Scotland is a major player in from superhero blockbusters to Norway benefited from Scotland can’t take full benefit that of Bill Gates. 6.3bn the video games sector. historical dramas – Avengers: its oil fund, the world’s largest from its economic activity, and Carnegie and wife Louise Whitfield Thanks to our world-class Dundee is the unofficial Infinity War was partly made here, as sovereign wealth fund. our taxes are used to fund things endeavoured to give away what he had salmon, beef and whisky, capital of UK gaming, thanks was TV thriller The Cry and Sky The £829 billion pot was we don’t want or can’t use. Like made, establishing a network of more than and the promotion of Scotland to the EU-leading training Atlantic series Patrick Melrose. established by the government to replacing Trident, a nuclear weapons 2500 libraries as well as colleges and The Brand, Scottish food and available at Abertay Time-travel show Outlander, protect and grow the wealth created system based just outside our non-profit organisations. drink exports were worth a University, and is home to Netflix production Outlaw King and by its oil and gas sector for future most populous city, and England’s His interest in public libraries was based on a record £6.3bn to our economy companies including Outplay Saoirse Ronan movie Mary Queen Of generations. forthcoming high-speed railway, belief in access to education. Carnegie had in 2018. Entertainment, the largest Scots also took advantage of the Despite repeated calls, no such which will not reach our border. missed out on schooling, but borrowed books independent mobile country’s rich scenery and strong action has been taken by the UK, According to the Office for from a retired merchant called Colonel developer in these islands. infrastructure. Where once stories where the IPPR thinktank says National Statistics, Scotland’s Anderson and learned that way. More than 1500 staff set in Scotland were shot in Ireland the industry contributed £166bn natural resources – including wind, The Carnegie Trust for the are working across or other places, Screen Scotland, a in taxes in the 1980s alone. And if water, timber, oil and gas – are worth Universities of Scotland 80 companies, and in 2018 dedicated arm of Creative Scotland, Westminster had set up a Norway- £273bn. The figure was worked out continues to make grants to they contributed £194 million is working to reverse that trend and style fund back then, Scotland would for 2015, when oil prices were way students and academics, and to the UK’s gross domestic even win shoots from international have at least £100bn in the bank down. Now they’re back up again. the Carnegie Dunfermline product, according to rivals. Dumfries recently stood in by now – that’s according to Jim But it means Scotland, which Trust makes awards to social, industry body TIGA. for Connecticut for Glenn Close Cuthbert, a former chief statistician has 8.4% of the UK’s population, sport, community and leisure And Grand Theft Auto V, movie The Wife, while Glasgow to the Scottish Office. has at least 34% of its total natural projects in that area. the latest in a series acted as New York for the filming Writing in The National in March, wealth. Meanwhile, our citizens and Meanwhile, the Carnegie originated by the team at of Patrick Melrose, starring the economist, who also worked for institutions are driving development UK Trust works to Edinburgh-based Rockstar Benedict Cumberbatch. It’s the Treasury, said the cash has been in science and industry. influence public policy North, has made more hoped that the action will be “effectively misappropriated”. And that adds up to something – to improve life and money than any film, book or worth £160m by 2022. And the 1974 McCrone Report we’re rich enough to run our own work. 2.27bn gaming title ever released. – written for the UK Government affairs. Scotland’s historic, cultural and natural offerings attract more than three million visitors to the country in 2017, who in turn spent £2.276 345,915 Scotland is full of innovative and successful businesses … as of March 2019, there were 345,915 private sector firms operating in the country. ENOUGH! 6 WWW.THENATIONAL.SCOT / @SCOTNATIONAL WWW.THENATIONAL.SCOT / @SCOTNATIONAL 7 SCOTLAND IN NUMBERS 235,000 Scotland has more than 235,000 students at its universities, and 50% of the degrees achieved are in science subjects – compared Is Scotland too STUPID to be to 43% for the UK as a whole. ENOUGH! here’s to our good health an independent country? CALVIN DID YOU HOW are you feeling? We’d all be worse-off Of course not! Here’s why HARRIS KNOW without a score of medical innovations from MUSIC beats shelf-stacking for Medical ultrasound? Scots physicians. 359 patents were given out to Penicillin was an unarguable game on extreme poverty and human superstar DJ Calvin was first used in inventors with a Scottish post changer, but it’s just one of many valuable COTTISH rights said the UK’s welfare safety Harris. The producer, singer code in 2018, working out to health advances to come from Scotland and innovation has net has been “deliberately removed” and songwriter was this year Glasgow hospitals one invention per 15,036 its institutions. saved lives and by Westminster, with ideology to named one of the UK’s wealthiest in the 1950s Scots – we have a reputation Did you know Scots were responsible for made lives – take blame for rising inequality in Britain. musical talents in the Sunday Times for innovation, having been the introduction of medical anaesthesia and penicillin, cloning Philip Alston also hailed Rich