OH how I weary over another task force, or committee, or group, or action team. At the start of the year it was announced that the SNP were going to create an “independence taskforce” “to create policy papers and campaign materials”. If they want to look like they are doing something, they create a new body to oversee the proceedings. Before they can report back to the electorate, another crisis occurs and we have a new problem to be looked into and another specialist team to do the looking.
This is all very public-orientated and is designed to keep us happy but not well-informed. Bearing all this in mind I would like to give our leaders a few pointers. Firstly, we do not need “policy papers or campaign materials” to “fire us up”. We need published facts that will encourage the doubters, come voting time. If you look at this newspaper on any regular basis you will constantly see all the campaigning and firing up that goes on by independence groups and individuals.
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What we need is for the Scottish Government to start issuing and indeed publishing fiscal facts in the newspapers. If the TV stations don’t pick up on it, they will be left looking lost because the international press will no doubt comment on the items and ask why the likes of the BBC haven’t reported on them.
For the past five years I have constantly monitored the output from HMRC. This is the government department that deals with the national fiscal performance. Apart from taxing us, it records what we earn and what we spend and breaks down the trade figures. It shows England constantly in the RED to the tune of more than £120-140bn. Scotland constantly in the BLACK by approximately £10bn. The two other nations seem to hover around the break-even point.
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I would point out that this information is readily available on the internet, originally published by HMRC. It used to be easy to find, but now takes a bit of searching since it is now the province of ONS (Office of National Statistics). Just to reinforce my point, the latest figures available are for the last quarter of 2020 and they give the following picture:
England – Exported £215.6bn. Imported £333.2bn. That means £117.6bn in the RED. Wales – Exported £13.4bn. Imported £14.2bn. That means £0.8bn in the RED. Scotland – Exported £26.6bn. Imported £19.9bn. That means £6.7bn in the BLACK. Northern Ireland – Exported £7.8bn. Imported £6.7bn. That means £1.1bn in the BLACK.
This is the sort of information we should see in our newspaper headlines and on billboards to let the voters know just who’s supporting who, and who’s too poor to go it alone. Tied into this is the veiled threat to those who have pensions through the Westminster Government, who may be worrying about their financial security. I suggest a letter to all ex-government employees explaining their rights and guarantees concerning their pensions.
What the electorate need is assurance and answers refuting the suggestions being made about Scotland’s inability to go it alone in the world. Especially with Europe as a trading partner we have what they need: renewable power aplenty, fresh meat and fish. Just a word to all the big businesses that suck wealth out of Scotland without contributing very much. It’s not so long ago that some countries in Europe did not allow ownership by non-nationals.
This brings me back to where I started: “an independence taskforce to create policy papers and campaign materials.” There is no creation needed, there is plenty already in existence. They just need to show the public the figures and performances related to each of the four countries. All I ask is to show that we are not too poor.
Ian Rankine
Milngavie
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