INDEPENDENCE has been identified as the “only way to unlock Scotland’s economic potential” as new figures reveal the UK is the poorest state in north-west Europe.
Research from the House of Commons Library shows that compared with its Europeans neighbours, the UK has had the lowest wealth per head for every year of the 21st century.
It means the UK is behind all 13 neighbouring nations, including Ireland, Norway, Sweden, Finland, Denmark, Belgium, the Netherlands, Iceland, Switzerland, Luxembourg, Austria, France and Germany.
The analysis, using data from the International Monetary Fund (IMF), shows the UK is £5062 poorer per person than the average of all countries in north-west Europe, and £15,739 less wealthy than those independent countries with a population similar or smaller than Scotland.
The data also reveals that the wealth gap between the UK and our European neighbours has grown worse over the past two decades.
The percentage deficit with the average of those countries has doubled from -7.6% in 2000 to -16.3% in 2021. For those countries with a population similar or smaller than Scotland it has gone from -26.6% in 2000 to -50.7% in 2021.
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The SNP dubbed the UK the “poor man of north-west Europe”.
The party’s deputy leader at Westminster, Kirsten Oswald, commented: "It's increasingly clear that independence is the only way to unlock Scotland's full economic potential – so we can be as wealthy and successful as our European neighbours.
"The UK is the poor man of north-west Europe – with the lowest wealth per head of any country for the whole of the 21st century, and a wealth gap with our European neighbours that has grown worse over the past two decades.”
The MP added: “The evidence shows that independent countries of Scotland's size or smaller do better. The UK is now a whopping £15,739 per person less wealthy than those independent European countries similar in size or smaller than Scotland.
"Scotland is vulnerable under Westminster control. These figures cover Westminster governments of both colours and the long-term damage of Tory austerity cuts and a hard Brexit has already cost Scotland billions of pounds, and it will continue to harm our economy – leaving people poorer and worse off.
"The only way to keep Scotland safe is to become an independent country - with the full powers needed to secure a strong, fair and equal recovery and unleash Scotland's economic potential."
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Luxembourg has the highest GDP level with more than £80,000 per person, followed by Ireland (£65,411) and Switzerland (£50,015).
The UK was bottom of the league, followed by France with a GDP level of £32,622 per head, and Finland which has a rate of £34,187.
A UK Government spokeswoman said: “The UK Government will continue to deliver for the people of Scotland – our economy is one of the strongest in the world, in large part thanks the strength or our Union.
“Scotland continues to benefit from the £352 billion package of coronavirus support, which is one of the most generous in the world and has protected one in three Scottish jobs and more than 90,000 businesses.
“And next year Scotland stands to benefit from over £100 billion in capital investment across the UK, including investment in green energy and jobs for people in Scotland.”
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