List. According to the list, the responsible for television, the insulin as a treatment for diabetes? and medical Scotland’s “ambitious” and former supermarket worker, from telephone, penicillin and the Medical ultrasound was first used in ultrasound, for “promising” attempts to end poverty Dumfries is worth £165 million, THANKS FOR fridge, to name a few. Glasgow hospitals in the 1950s after work instance. and put fairness at the heart of social thanks to collaborations with in the city’s shipyards sparked the idea, and Each of these security. Rihanna, Dua Lipa and the city also gave its name to the Glasgow world-changing developments is But he warned devolved Pharrell Williams, as thanks to the creativity, know-how well as a Las Vegas WATCHING Coma Scale. The work of Edinburgh administrations have reached ROSLIN University professor Patrick Forrest and investment of people and the limit of what they can do residency and THERE’D be no binge-watching without the 73,600 institutions in this country. other commercial Scots. HBO’s must-see epic Game Of Thrones contributed to the s when the main controls remain As of 2015, Scotland’s creative 1988 introduction And that’s just for starters. in London, adding: “For devolved contracts. spanned 73 episodes over eight series, and industries employed 73,600 of UK-wide breast The ingenuity of engineer administrations to have to spend there was plenty of Scottish talent in the mix INSTITUTE James Watt put the power into resources to shield people from – Rory McCann as The Hound, Daniel Portman people – as a sector, artistic cancer screening. WHEN counting sheep, there’s the industrial revolution. The Government policies is a powerful as Podrick Payne, Rose Leslie as Ygritte, and cultural enterprises The ban on really only one that matters. environmentalism of John Muir grew indictment.” Kate Dickie as Lysa Arryn – but none of them contribute about £4.6bn to the smoking in public Dolly set a new baa-r for science into the first world’s first national And this is the crucial point – for would’ve been within touching distance of a economy. places was a when she was cloned at an major public park. Mary Somerville’s scientific all our country’s promise, for all the White Walker without John Logie Baird. brilliance led to the discovery of LEARN FROM US The Helensburgh-born engineer staged the Edinburgh University department by curiosity that drives new thinking health measure, Professor Sir Ian Wilmut and his team. Neptune. and all the determination to make WHAT do we know about anything? world’s first screening party in 1926 when as was the Born to a surrogate mother in July Television, cash machines, family the lives of its people better, without he gathered 50 scientists into a London loft introduction According to the stats on education, a 1996, Dolly was created from an adult planning clinics, bicycles, fridges, full independence, it is hamstrung. and demonstrated television for the first of a minimum cell, something that had been thought tarmac, radar – all of these are the Scotland cannot eradicate the hell of a lot. As of 2016, almost 50% of time. Just two years earlier he’d worked out unit price of impossible. products of Scottish ingenuity. two-child benefits cap or rape clause how to send the signal over a few feet, and alcohol. those aged 25 and over had vocational, Named after Dolly Parton due to Even now specialists are working – despite widespread support for in 1927 he transmitted over a distance And thanks to being cloned from a mammary cell, on medicines to cure killer diseases doing so – because it does not have college or university qualifications. of almost 440 miles between decisions made Dolly’s existence was announced to and ways to cut pollution. the power. According to European Commission London and Glasgow. His Baird at Holyrood, free the world’s media in 1997 and the That’s thanks in part to our higher Scotland cannot scrap the hated Television Development Company personal care is data agency Eurostat, that rate is 17% news put a fresh focus on Scottish education sector, which includes Universal Credit – despite evidence achieved the first transatlantic now available to science. some of the best universities in the that this is increasing hardship – higher than the UK average. transmission one year later. both over and Euthanised in 2003 after world and attracts tens of thousands because it does not have the power. You’re welcome, viewers. under 65s who developing lung tumours associated of international students every year Scotland cannot axe Trident and need it. with a cancer-causing virus – as well as similar number from put that money into communities – detected three years earlier, her body elsewhere in Europe and other parts despite strong opposition to the sub MARY is now on display at the National of the UK. system – because it does not have the Museum of Scotland in Edinburgh. But Scottish innovation isn’t just power. We’re already making strides about new discoveries and excellent BARBOUR But the institute that created her 30mIn 2018, Scotland’s visitor on land ownership, digital skills CLIMATE LEADERS is still working on animal genetics, education, it’s also about finding and early years with the tools we attractions – including RENT strike leader, ageing and immunology, among other SCOTTISH innovators are creating new new ways to improve lives. have. Just imagine what we could do museums, galleries, gardens, peace crusader, areas. Just this month, it announced ways to battle climate change and curb The UN has praised Scotland’s together if we were able to