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..