use every monuments and distilleries – councillor and new research that could help pollution. poverty-fighting partnership with tool in the box. attracted 30m visitors. Some Quickblock has Malawi, and Glasgow’s success in justice of the peace, control the spread of bird flu, of the most popular locations We’re definitely smart enough to Kilbarchan-born potentially paving the way to developed a combating violent crime is garnering do great things. included the historic Culloden building system using global interest, with international Barbour changed using gene-editing to produce Battlefield Visitor Centre, the 30 drinks bottles to create teams seeking to learn its lessons. lives and made disease-resistant chicks. National Museum of Scotland 100% recycled plastic Renewable energy companies history. Thanks and Glasgow Cathedral. blocks for speedy working here have sold their to her strident construction in disaster goods and services to more than community activism areas, flood zones and 70 nations, and our legislative targets and commitment to conflict regions. on cutting climate change are the DID YOU social justice, working- Cuantec is using waste toughest anywhere. class people across the from the shellfish sector Scotland is also the first country KNOW UK gained legal protection to make a sustainable and to provide free sanitary products in from exploitation by Scotland has the? landlords. She also chaired biodegradable alternative schools, colleges and universities to 175Scotland is home to the to clingfilm. combat period poverty and the only the organisation behind 29th best university world’s first-ever floating wind And Edinburgh’s Nova part of the UK with statutory child Scotland’s first family farm. The turbines stand at Innovation is a driving poverty reduction targets. in the world ... and planning clinic and pushed 175 metres – nearly as tall as force in tidal energy In a damning report published last four in the top 200 for health and welfare the Queensferry Crossing. generation. month, the UN’s special rapporteur improvements for ordinary people. Thanks for listening today. Here’s why The National is a newspaper like no other out across Scotland, from Dumfries This is just the first of our series of to Kirkwall, to talk directly to new monthly supplements we will be readers. Over the course of more producing. In time, we want to look than 50 events, I’ve met with more at all aspects of Scottish life, culture than 3000 readers face-to-face, and the economy and consider how by callum baird listened to their feedback and they might be affected by voting national editor brought their ideas back to the Yes. newsroom. We won’t shy away from difficult HELLO! We hoped you enjoyed your We publish long essays on questions or talking about the conversation about independence overlooked aspects of Scottish challenges of becoming a new today. culture. We’ve got in-depth coverage country – but we will be clear about Perhaps you’ve never read The of trad music and shinty. We’re the the long-term benefits of decisions National before. Perhaps you’ve only newspaper to have regular which affect the people in Scotland never even heard of us. columns in Scots and Gaelic. Our being taken in Holyrood and not Perhaps whoever gave you this weekly history column every Westminster. paper today has been badgering Monday tells the stories of Scotland It looks like we’re about to be led you to try a copy for years. Sorry they didn’t teach you at school – by Prime Minister Boris Johnson – about that! stories of kings, queens and elected by roughly 0.2% of the UK But for all those of you who don’t pretenders, ancient mysteries and population. Johnson has said that a know, The National is a newspaper gruesome murders, of great pound spent in Croyden is better which believes in Scotland – in its explorers, inventors and scientists. than a pound spent in Strathclyde. potential, its people, its economy, its We’ve got popular podcasts and He said a Scot could never be a culture and its place in the world. videos – and our line-up of Prime Minister of the UK because of We’ve got a positive message to columnists includes many of the our “political disability”. When he tell – and that’s why we’re one of the best writers of modern Scotland. was editor of The Spectator, he only newspapers in the whole of the But we want to hear from you too published a poem which said the UK whose newspaper sales are – are you convinced by the case for Scots were a “verminous race” increasing. We’ve also got more independence? If not, why not? which should be exterminated. than 6000 digital subscribers – Email us at [email protected] We don’t know when the next around 10-15 new people sign up to join “The National Conversation” referendum will happen – but it will every day to read our stories – and and be part of the best-informed and probably be a choice between more than 800,000 people visit our liveliest letters section in Scotland. independence and Boris’s Brexit website (www.thenational.scot) We’re not a newspaper just for Britain. We’re ready for the every month. Yes voters – but we are a campaign. We’ll be a newspaper We’re bucking the trend because newspaper for those willing to which reports it honestly and fairly we’re not a newspaper like any engage honestly about the positive – but with the faith that Scotland is other. case for independence. We’re a quite capable of taking its place in We hold regular roadshows in newspaper, in short, that is proud to the world as a successful which we take popular columnists cover the REAL Scotland. independent country.